TECUMSEH — Thanks to the passion and determination of three friends from Tecumseh, The Stacy Mansion — an inn and event center at 710 W. Chicago Blvd. — is now up and running in an Italianate mansion that has not been open to the public in roughly 35 years. 

Danielle Ward, Serena Riley and Kim Freeman, who are only the sixth owners of the building in its entire history, met while teaching cardio drumming. Together, they came up with the idea of bringing the mansion back to life as a place for the community to enjoy.

The Italianate mansion was built in 1848 by Judge Consider A. Stacy for his wife, Maria, and their family of six children, Riley said. Aside from operating as a bed-and-breakfast in the late 1980s into the 1990s, it had always served as a private residence. 

The current owners got the idea of buying the mansion while walking through the neighborhood and noticing it was up for sale. Ward said she saw it as a way of fulfilling her dream of becoming an innkeeper and turning it into a viable business. 

“It screams ‘I want to take care of people,’ ” Ward said.

She mentioned this to Riley and Freeman, and they realized that, by working together, they could restore the mansion and open it so that guests can enjoy the grandeur of the 177-year-old building. 

“All of us kind of collaborated, and once we started sharing ideas on what we could do, we realized that the whole community loves this place just like we do,” Ward said. “They want it to be a healthy, thriving place for the community.”

That interest can be seen in people’s efforts both outside and inside of the mansion. Volunteers have helped with the restoration and landscaping work. Many of the furnishings were donated by family and friends. Most of the furniture and decor were purchased on Facebook Marketplace, at garage sales, through local connections, estate sales, or by family members or friends who had items they donated.

“I think people enjoy the idea of having some of their family heirlooms be part of the Stacy Mansion,” Ward said. 

When they bought the building in November 2024, it didn’t have a kitchen. Adding one was one of the many restoration projects that brought the building to life. Many of the interior features had been added to maintain the historical integrity of the house in the 1980s. Ward, Riley and Freeman have done additional restoration to keep the home true to its original period decor.  

Freeman said the mansion has five en suite bedrooms and two adjoining rooms. Two dining rooms, a parlor, a library and a lounge are on the first floor. The second floor has a lounge area and an event room with a 49-person capacity. 

The third floor is currently a work in progress, but the cupola on the fourth floor can be accessed for a beautiful view of the surrounding neighborhood. 

Outside is a porch, garden, patio, fire pit area and a pergola. The owners plan to develop the area into a space to accommodate events like weddings and graduation parties. 

Ward, Riley and Freeman plan on doing all the cooking, cleaning and baking themselves.

“This is a passion project because it doesn’t feel like work to me, ever,” Ward said.  “We want to create a unique and memorable experiences while sharing the history of the house.”

For more information, email [email protected], visit thestacymansion.com or
facebook.com/thestacymansion, or follow @thestacysisters on Instagram.