The site of the Municipal Plaza in St. Charles underwent several dramatic transformations over the past 100 years. A dam and sawmill were built there in 1836, and in 1866 a flourmill operated by Civil War veteran Major W.G. Conklin replaced the sawmill. In 1877, A. Fredenhagen took over operation of the flour and grain mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1896. Crown Electric rebuilt on the site in 1897. Beginning in 1908, the St. Charles Fixture Co., a manufacturer of gas and electric light fixtures, operated there for 21 years until fire destroyed the building in 1929. In 1940, the Municipal Building was completed with construction funded by local residents Colonel and Mrs. Edward J. Baker and Mr. and Mrs. Lester J. Norris. Designed by local architect R. Harold Zook and his nephew D. Taylor Cody, the one-of-a-kind Art Moderne building reflects a combination of modern machine age technology and the artistic expression of the late 1930's. Constructed with natural materials and high-quality craftsmanship and clad in Georgian marble, it became a designated landmark and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1915, across the street from what is now Municipal Plaza, Great Western Engine #214 ran off the end of the track on the riverfront spur line and crashed into the St. Charles Fruit and Confectionery Shop, causing only slight damage and injuring no one.