The historic Ellwood mansion has long been admired for its beauty and history. It was the home of the prominent Ellwood family, who made their fortune selling barbed wire. But less well known is its equally exquisite neighbor, the Nehring mansion.

Originally made as a wedding present by the elder Ellwood for his son Perry Ellwood and his wife Mae, the house was built in 1898 by the same architect of other historic DeKalb buildings like the NIU administration building, said current owner Shirley Nehring, whose late husband
Paul bought the house in 1943 from the Ellwood family.

Nehring began to take in tenants after her husband died and her children moved out.

Shirley Nehring offers housing to foreign students that study music at NIU. Often times, the students know little English and have little money, but Shirley Nehring doesn’t mind.

“I just love the music,” Nehring said.

Cellists, pianists, violinists and even a tenor have stayed in the house with Nehring and “filled the house with music.”

Over the course of the last few years, Nehring has hosted students from Turkey, China, Spain and Poland among others.

A pianist and singer in her day, Shirley Nehring is an avid music-lover, frequenting NIU’s many musical opportunities.

In years past, she has held musical teas in the “music parlor,” about twice a year, and also hosts a similar tea for Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra.

Nehring worries for the house’s future, though, after the destruction of other area historic buildings, like the Haish home and the old Nehring Bank building.

“I really just don’t want it to get torn down. It’s such a beautiful solidly built home,” Nehring said. “I’d love for it to become a conservatory for music students. It needs to be preserved.”

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