St. Charles in Kane County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Shelby School Bell
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2024
1. Shelby School Bell Marker
Erected 1984 by City of St. Charles.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1911.
Location. 41° 54.897′ N, 88° 18.814′ W. Marker is in St. Charles, Illinois, in Kane County. It can be reached from Riverside Avenue west of State Avenue. The bell is located on the northern end of the riverside park north of St. Charles City Hall. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saint Charles IL 60174, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Historic St. Charles (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ēkwabet (about 400 feet away); The Pottawatomi (about 400 feet away); Capt. Chuck Cooper (about 400 feet away); Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away); The Legend of Charlemagne (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Historic St. Charles (about 400 feet away); St. Charles, Illinois (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Charles.
Regarding Shelby School Bell. In 1833, early settler Evan Shelby claimed land just a few blocks east of here, near where Baker Park sits today. First called Charleston, after fellow settler Read Ferson's hometown, it was later renamed St. Charles because there was already a Charleston downstate.
Shelby School was built in 1911 and still stands today on 5th Street as a converted office building.
Also see . . . St. Charles History Museum: Building the Dam, Bridge, and Mills. A look at the early days of
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2024
2. Shelby School Bell Marker
St. Charles's City Hall towers behind the bell; the Fox River runs along the right side of the photo.
Excerpt: "In the summer of 1833, Evan Shelby and William Franklin moved west from Indiana and staked a claim on the east side of the Fox River just north of where Baker Park is today (Main Street and 4th Avenue). They left that winter and returned in the spring of 1834 with their families to purchase land from the government and build a cabin on their claim."(Submitted on October 4, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, October 1, 2024
3. Shelby School Bell
A northward-facing view of the park in front of the Shelby School Bell.
via Loopnet
4. Shelby Office Center
Formerly the Shelby School
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 432 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 4, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on April 20, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
