History of St. Charles County
Historical Society
Headquarters Building and Archives
By Dennis J. Hahn
The building that currently serves as the Headquarters and Archives of the St. Charles County Historical Society is located at 101 South Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri. This structure, the second on that site, dates from 1886. The original building on this site was the old “Market and Fish House” which was erected in 1823.
During the period the Missouri State Capitol was located in St. Charles (1821-1826), William G. Pettus, Secretary of State for the State of Missouri, saw a need for a public market. He envisioned a market place where farmers and fishermen of the County could sell their food items to other residents. In 1823, a two-story building with a basement was built and opened as the Market and Fish House.
The Market and Fish House contained stalls for produce, a scale in the front of the building to weigh wagon loads of goods, and a large public bulletin board to post public and private notices, After a wagon load of goods was weighed, it would go to the back of the building and items would be sold from the wagon or unloaded and marketed. The Market and Fish House proved to be a popular and successful business venture.
During the early years of the building, the town band played on the Market steps once a week to entertain those who sat on the benches surrounding the building. While waiting for the mail coach to arrive
In 1832, St. Charles County purchased the Market and Fish House. Approximately three months after the County purchased the Market and Fish House, the County sold it to the City of St. Charles. The building continued to be used as the Market and Fish House until 1886, a total of 63 years.
In 1886, the original building was torn down and rebuilt to convert the building into a city hall for St. Charles. A cornerstone was placed in the right front corner of the building addition indicating the conversion of the building from a market place to the City Hall. A time capsule placed in a nook beneath the cornerstone was retrieved in 2010. The building was used as the City Hall for the next 87 years until 1973. By 1973, the building could no longer handle the needs of the City and a new City Hall was built at 200 North Second Street
In 1982, the St. Charles County Historical Society was able to lease the building from the City. It continues to serve as the Headquarters and Archives of the Society at 101 South Main in St. Charles.
R. Goebel postcard showing “The Last City Market House, 1885” to the right. 101 South Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri
R. Goebel postcard showing the St. Charles City Hall to the right. 101 South Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri
J. Gossler postcard of the St. Charles City Hall. 101 South Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri
C. E. Meyer Druggist postcard of the St. Charles City Hall to the right. 101 South Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri
Photo of the Headquarters and Archives of Saint Charles County Historical Society. circa 2010, 101 South Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri 63301
A US Coast & Geodetic Survey Benchmark (#JC0053) is located on the North Post at the bottom of the outside front steps of the Archives of the St. Charles County Historical Society’s Headquarters
NOTE: For those interested in geocaching and benchmark data, here is some additional information.