The restoration of the historic downtown Peoria Women's Club is officially underway.
Kim Mitchell is the club's president. She said the top priorities are fixing up the windows, roof, and tuck pointing.
"So the timeline of those three is critical to get our building dried in. And so our goal would be to have that complete before the year end," she said. "And then that would let us go in and begin the restoration work inside."
That includes the second-floor, 425-seat music hall - which hasn't been used since a 1970 fire.
"We are the oldest theater in the original Peoria theater district," said Mitchell. She said the theater is a unique venue, with a raked floor and stage.
It's also still "acoustically perfect," she said.
"Our goal is to get the theater done as soon as possible so we can host plays, concerts, symphonies, opera, and corporate meetings and events," she said.
Developer Kim Blickenstaff contributed $1.5 million towards the club's $4 million dollar fundraising goal for a complete restoration.
Mitchell said the club hopes to finish up the project in the next four years.
The Peoria Women's Club was founded in 1886. The cornerstone was laid in 1893. The building is located at 301 NE Madison. Click here for more information.
