155 Houston Street
In the early 1800’s local commuters traveled to Chicago by horse and wagon. This trip would take three days. In 1848, a meeting was held to address the need for a passenger railway to be added that would connect the towns in the area – including West Chicago, Aurora and Batavia. Once in Aurora, passengers could then take another train to Chicago. With this new route, passengers would be able to get to Chicago and back in just one day.
On October 22, 1849, the plan for the passenger depot was approved to be located at Webster and Van Buren streets, approximately where Berkeley Finer Foods is located today. On September 2, 1850, the first passenger train, named the Pioneer, left the Batavia depot.
In 1855, a new depot was built and used for many years. Throughout most of its use, the depot also served as the home of the station’s passenger agent. The agents utilized the back two rooms and second story of the building for their living space, leaving the front room for offices and the lower level for storage. In October 1973, the depot was moved to its current location at 155 Houston Street, and was restored for use as a public museum. The museum is also the home of the Batavia Historical Society, which partners with the Batavia Park District to display the city’s rich history. The Depot Museum is open to the public and offers educational programs and events in addition to serving as a place to study, preserve, collect and interpret exhibit materials that reflect the rich history of Batavia.
