Batavia house walk offers varied styles, eras
Barely a week after Batavia celebrated its 175th anniversary, Batavia MainStreet presented its second annual house walk Saturday featuring five homes that offered visitors a peek into different styles and eras.
Proceeds support Batavia MainStreet, the organization dedicated to the future: revitalizing Batavia's downtown. But the event was in harmony with the love of history often displayed by the city - the oldest in Kane County - and its residents.
"I'm interested in Batavia's history," said local resident Patricia Harvey, one of the first guests at the Italianate style home at 345 N. Batavia Ave., one of the five on display. She was touring with her father William of North Aurora, who once studied architecture. "You don't often get a chance to see the older homes. I walk my dog past here all the time and I always wonder what they look like inside."
Harvey and her father were able to get a look at the living and dining rooms, renovated modern kitchen, family room with a wide view of the rose garden and side yard, as well as the upstairs bedrooms.
Hosted by six volunteer docents, (two for each floor and one each at the front and back entrances) guests learned that the original farmhouse was built in 1852 for the family of Joel McKee. He was prominent in the early days of Batavia's business and politics.
McKee prospered, and about 14 years after the original small farmhouse was constructed, he built an elaborate Italianate addition onto the front that's part of Batavia's history and widely recognized today.
The other homes on display were an English cottage at 521 Illinois Ave., a Tudor revival at 326 N. Lincoln, a cottage in the woods at 547 N. Batavia Ave. and a contemporary home at 385 Timber Trail.
According to Jennifer Warta, a house captain for the event and a former board member of Batavia MainStreet, about 276 people participated in last year's house walk.
"The proceeds go to revitalizing downtown and it brings people downtown for the day," she said. "And of course, we like to support Batavia's businesses."