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During the 1990s this former hotel was being used as a rooming house. In addition to having an unsavory reputation it was falling into disrepair. The building was purchased in 2006 by the Henry County Housing Development Group, which utilized historic documents, plans, and photographs to maintain the integrity of the historic structure, while updating it for modern living accommodations. Built as the Parkside Hotel in 1915 (with an addition in 1931), it was known as the Hotel Kewanee from 1950. Original hotel rooms have been converted into apartments, and designed to accommodate the wide hallways and transoms over the doorways. The façade and windows were restored and repaired. After vandalism destroyed the original front desk, marble salvaged from the building was used to construct a new one. This project not only provides affordable housing, the awards jury noted, “but has also helped spark an interest in preserving and restoring other historic buildings in the community.”
Photo credits: (2-6) Jim Peters,
Landmarks Illinois
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