JFK visits Batavia
In honor of Presidents’ Day, I thought I would let everyone in on a little-known fact. On October 25, 1960, John F. Kennedy visited the small town of Batavia, Illinois. A relative of my Senior Secretary/Office Manager Susan was there and one of her friends got to shake his hand.
His motorcade went right down Illinois Route 31 (Batavia Ave.) and passed by our office at 223 S. Batavia Ave. JFK made a speech in front of the old Batavia High School (now the location of the Batavia Public Library) and across the street from the then Johnson’s Funeral Home (now the Moss Funeral Home).
Watch the video:
Video courtesy of the Batavia History (A collaboration of the Batavia Historic Society and the Batavia Public Library)
“She was standing with friends possibly one of you in front of Johnson’s Funeral Home. The car stopped and because I was short and in front so I could see I was pushed up over the front bumper. I got a good look at JFK–tanned and handsome. Later I learned that my mother was stopped in Aurora from turning north on Rt 61 and got out of the car and was also in the front row.”
John F. Kennedy in front of Batavia H.S. in 1960