History of ST. Charles County Historical Society By Dennis J. Hahn
The St. Charles County Historical Society (SCCHS) was founded in 1956. In May 2009 the St. Charles County Genealogical Society (SCCGS) merged with the St. Charles County Historical Society. The Society is a not-for-profit Missouri corporation with its membership consisting of individuals, businesses, and organizations with an interest in St. Charles County, history and genealogy; and who are supportive of the Society’s stated purpose.
The Current iteration of the Historical Society was preceded by two previous organizations. The first iteration of the historical society was in operation from 1916-1924, and the second iteration ran from 1937-1939. All records from the society’s operations in these early years were given to the Missouri Historical Society where they remain today.
The third, and present, historical preservation organization, today’s SCCHS, was founded in 1956. The St. Charles Community Council determined there was a need to have a County - wide historical society with the mission to “preserve our heritage and illuminate the past”.
On March 22, 1956 the St. Charles Community Council met and appointed a committee to form a County historical society. Appointed to the committee were: Dr. Homer Clevenger, Chairman; Mr. Arthur C. Baue; Mrs. Francis C. (Charlotte) Becker; Mr. Richard Bushnell; Mrs. Roscoe Jordan; Mrs. Alfred M. (Edna McElhiney) Olson; and Mr. Reinhardt T. Stiegemeier.
Mrs. Edna McElhiney Olson served as Archivist for thirteen years. She was a driving force in the Society’s organization and its survival. From 1959 to 1969 she wrote a weekly historical article on St. Charles County for the St. Charles Journal. Her house at 554 Madison Street and then at 125 North Fifth Street served as the first Archives building for several years.
In 1962 the Society found permanent headquarters in the building known as Eckert’s Tavern located at 515 South Main Street in St. Charles, also known for a time as the St. Charles Hotel, the site where Major George Sibley, Benjamin Reeves, and Thomas Mathers met to write their survey report of the Santa Fe Trail.
From 1976 through 1979 the Society’s headquarters was located at 117A Jefferson Street in St. Charles.
In 1982 Miss Aimee Marie Louise Becker (a Charter Member of the Society) bequeathed to the SCCHS the Marten-Becker House at 837 First Capitol Drive (formerly Clay Street) in St. Charles. The cost of maintaining this property was prohibitive. In 1991, it was sold to the owner’s of Miss Aimee B’s Tea Room & Marketplace. The sale of the Marten-Becker house and the Newbill-McElhiney house became the financial anchor of the Society. These funds have been invested since 1991and proceeds from the investment support a significant portion of the Society’s annual budget.
In 1982 the Society obtained from the City of St. Charles an inexpensive 25 year lease to use the old St. Charles City Hall originally known as the “Market and Fish House” at 101 South Main Street in St. Charles as it’s headquarters. This lease was subsequently renewed for another 25 years. This is where the Society is presently located. The Society renovated the interior of the building for use as its headquarters, and archives
In 2010, the St. Charles County Heritage Museum opened, so in 2015, SCCHS decided to donate most of its 3D objects and artifacts to the Heritage Museum.
Today, SCCHS focuses on archives, research, education, and member events.
If you are not a member of the St. Charles County Historical Society, we encourage you to join us in discovering and preserving the history of St. Charles County.