Form No. 10-300 REV. (9/77)
UNITEDSTATES DEPA FOR NPS use ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FEB 5 1979 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM RECEIVED tAf\R 21 taw DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS QNAME
HISTORIC City Building AND/OR COMMON "Old City Hall" OLOCATION
STREETS NUMBER 15 N. 1st Ave. _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT St. Charles VICINITYOF 13th STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Illinois 012. Kane 06<} CLASSIFICATION
CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENTUSE —.DISTRICT XPUBLIC X OCCUPIED —AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM ^BUILDINGIS) —PRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED —COMMERCIAL —PARK —STRUCTURE —BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS —EDUCATIONAL —PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS —OBJECT —IN PROCESS —YES: RESTRICTED ^GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —BEING CONSIDERED KYES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION — NO —MILITARY —OTHER: HfOWNER OF PROPERTY
NAME City of St. Charles STREETS! NUMBER 2 East Main Street CITY. TOWN STATE St. Charles VICINITYOF Illinois QLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDs,ETc j^gne County Government Center STREET & NUMBER 719 Batavia Avenue CITY, TOWN STATE Geneva Illinois O REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Inventory of Historic Structures in Kane County PreparecS by Illinois Historic Structure Survey DATE October 1972 -FEDERAL XSTATE ^COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEYRECORDS HHnois Department of Conservation CITY.TOWN STATE Springfield Illinois DESCRIPTION
CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE
-EXCELLENT ^DETERIORATED —UNALTERED 2ioRIGINALSITE -GOOD —RUINS i^ALTEREb —MOVED DATE. -FAIR —UNEXPOSED
ORIGINAL: DESCRIBETHE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The St. Charles City Building is a rectangular red brJLck two story well composed example of Eclecticism. The Victorian structure was placed adjacent and parallel to the Fox River on the west in 1892, with its main entrance facing east. The exterior three-bay facade was capped with a hip roof that has a graceful bell tower extension at the southern peak. This bell tower has a Victorian styled skeleton capped with a Byzantine type of roof. The main hip roof was detailed with clerestory windows of eye lid design which was characteristic of the H. H. Richardson's Shingle Style of the 1870's. The roof soffit is decorated and supported with wood brackets reminiscent of that seen in Victorian architecture. The middle bay of the three bay facade, creates the entrance with a vertical continuation of the brick face through the roof soffit to create an open-face pediment withethreesrectaiigulpciiwandowSliisOpeitfiieethree corners of the pediment gable are stone sculptures. ' This' pediment creates a larger dormer for the attic whi6h lis' characteristic of the Victorian style. The main entrance is stilted arched dob'rway with an eight course brick rowlock arch concluded with a galvanized iron moulding balanced on each side with two small rectangular windows,
The fenestration consists of stilted arched and rectangular double hung windows of Victorian style and composition. The first floor of the front facade is assymmetrical with two large arched windows north of the main entrance and a larger arched double door for service to the south. The two arched windows have a four course brick rowlock arch, and the service door has a six course brick rowlock arch. The second floor is symmetrical with three smaller arched windows above the main entrance and is bordered on each side with two rectangular windows. i " ' •. . . 'J^^ :. L^I r " " r i • • • - i - M The interior is basically symmetrical. Upon entering, there is a straight run stair' ciase leading'"^o the second floor. On the first floor, the stairs separate two large rooms. On the second floor there is also two Ijarge rooms on each side of th6 stair's,'witrh two smaller rooms in the front above the entrance. PRESENT: The north room on the first floor has been modified to house electrical switch gear for an electric substation. To provide security for this room the two large arched windows have been changed with the insertion of glass block and brick, and a precast concrete ceiling was installed. An additional entrance has been constructed directly south of the maineentrance so that circulation to the upstairs could be maintained.
The roof, soffit, and downspouts have deteriorated. Loose copings have caused leakage into the masonry and corresponding efflorescence. There is some plaster deterioration and the floor undulates due to lumber shrinkage variations. The present state of the building is one of ill-repair and recently certain exterior portions of it have been declared structurally unsound. It is the City's inten tion to enlist every practical means in an effort to preserve the structure. SIGNIFICANCE
PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW -PREHISTORIC ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC —COMMUNITY PLANNING —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE -RELIGION —1400-1499 —ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC —CONSERVATION 2LLAW -SCIENCE — 1500-1599 .-AGRICULTURE —ECONOMICS —LITERATURE -SCULPTURE —1600-1699 2LvRCHITECTURE —EDUCATION —MILITARY -SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN —1700-1799 —ART —ENGINEERING —MUSIC -THEATER J<1 800-1899 —COMMERCE —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT -PHILOSOPHY -TRANSPORTATION —1900- —COMMUNICATIONS —INDUSTRY X .POLl'f I CS/GOVERNMENT -OTHER ISPECIFY) —INVENTION
SPECIFIC DATES 1892 BUILDER/ARCHITECT F. W, Alexander
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The St. Charles City Building, constructed by F. W. Alexander, a local builder, offers significant contributions in the areas of architecture, politics and government. Architecturally, the building exemplified eclecticism incorporated in a Victorian^Jtyl^. Some architectural characteristics of note include the Victorian styled bell tower, capped with a Bysantine type roof, the clerestory windows of eye lid design, the main entrance stilted arched doorway with eight course brick rowlock arched, concluded with a galvanized iron ,-. moulding balanced on each side by two small rectangular windows and the fenestration which consists of stilted arched and rectangular double hung windows of Victorina style and composition. These features have been preserved to some extent and can be, through a proper effort, brought back to the form which characterizes their unique element of design.
The structure was the first building the City had designed specifically for government and public meeting use. It was used for the aforementioned purposes from 1892 to 1941, which qualified the building as being significant under the criteria of politics and government. It continued to provide a base of operations for the law enforcement branch of the government and as the City's only fire house until 1962. The building's accessibility, due .to its central, location and availability,.after the construction of the City's new Municipal Center in 1941, made it' possible for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court to conduct its business on the second floor of the structure in the 1950's and 1960*s.
HISTORY JkTiquote from an edition of the Valley Chronicle, the local paper, in January of 1900, amptly explains the birth of the structure: "It was not until the year 1892 that our citizens began to realize the importance of having some sort of structure that could be referred to as "City Hall", It was under Mayor A, H. Bennett that the thought became a reality. The property where the building now, and originally, stands was purchased from Mr, B. T. Hunt for $1,500,00 in 1891. On March 12, 1892, the City Council voted to accept the bid of F. W, Alexander to erect the City building for the price offered, $5,496.00.
The name carved in stone on the front of the structure "City Building" could not have been more appropriately chosen, as even to this day the structure plays a vital part in the operation of the city. Valuable electrical and water monitoring systems, the meter department and the core of the building maintenance function are housed in it. IMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Valley Chronicle, publisher S. W. Durant Newspaper articles covering the structure from 1891 to 1900 Inventory of Historic Structures in Kane County Prepared by Illinois Historic Structures Survey, a division of the Illinois Historic Sites Survey, October 1972 IGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY. Less than one QUADRANGLE NAME QUADRANGLE SCA LE A^^OOO UTM REFERENCES BLJ I I • I . . I I • I • I • • I ZONE EASTING NORTHING ZONE EASTING NORTHING cLU I I • I • • I I I I I I I I I DLU I I I 1 • • I I . 1 . I • . i ELJ f I • I.il 1 • I i I I I I FLaJ I I . I • > I III I llll GLJ M > I • 111. i 111 I I VERBAL BOUNDARY.OE$CRIPTION UTM ReferenceHUs NoJ t AvailablM.i .e f'h i I'i I 'l I I Latitude 41-53-20N .., Longitude 88-18-37W=' ' r'
LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
STATE CODE COUNTY CODE
^ EQFORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE Wm. P. Birth, AcSministrative Assistant ORGANIZATION DATE City of St. Charles STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE 2 East Main Street 312=584-2700 CITY OR TOWN STATE St, Charles Illinois HSTATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS:
NATIONAL STATE LOCAL
As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the Natior*al Historic Preservation Act of ft966 (Public Law 89-665). I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Ssn/ice. '.^.vi'iv/ .•:"'i,.rL I,.,
STATE HI§ipRIHISTOR C PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE
TITLE DATE /j./;2.^/^^
FDR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTlPy TtlATTHIS PROPERTY.IS IhlCLUPEP IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER
DATE
GPO 921-803 Property
state ^ r^k^g, Number^^ TECHNICA CONTO^ Photos Maps 7^ STORIAN
ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN
ARCHEOLOGIST
OTHER
HAER Inventory Review
7-'^<^^!i:^^^r^i^ie.^^ .aS<^^ BRANCH CHIEF KEEPER National Register Write-up Entered r> ^ ^ a/a :^ Federal Register Entry J- 7^ Re-submit United States Department of the Interior - Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Illinois IAI Department of Conservation life Qn6 \ancH together 605 WM. G. STRATTON BUILDING "400 SOUTH SPRING STREET •SPRINGFIELD 62706 CHICAGO OFFICE - ROOM 100, 160 NO. LASALLE^06eT" 7^ Davi(d Kenney, Director • James C. Helfrich,.Assistant Directo/ January 22, 19]^] RECEIVED FEB 5 ]979 NATIONAL REG/STER Mr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register | AS?' National Register of Historic Places Heritage Conservation & Recreation Service Departmeat of the Interior Washington, D. C. 20240 Dear 1-Ir. Murtagh: Enclosed are National Register nomination forms for the "Old City Hall"(St Charles), the Miller-Davis Law BIdgs., the Besch House, the Ken ilworth Club, the George W. Maher House, the C. H. Moore House, the Blanchard Hall, Thank you for your prompt attention to these forms. Sincerely yours, Keith A. Sculle National Register Coordinator Division of Historic Sites KS/js Enclosure ROBERT McCLORY DISTRICT OFFICES: 13TH DlsnilCT, ILUNOIS KANE COUNTY MUNICIPAU BUIUINO ROOM 2469 ISO DEXTER COURT RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUII-DINO ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60120 (202) 225-S22I (312) 697-SOOS LAKE COUNTY RANKING REPUBLICAN Housie of dSitpttsitntutiM COUNTY BUILOINS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 18 N. COUNTY STREET WAUKEGAN. ILLINOIS 60085 (312) 336-4554 PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE mwOtinzton, 20515 ON INTELLIGENCE MCHENRY COUNTY 56 N. WILLIAMS STREET U.S. INTERPARLIAMENTARY CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS 60014 UNION DELEGATION February 28, 1979 (815) 459-3399 Or. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service U. S. Department of the Interior Pension Building 't^O G Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. 20243 Dear Dr. Murtagh: I understand that the St. Charles, Illinois "Old City Hall" has been nominated to be placed on the Federal Register of Historic Places. I am writing to lend my strong support to this application. There is evidence of widespread local support for restoring this building, which for many years has been the administrative center of the community, so that it will once again be a viable part of St. Charles. At the same time a part of the Fox Vaffey heritage would be maintained for future generations. Therefore, I am very hopeful that you will favorably consider this nomination and that the St. Charles "Old City Hall" wi 11 be placed in the National Register of Historic Places. I would appreciate being advised of your decision. Robert RMcCzmh Member of Congress cc: Honorable Fred Norris, Mayor, City of St. Charles Mr. William P. Birth, Administrative Assistant to Mayor and City Council, 2 East Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois 6017^ n Mail Control No: R^S H. PERCY CHICAOO OFFICE: LLINOI* 230 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET OticAGo, ILLINOIS 60G04 (312) 3B3-49S2 QlCmieb ^lcde& ^ertcde March 5, 1979 Dr. William J. Murtagh Keeper of the National Register Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Department of the Interior, Pension Building 440 G Street, N. W. Washington, D. C. 20243 Attn: NOM Dear Dr. Murtagh: Last December I wrote Mr. Keith A. Sculle, National Register Coordinator in Illinois, to express my support of the request of the City of St. Charles, Illinois to have the City Building in St. Charles placed on the National Register of Historic Places. I am pleased at this time to provide you with my comments on this matter. As I understand it, the building dates back to 1892 and has been used for most of the time since as an Administrative Center for the city. It seems to be a logical choice for restoration, especially because of its service as the focal point of the community. St. Charles is to be commended for restoring the heritage and character of the community by proposing that its City Building be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I would appreciate your consideration of the City of St. Charles' request. Sincerely les H. Percy United States Senator CHP:bkeb -- *' -ft—,. DATE: 3/'A/79 NUMBER: PQ|{ - 6972 FROM: -f., , REMARKS: t ( . . t .:.C. .V28/79 Reply POT DIr fitg. QESIGNAUON: RFRD: RFRD: Y DATE, 3^^^ . DATE: DATE: OATE: SUBJECT: (j^^ jjj^y ACK'D: 1 • DATE REPLY DUEi . 3/21 j<' 4 BOR a - IZl •DEC. 1S71 BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION . . "A. ...-.'r.' " TELEPHONE REPORT OFFICE OF ARCHEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROJECT; Q/d Cily //a// X/. C^./-^ //^,^ J:^ ToZfaen. j.^^/^^ DATE, y^/^.^^ ADDRESS: PHONE: STAFF MEMBER: DIVISION: ^ REPORT: or wh^J4^f^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ca// +0^e,,^.S^^'^ DAIE: 3 2(> 11 — POR- 6990 REMARKS: FROM: ! i / j DESIGNATION; 1 RFROt RIRDi 1 : RfRD: RFRQ: 1 OATEt OAlEt ' DATE: DATE: 1 1 SUBJECT: ACK'Oi 'OAIE REPLY DUE: 1 SIGNEDi ' DEC.VsTl' BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREAIION 7 H32-HR MAR 2 a 1979 Uotiorable Sobert llcClory House of Tteprcsentacivea Washington, D.C. 20515 D«ar Mr. McClory: Thank you for your Inquiry of February 28, 1979, concerning the nraiitatlon of the Citv Bulldlnf^, St. Charley, Kane County, Illinoia. to the National Register of Historic Places. We are pleased to inforct you that tbe City Euildlne; was entered In the :jatlonal Register on March 20, 1979. Enclosed Is a leaflet vhich describes the National Register prograsi. If ve can be of further assistance to you, please let us know, lie appreciate your interest in historic preservation. Sincerely, Chris Therral Delaporte Director Enclosare cc: Dr. David Kenney Director Department of Conservation 602 State Office Building 400 South Spring Street Springfield, Illinois 62706 bcc: Director's Reading File Associate Director, Connally Chief, OAHP / FHR-Lumpkin / FHR-CL / CL / NR / POR - 6972 FHR:L Franklin:lw:343-6401:3-31-79 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN NR KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS M32>n MAR 2 G 1979 iMwrabla OkarlM H. Percy flBltcd StaCM S«aata 230 South Dearbom Str««t Gblcaso, Uliaois 60604 Daar Senator Farcy: you for your la U« ara plaaaad to Infom yoa that tba City Building eaa eaterad la the Hatloaal Begister on March 20. 1979. &Kleaed is a leaflet which deecrlbea the HaCloaal Kagiatar progi If ee eee be of further aealstaace to yo«. pleeee let oa kaov. Ue appreciate your Incereat ia hlaterie preeervatiea. Slncaraly, T. DOAPflRlE OxrlM Therral Delaporte Director Enclosure cc: Tour WaahlBgtMi Office Dr. David Kenney Director Department of Conservation 602 State Office Building 400 South Spring Street Springfield, Illinois 62706 bcc: Director's Reading File Associate Director, Connally Chief, OAHP FHR-Lumpkin / FHR-CL / CL / NR / POR - 6990 FHR:L Franklin:lw1343-6401:3/22/78 BASIC FILE RETAINED IN NR KANE COUNTT, ILLINOIS ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER STATE ILIiINOIS Date Entered MAR 2 1 1979 Name Location Maher, George W., House Kenilworth Cook County Kenilworth Club Kenilworth Cook County /city Building St. Charles Kane County Octagon House Barrington Cook County Clayson, George, Housa Palatine Cook County Gurler, George H., House DeKalb DeKalb County Warfleld, William S., House Qutncy Adama Ctnmty (Notre Daiaa de Chicago Chicago Cook County Reebie Storage and Moving ConQiany Chicago CN Cook County Also Notified Honorable Adlai E. Stevenson Honorable Charles H. Percy State Historic Preservation Officer CO Honorable Abner J. Mikva Dr. David Kenney u Honorable Robert McClory Director, Department of Conservation (U Honorable Phillip M, Crane 602 State Office Building PQ Honorable Toia J. Corcoran 400 South Spring Street Honorable Paul Findley Springfield, Illinois 62706 Honorable Cardiss Collins Honorable Sidney R. Yates For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401, NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET date of entry: I ^county code: 5)NAME as it appears on federal register: ](^OTHER NAMES-. City Building Old City Hall ;6)NPS REGION: g) LOCATION street & number city / town vicinity of state county 15 N. 1st Ave. St. Charles IL Kane Lake Central ©OWNER gpRlVUTE DSTftTE SMUNICIPAL DCOUNTY DMULTIPU • FEDERAKagency name) ^ADMINISTRATOR . @ EXISTING SURVEYS DHABS DHAER gNHll^FUNDED? DYES DWO |(§)CONGRESSTDISTRICT 13 |@SOURCEof NOMINATION il state who prepared form? 0iit!(fi( Hmim sisrottic uKOMftSK! frnm mmkitfuim mtnm mmm D LOCAL DPRIVATE ORCA-iizATiow • m, mf • • on (CONDITIO, um..... N, , • deteriorated • altered Doriginal site (i^features-. ^•SUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-1 ^DSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT-2 «DSUBSTANTIALLY INTACT• 3 Dexcellent D ruins • unaltered • moved SDNOT INTACT-O 2D NOT INTACT-O ©•NOT INTACT -O Dgood • unexposed • reconstructed •unknown ^DUNHNOWN-4 I^D UNKNOWN-5 >D UNKNOWN-6 Dfair • unexcavated D excavated ?DNOT APPLICABLE-? 2D NOT APPLICABLE-8 5D NOT APPLICABLE-9 5ACCESS D YES-Restricted • YES-Unrestricted D No Access D Unknown ADAPTIVE USE DYES DNO SAVED' DYES IS PROPERTY A HISTORIC DISTRICT? D yes Dno ) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE •• • ENGINEERING-11 • LANDSCAPE ARCH.- 15 D POLITICS/GOVT." 21 DRECREATION -28 CLAIMS: explain first'D • ARCHEOLOGY-prehjstoric-2 •COMMERCE-6 •ENTERTAINMENT-26 • LAW- 16 • SE11G10N-22 •SETTLEMENT-29 • ARCHEOLOGY-tiistoric-1 D COMMUNICATIONS - 7 D EXPLORATION -12 • LITERATURE-17 • SCIENCE- 23 •URBAN PLANNING-31 ' oldest' D D AGRICULTURE-3 • CONSERVATION - 8 D HEALTH-2? • MILITARY- 18 • SOCIAl/HUMAHITARIAN-24 D OTHER (SPECIfY) D ARCHITECTURE-4 D ECONOMICS-9 D INDUSTRY-13 D MUSIC- 19 • SOCIAL/CULTURAL-30 •only' D • ART-5 •EDUCATION-10 • INVENTION -14 D PHILOSOPHY-20 • TRANSPORTATION-25 ^ETHNIC GROUP (^functions ^dates of initial construction: 'W ASSOCIATION WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT: major alterations: CURRENTLY: historic events: ^architectural style(s): ^architect'. ^master builder: ^engineer: ^landscape architect / garden designer: ^interior decorator: ^ artist: partisan: ^builder/contractor: (NAMES give role & date PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: ^NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP reviewers initials. .date- IIF ADDITIONAL SPACE NEEDED. NUMBER i PUT ON REVERSEI