Jones Law Office moves to Langum Park

History slowly crept forward Wednesday as the city of St. Charles decided to move the historic Jones Law Office to its new location in Langum Park.

Traffic was already delayed on Main Street due to a an early morning fire when the milelong moving process began at 304 Cedar Ave.

The route skirted along Fourth Avenue, crossing Main Street just east of where the firetrucks were clearing the scene.

"The process for transporting a building is a slow and deliberate one," said Christopher Adesso, public services manager for the city.

This is the second time in less than three decades crews from Muehlfelt & Sons Inc., of Wheaton have moved the historic house.

Onlookers gathered at the south end of Langum Park to photograph and record history as the house was gently moved into place.

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

The small law office was once used as a holding cell for deserting soldiers during the Civil War.

Evidence of the soldiers' presence is still apparent in the graffiti they left behind.

At one time, the law office was attached to the west side of the Minard House at 504 E. Main St.

In 1998, Muehlfelt & Sons Inc. moved the house the first time to its location behind the Dunham-Hunt House at 304 Cedar Ave.

The city sold the Dunham-Hunt property in 2013.

As part of the sales contract, the city was given time to relocate the law office building to ensure its preservation.