Kewanee, IL,
06
December
2019
|
12:59 PM
America/Chicago

OSF HealthCare Donates Building to Kewanee Historical Society

OSF HealthCare has donated a building to the Kewanee Historical Society which plans to re-locate its museum and offices to the two-and-half-story structure located at 125 N Tremont Street in the heart of downtown Kewanee.The building opened as Carps Department store in December 1942, at the corner of Tremont and 2nd Street following a massive fire which destroyed much of downtown Kewanee in April of 1942.

OSF HealthCare acquired the building when it affiliated with Kewanee Hospital in 2014 which is now OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center. The Home Medical Equipment business housed there was sold and Homecare and Hospice were re-located to the newer hospital building at 1051 W South Street.

Because the building is no longer in use by OSF HealthCare, leaders believe it could better serve the community as the new home of the Kewanee Historical Society.

“OSF HealthCare invests in the communities it serves. We regularly work with partners to enhance community assets to expand prosperity and quality of life,” said Jackie Kernan, president of OSF HealthCare Saint Luke’s Medical Center in Kewanee.

 

Jackie Kernan, RN, MSN, president OSF Saint Luke Medical Center and OSF Holy Family Medical Center
“The Kewanee Historical Society serves as a valuable educational resource so it made sense to donate an historic building no longer needed by OSF for the best and highest use by the Historical Society.”
Jackie Kernan, RN, MSN, president OSF Saint Luke Medical Center and OSF Holy Family Medical Center

Historical Society President Mike DeWalt says the organization is extremely grateful for the donation because the location is in an excellent location in downtown Kewanee, is slightly larger than their existing building, and has a working elevator, making the museum’s artifacts and historical documents more accessible to visitors.

“The new building at Tremont and 2nd is a great location in the middle of downtown and we’re expecting the new, more visible location will help bring more people into the museum,” said DeWalt. “The Historical Society is a great Kewanee resource with so many interesting and historic items in the museum collection to see and learn about.”

The Kewanee Historical Society museum is currently closed for the winter. DeWalt says the Historical Society will be in the process of improving the new building in the spring and summer to prepare for the move.