Webster-Wing House

Clinton and Margaret Wing bought this Greek Revival home in 1865 from Orrin Webster, who had built the home twelve years earlier. Wing, originally from Vermont, settled on a farm northwest of St. Charles before moving into town. While living in St. Charles, Wing engaged in the real estate and lumber businesses, was a St. Charles School Board member, and served as mayor from 1877 through 1879.

During his term as mayor, Wing helped to bring the Minnesota & Northwestern Railway, later called the Great Western Railroad, through St. Charles. Wing was also instrumental in the establishment of Pottawatomie Park. Clinton and Margaret had nine children, three of whom died in infancy. They suffered the deaths of three more children due to Scarlet Fever during an outbreak of the disease in St. Charles in 1884. The house remained in the Wing family for many years.

In the 1960s, the home was bought and converted into small shops. Marilou Kelly established Town House Books in the former residence in September of 1974. Al Berg held stained glass classes in the remodeled garage adjacent to the book store and then established Al's Ice Creamery in the space in the fall of 1980. Al's Ice Creamery featured specialty malts and milkshakes in its popular eatery. The business moved to Batavia in October 1996.

David Hunt purchased Town House Books in 1992 and established the Town House Cafe in the space vacated by Al's Ice Creamery in 1996. Town House Books and Town House Cafe are part of the Century Corners Shopping District in one of the oldest neighborhoods in St. Charles.

Sources

• Badger, David Alan. St. Charles of Illinois. Havana: David Alan Badger, 1985.

• Clauter, Hazel. Our Community--St. Charles. 1967.

• Durant, Pliny. Passing in Review: Reminiscences of Men Who Have Lived in St. Charles. pp. 305-306

• Grondin, Kathryn. "St. Charles Bookstore Survives Larger Chains." Daily Herald. 24 September 1999.

• Pearson, Ruth Ann. Reflections of St. Charles. Elgin: Brethern Press, 1976. pp. 23-24, 98.