Kewanee, Illinois is located in Northwest Illinois about 25 miles Northeast of Galesburg on US Route 34 and 25 miles
from the Quad Cities Area, as the crow flies. The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad runs through this town with AMTRAK
service. Kewanee was founded in 1854 as the railroad came into the town and annexed a town south of it, Wethersfield, in 1924.
The Visitation school was founded in 1895. The first St. Mary's Church, which was instrumental in the development of
the school, was built in 1855. A newer church building replaced it in 1885. In 1907 the church again
rebuilt with a new facility on Central Boulevard.
The Visitiation school began high school curriculum in 1923. The high school classes were housed,
until 1928, in the "old" building (1885). In 1928 the high school moved into the "new" school building. This building was
built by
Oscar Schneider, who also built the high school in
Toulon. We are unsure if the education was a co-ed effort or a boys-only effort.
A victim to the Great Depression, Visitation ceased its high school curriculum in 1932, although their lower grades remained
active. Both original Visitation school buildings have been torn down.
Visitation Elementary School today, built in 1989, still serves the citizens of Kewanee and is supported by both St.
Mary’s and St. Francis of Assisi parishes. Photos of the newer Visitation Grade School are at the top of
this page.
Kewanee Visitation High School "Quick Facts"
Year school opened: 1895
Year high school curriculum began: 1923
Year high school curriculum ceased: 1932
Parish:
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
School Colors:
Red & White
School Song:
Unavailable
School Mascot: the
"Cardinals"
