Woodland Palace
CITY:
Kewanee
COUNTY:
Henry
DEDICATED BY:
Francis Park Foundation, the City of Kewanee and The Illinois State Historical Society
DEDICATION DATE:
January 1, 1974 at 6:00:00 AM
The marker is located three miles northeast of Kewanee in Francis Park. It is on County Road 900, 0.4 miles north of US 34, along the Henry/Bureau County Line.
This was the home of Fred Francis, inventor and innovator, artist and poet. Born near Kewanee in 1856, he graduated from the Illinois Industrial University, Urbana, in 1878. While there, he was one of the designers and builders of the ‘Class of 78’ clock, now in the north tower of the Illini Union. In this home, which he built, he incorporated many innovations, including a water purification system and air conditioning. Francis died in 1926 and bequeathed this estate to the City of Kewanee, to be maintained as a city park and museum.