Weisel, Andrew, House
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Why it's listed
Built between 1853 and 1855 on a hill overlooking the Fox River, this small Greek Revival cottage in St. Charles combines a two-story red brick front section with a one-story riverstone rear wing. Its doors and windows have stone lintels and sills, and the foundation and basement are riverstone. The builder, Andrew Weisel, was a German-born mason who came to St. Charles in 1846 and married Isabella Beith, sister of the prolific contractor William Beith. He lived in the house until 1867, when he bought a farm across the river. Later changes include enclosing the south porch, enlarging an east window, removing some interior partitions, and laying oak flooring over the original pine. The front entry has been restored with its original sidelights and transom, and the stair, two-panel doors and trim survive. The house is valued as one of few remaining Greek Revival homes of its decade in the city and as an example of local masonry craftsmanship.
Significance in brief: It is one of the few Greek Revival homes of the 1850s remaining in St. Charles. Its small scale and combined brick and river stone construction set it apart from similarly styled local houses. It also represents the work of a local craftsman-builder and is part of the fabric of the oldest part of town.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002550, listed February 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 312 N. 2nd Ave., St. Charles |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | February 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002550 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1853-1855 |
| Architect / builder | Andrew Weisel |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence, in excellent condition, with some alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.91649, -88.31168 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002550.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4758869
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.