ST. CHARLES – The St. Charles Heritage Center has withdrawn its presence from the Dunham Hunt House, leaving the city with a historical building for which it has no use.

City staff informed members of the City Council this week that selling it might be the best option. Staff plan to research that option in the upcoming months and present their findings to the aldermen, said Peter Suhr, public service manager.

Built in 1841, the Dunham Hunt House, 304 Cedar Ave., is believed to be the oldest brick house in St. Charles and originally was owned by Bela T. Hunt, one of the city's first settlers, Suhr said. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a local landmark by the city.

Jane Dunham purchased the home in 1980 and turned it into a museum, which closed after her death in 1995, Suhr said, noting the Heritage Center reopened it as a museum in 1998.

The building was deeded to the city in 1986, he said.

Julie Bunke, executive director of the Heritage Center, said operating Dunham Hunt House in addition to 215 E. Main St. became a strain on the budget. Center personnel decided this year to focus their energy to make the main museum the best it can be, she said.

"Operating a historic building is a labor of love and not cheap," Bunke said. "It needed so much more attention than we could give it."

Although the building is structurally sound, Suhr said, it needs an estimated $300,000 in repairs, such as door and window replacement, electrical upgrades and a new roof. Yearly maintenance costs range between $10,000 and $20,000, he said.

The city has no funding source for the building, which is valued at $300,000, he said.

The house had been vacant since the Heritage Center canceled the lease this summer, Suhr said.

"It's really in a state of limbo at this point," he said, "and we're maintaining it to a point of keeping general maintenance up."