The Kewanee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will once again this year swing open the doors of the DAR house located next to Liberty Park and offer costumed guided tours.
The chapter house will be open for tours during the Hog Days Festival Craft and Flea Market on Saturday, Aug. 31 from 9 a.m. to noon.
In addition, the DAR will hold a bake sale with the proceeds benefiting the maintenance of the house.
According to the Kewanee Chapter of the DAR, “the house was built by the Potter brothers just before they were married. It was on their 160 acre farm, which is now most of downtown Kewanee. It was the only structure until 1854.
Railroad fever brought businessmen from Wethersfield, three miles south, and the Potters finally gave up and moved out south of Wethersfield. Then it served as a boarding house, and later as a “flop house” for immigrants from Europe coming to work in Kewanee’s factories. It was in terrible condition by 1904, when the Kewanee Masons donated the building to the DAR.”
The historic house is located at 610 Park Ave.
