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            Geneva, St. Charles & Batavia

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As a newcomer to the area, Rusty found the following interesting Geneva “City of Charm”Fayban’s Research Lab -precursor to Code Breaking and U.S Intelligence Agency Col. Fayban had a windmill reconstructed in his scenic location along the Fox River with 160 shops and restaurants.The most famous is the 100+ year old Little Traveler ShopSilvestri Candies started in Cicero, IL before moving to GenevaSeveral Frank Lloyd Wright homes are in areaViking Ship located at Good Templar ParkFormer home of Illinois State Girls Training School and CemeteryCampana Company factory built in 1936 to produce Italian BalmFirst Hospital: Colonial on 3rd St. 1903 -19252nd Hospital: Community Hospital began in 1925on 2nd St.;combined with St Charles Delnora Hospital in late 1980’sto form Delnor Community Hospital on Randall Rd.There are 27 Geneva cities in the U.S. and 4 outside of the U.S.

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3. St. Charles “The Pride of the Fox”Known as the Pickle Capital of the U.S.The Jeopardy question in the 1990’s:“What midwestern town is the Pickle Capital of the World?”John Bet a Million Gates made a fortune in barbedwire, steel manufacturing, oil (Texaco), and stock markettrading. He married Dellora Baker of St. Charles.Their fortune passed to Dellora’s brother Col. Edward Bakerand her niece also named Dellora. Dellora Angell marriedLester Norris.Thus. the name DelNor that graces many of the parks, etc.The monies built the Baker Hotel, Baker Memorial Center,Baker Memorial Methodist Church, Potawatomi Park,DelNor Community Center, Delnor Hospital.and Arcada Theatre.When Lester Norris was appointed National Chairman of The Victory GardenCampaign during WWII to grow food, heasked his friend Walt Disney to help publicize the effort. Disneydrew Mickey with a green thumb.Former Piano Cable Factory in downtown now residencesSt Charles Business Alliance has an app for tours of historic places

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1. Batavia “City of Energy”Fermi Lab - particle physics and accelerator laboratoryAldi - U.S. HeadquartersBatavia Depot formerly on east side of townWindmills manufacturesMary Todd Lincoln spent almost 3 months in the Bellevue Sanatorium

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4. Mooseheart—- South of BataviaMoose organization opened a school for orphans in 1913Graduate Roger Broggie had a connection to Walt DisneyAdmission policy from 1913 -1960: only children of male Moose members who had died admitted