William Beith House
Encyclopedia
The William Beith House, now known as the Beith House Museum, is a Registered Historic Place
located in St. Charles, Il. It largely retains its original riverstone exterior, while many other local structures have been significantly altered or covered in stucco.
, Illinois
, who built this house from 1845 to 1850 for his family. The William Beith House is notable as one of the only riverstone houses of the 1850s remaining in St. Charles
.
The Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley rescued the house in 1980 and restored it to operate as a museum of house preservation. Exhibits show mid-19th century decorative arts, and the techniques used to restore the interior features and exterior structure. The United States Department of the Interior
recognized the house as a Historic Place
on December 7, 1983. The home serves as the headquarters for Preservation Partners.
. It is on the left side of the exterior, and is surrounded by windows to the right and above. The southern exposure has two windows on each floor, and the north side has one window on each floor. The west side also has two windows per floor. Two additional windows also originally adorned the main structure, but since have been filled in with brick. A small, one-story attachment was added at the time of original construction and also has an east-facing entrance.
The entrance hall (on the southeast) contains the main staircase with walnut railings, spindles, and newel post. The parlor room is to the right, a bedroom to the rear, and two other bedrooms to the west. The kitchen is in the one-story attachment. The second story entry hall links to three bedrooms (the center bedroom now functions as a bathroom). A basement holds a large brick cistern
and a bricked-in opening. It is thought that this may have been a tunnel from the river to serve on the Underground Railroad
; Beith was a noted local abolitionist.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
located in St. Charles, Il. It largely retains its original riverstone exterior, while many other local structures have been significantly altered or covered in stucco.
History
William Beith immigrated from Scotland in 1843. Beith became a prominent local builder in Kane CountyKane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, who built this house from 1845 to 1850 for his family. The William Beith House is notable as one of the only riverstone houses of the 1850s remaining in St. Charles
St. Charles, Illinois
St. Charles is a Chicago suburb in Kane and DuPage counties of Illinois, United States, and is roughly west of Chicago on Illinois Route 64. According to a 2004 census estimate, the city has a total population of 32,134. The official city slogan is Pride of the Fox, after the Fox River that runs...
.
The Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley rescued the house in 1980 and restored it to operate as a museum of house preservation. Exhibits show mid-19th century decorative arts, and the techniques used to restore the interior features and exterior structure. The United States Department of the Interior
United States Department of the Interior
The United States Department of the Interior is the United States federal executive department of the U.S. government responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land and natural resources, and the administration of programs relating to Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native...
recognized the house as a Historic Place
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 7, 1983. The home serves as the headquarters for Preservation Partners.
Architecture
The house is a simple two-story Greek Revival design. The main door is on the east side, facing the Fox RiverFox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
. It is on the left side of the exterior, and is surrounded by windows to the right and above. The southern exposure has two windows on each floor, and the north side has one window on each floor. The west side also has two windows per floor. Two additional windows also originally adorned the main structure, but since have been filled in with brick. A small, one-story attachment was added at the time of original construction and also has an east-facing entrance.
The entrance hall (on the southeast) contains the main staircase with walnut railings, spindles, and newel post. The parlor room is to the right, a bedroom to the rear, and two other bedrooms to the west. The kitchen is in the one-story attachment. The second story entry hall links to three bedrooms (the center bedroom now functions as a bathroom). A basement holds a large brick cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
and a bricked-in opening. It is thought that this may have been a tunnel from the river to serve on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
; Beith was a noted local abolitionist.