CREDIT: Photos by Ted Schnell

From Ted Schnell’s Site to Sight:

One of the oldest buildings in St. Charles got a new location Wednesday morning, Aug. 27, 2014, as the city had a contractor move the Jones Law Office Building from 304 Cedar Ave. to a site less than a mile away in Langum Park, along Route 25 near Devereaux Way. More images of the move can be found at A Moving Day in St. Charles. See more of Ted Schnell’s photos on his blog, Site to Sight. 

From the city of St. Charles website:

“The process for transporting a building is a slow and deliberate one,” said Christopher Adesso, St. Charles public services manager on the city of St. Charles website. “We will spend the day prior to the move preparing the building for transport. Throughout the move, utility crews will be onsite to monitor lines along the move route as the structure travels to its new home.”

History of the Jones Law Office Building

According to the St. Charles Public Library, Steven Sandborn Jones, a lawyer, moved to St. Charles in 1838 from Vermont. He is credited with proposing the town change its name from its original Charleston to St. Charles after he learned another Illinois town already had the Charleston name.

During the Civil War, the small law office building served as a holding cell for deserting soldiers. Evidence of the soldiers’ presence is still apparent in the graffiti they left behind.

At one time, Jones’ St. Charles law office was attached to the west side of the Minard House at 504 East Main Street. In 1988, the office was moved to its current location behind the Dunham-Hunt House at 304 Cedar Avenue. The City sold the Dunham-Hunt House property in 2013. As a part of the sales contract, the city was given time to relocate the Law Office building to assure its preservation.