One of Kewanee’s most historic buildings will soon be demolished.

But bricks from the building will create a memorial to one of the city’s foremost industrial firms.

EnPower Solutions of Birmingham, Ala., is leasing the former Kewanee Boiler site on the west side of Kewanee and will install a solar array on the property.

Miles Walding, director of community development for EnPower, spoke with the City Council over an online hookup during Monday’s meeting. Walding said the Boiler site will be cleared of rubble and vegetation to make room for the solar panels.

This operation will include demolishing the former Boiler office building, the last major structure that remained standing after most of the factory buildings were torn down several years ago.

Walding said he has spoken with Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, who said he would like to see some sort of memorial to Kewanee Boiler, which once was a leading maker of commercial and residential boilers which marketed its products worldwide.

Walding said EnPower will pay to have such a memorial constructed, using bricks from the old office building.

“He (Mikenas) doesn’t want that to go away, and we certainly don’t either,” said Walding of the Kewanee Boiler’s history.

The Boiler site covers more than 30 acres along the railroad tracks, but only 17 acres will be covered by the five-watt solar array, Walding said.

But the entire site will be cleared, and maintained, by EnPower, he said. He said the company will hire local contractors to clear the site, and hopes to work with local people — perhaps the local FFA chapters — to do ongoing maintenance.

He also said his company will replace all of the fencing around the site.

After speaking with Walding, the council voted unanimously to approve the special-use permit required for the solar installation.

“I for one am excited to see EnPower come to Kewanee,” Mayor Gary Moore said. “I personally think it’s going to be noting but a positive experience for the city of Kewanee.”

Moore said Enpower officials “like to keep a strong foothold in the community,” and Walding said his company usually makes sizable donations to various community organizations in the towns where they have solar operations.