1850 Beith House after a fire in the late 1970s.
A fire in the late 1970s nearly destroyed the 1850 Beith House, a gorgeous limestone stalwart on the banks of the Fox River in downtown St. Charles.
That risk has been nearly eliminated thanks to a new fire alarm monitoring system installed this week.
A campaign began in late 2020 for an extensive capital improvement plan to ensure that the home of former mason William Beith will last for decades to come and to bring the interior up to modern standards.
Members of Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley generously donated over $13,000 in 2020 to cover the expenses of a condition assessment of the house. Nearly a year later, the report estimated the cost at just under $760,000 to address what needed to be fixed. After much thought and discussion, the Board decided to undertake the project in stages to reduce overall cost and keep it manageable.
By 2025, nearly all the exterior work on the house was complete, including trim, storm windows, roof, masonry, and new gutters and downspouts. At the beginning of 2026, the electrical service and panel was significantly upgraded, adding numerous outlets and light fixtures to the second floor, and a new mini-split system to cool and heat our second-floor office spaces was installed.
Unexpectedly, the electrical work triggered a fire safety requirement to install a monitored fire alarm system because the house is in the Downtown Commercial District. The installation of this $23,455.35 system was completed this fall with the help of $11,485 from a City of St. Charles Business Improvement Grant. The remaining $11,970.35 will need to be raised through fundraising.
In total, $185,116.18 has been invested into the Beith House since the assessment report was received in 2021. Of that, almost $166,485 was donated by members or granted by local organizations and families.
How wonderful is that!?!
The funding gap for the monitored fire alarm system needs to be filled before additional interior improvements can be tackled. Slowly, and steadily, the Beith House is being protected and improved to serve the downtown St. Charles community for the foreseeable future. We encourage you to help us continue making progress by contributing to our fundraising campaign today!
In addition to the building, the grounds have also undergone tremendous improvements with a native garden installed and maintained by Wild Ones of Greater Kane County and the Polly and Walker Bowman Memorial Community Garden installed through the tireless efforts of Warren Bowman, Pottawatomie Garden Club, numerous donors, and volunteers.
Please stop by the Beith House soon to see all the work being done to protect and beautify one of the oldest spaces in St. Charles!
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