Last minute offer could save St. Charles’ historic Barry House

A 181-year-old St. Charles home remains safe from demolition for at least another 60 days after City Council members tabled the owners’ request during their May 19 meeting.

City Council members were expected to vote on the request at the meeting, but instead postponed the discussion while the owner – Baker Memorial United Methodist Church – reviews an offer it received May 16 to buy the home.

Mayor Clint Hull introduced the topic and explained the situation before asking for a motion to table the vote. He verified the church has received an offer to buy the Barry House, as well as offers to potentially relocate the home.

“What has become very evident over the last couple weeks is how important this issue is to so many in our community,” Hull said.

The Barry House formerly was owned by Judge William D. Barry in the mid-1800s and Abraham Lincoln was said to have stayed in the home while visiting Barry.

The Baker Memorial United Methodist Church in St. Charles has owned the house since 1993 and has been seeking permission to demolish it since 2017.

Because the property is located in a historic district, the church must receive a certificate of appropriateness from the city before planning the demolition.

The landmark home recently made the list of the 2025 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois because of the owner pushing for demolition.

After years of being denied permission to demolish the building, the church received its first positive recommendation at the recent Planning and Development Committee meeting.

Hull said since that recommendation, the church, city staff and residents trying to save the home all have been communicating, trying to find a way to preserve the Barry House while addressing the church’s needs.

Baker Memorial United Methodist pastor David Aslesen said May 20 that they received an offer to buy the home as well as verbal offers to relocate it. He said the next steps will be for the church’s committees to review the offer’s legitimacy and how it aligns with their needs over the next few weeks.

Aslesen said while they review the offer on the table, the church gladly will continue to receive and consider additional offers, both to buy the home and for relocation.

Hull said the church’s main concern is that if they agree to sell the Barry House, the city will work with the church to create additional parking. He said one option being considered is changing the parking spaces on Third Avenue from parallel to diagonal in order to create more spaces.

“The bottom line is that there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Hull said. “It’s going to take time for the parties to work through all the information that has just been presented.”

In a unanimous vote, council members postponed the discussion to the City Council meeting July 21.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated, There is no record in the St. Charles History Museum showing Abraham Lincoln stayed in the house.