The Friends of Woodland Palace (FOWP) have signed their first contract to repair the aging home of Fred Francis.
Oldeen Roofing of Kewanee will begin the repairs as soon as supplies and weather permit.
“First, the roof structure will be rebuilt to make the building water-tight once again,” said Ray Jacobs, FOWP president.
“Selecting a contractor that would have the best interests of the project was extremely important to FOWP,” Jacobs said. “A third-generation Kewanee company, Oldeen Roofing, fits that requirement.”
Friends of Woodland Palace was formed in 2025 to help the city of Kewanee, which owns the house and 60-acre park three miles east of Kewanee. The mission of the FOWP is to help maintain the house and educate the public about this historic structure.
To restore the Palace, Friends of Woodland Palace volunteers are working with the city and historical architect David Leonatti of Springfield. Over the last several months they have created a plan to bring the house back to its former self.
Fundraising has been taking place over several months to be able to begin the transformation.
Fred Francis, the inventive genius, built the home and left it to the city when he passed in 1926. Known for his engineering skills, Francis added innovations to his home that were decades ahead of their time.
Plans are to have the house open for the July 4 celebration at the park. Some areas may be off limits due to ongoing construction at the time.
Any individual or business interested in donating to the renovation may contact Sherry “TD” Welch at sherry@sherrywelch.com.
Donations can also be sent to the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce 113 E. Second St., Kewanee, Ill. 61443. Make checks payable to Kewanee Preservation Society and mark donations “Woodland Palace.”
Visit www.woodland-palace.com or the Facebook page “Woodland Palace at Francis Park” for updates and news.
