Dunham-Hunt Museum

              Restoration on 
historic 1800 
house begun 
Restoration of an historic home at 304 Cedar Ave., St. Charles, has begun. 
Jane Dunham, the new owner of the home, plans to restore the home to its original state and devote many of the 
rooms to historical display. The home was built in the 1830's or 1840's and recently owned by Effie Hunt. 
Dunham is a descendant of Lorenzo Ward, one of the original settlers of the St. Charles area. The Dunhams and Hunts also figure in the early history of the area. 
One room will be devoted to Ward 
heirlooms of the 1840s, one with 1860s 
furnishings of the Dunham home of Wayne and one similar to the Dunham Castle of the 1880's. 
Dunham acquired the home earlier year. 
Dunham museum approved by city panel 
By Lee Husfeldt 
Furnishings and other 
items from the 1840s, 1860s 
and 1880s may be featured 
in a museum in the Hunt 
House, 304 Cedar Ave. 
The St. Charles Plan 
Commission last week 
recommended that a peti- 
tion • for the 'special use 
permit for a museum in a 
general residence district 
be allowed. 
Jane Dunham has been 
looking for about two 
years for a place to house 
the items from her family, 
said Leonard Seraphin, 
Dunham's attorney. He 
said she has acquired the 
Cedar Avenue property 
and once it is renovated, it 
will be turned over to the 
St. Charles Historical 
Society. 
The museum will have 
an 1840s room that will 
contain items that belong- 
ed to the Lorenzo Ward 
family. There also will be an 1860s room with things 
from Dunham Castle. Also 
there will be a library, 
costume room and 
children's room in addi- 
tion to a kitchen setting. 
Plans are to have a cou- 
ple of T the rooms open in 
December. Security and fire systems will be in- 
stalled. 
Betty Forkins, president 
of the historical society, 
said it plans to have the 
house open weekdays. 
She said it is planned not 
to have an admissions 
chaarge, and the apart- 
ment upstairs	of the 
house would pay for 
upkeep of the downstairs.