The city of St. Charles now has two more buildings considered historic landmarks, after the City Council on Monday OK’d landmark designations at properties on Indiana Avenue and State Avenue.
Both of the landmark designations were first approved by the Historic Preservation Commission, per documents from the city, then OK’d by the city’s Planning and Development Committee on Aug. 11. Then the matter came to the full City Council for a vote, and both were approved as part of the omnibus agenda at its meeting on Monday.
The structure at 801 Indiana Ave. in St. Charles, referred to as the Eliza Caustin Farmhouse, was built around 1855 in the Gothic Revival style, according to a memo from the city. It was potentially constructed by the Long family, who constructed and lived at a home nearby. The house was built for Eliza Caustin and her husband, tenant farmers for land owned by Ira Minard, who ultimately sold the house to John Munn, officials said.
The home was built with locally quarried limestone, per the city’s memo.
The second building landmarked by the city is at 608-612 State Ave. in St. Charles. It is referred to as the Col. Edward J. Baker Home.
Per a memo from the city, the house was built around 1887 in the Colonial Revival style. It was originally built for A.B. DeWolf, and was later sold to Henry Rockwell, the father of Harriet Rockwell Baker, who lived there with Col. Edward J. Baker for almost 40 years.
The building was originally located next to the Rockwell House on Main Street, home of 19th century two-term mayor of St. Charles H.T. Rockwell, according to the St. Charles History Museum. In 1950, Yurs Funeral Home purchased the Rockwell House, and the Col. Edward J. Baker Home was moved to its current location on State Avenue in 1985. The land it was built on originally is now the parking lot for Yurs Funeral Home, per the history museum.
Now, according to the city, any demolition, construction, alteration, repair, relocation or other material change affecting the exterior architectural appearance of either of the buildings has to be approved by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.
mmorrow@chicagotribune.com
