Aurora Hotel and Leland Tower start on Island, Stolp

Part two of the Stolp Avenue profile:

The first part is available at thevoice.us/history-recalled-of-buildings-on-stolp-avenue-in-aurora

This essay looks at Island Avenue in Aurora before it was amalgamated with Stolp Avenue in 1964. It must be noted that not only was this street the center of Aurora geographically, it was Aurora’s heart because many of its addresses became landmarks in the City’s history.

We begin with the two premier addresses: The Aurora Hotel and the Leland Tower. The former is on the northwest corner of Galena Boulevard/Main Street, while the latter is directly across the street on the southwest corner. Both hotels thrived in their heyday because out-of-towners took in what Aurora had to offer in the way of entertainment and fine dining, among other things.

The Aurora Hotel was established in 1917 at #52 Island Avenue when addresses ascended from Fox Street/Downer Place. When Island was extended to the northern tip of Stolp Island in 1921, the numbering system was reversed, ascending from Galena/Main south to Fox/Downer. The new number for the Hotel became No. 2, 10 North Island Avenue.

There was a cigar stand in the lobby for distinguished male guests and, after 1947, the Chessmans Bar opened for business for those same guests and remained there until 1961. After 1936, several social clubs, Lions, Cosmopolitan, and Kiwanis, to name a few, held their meetings there. And after 1945, the hotel was host to the Aurora Chamber of Commerce and the Aurora Junior Chamber of Commerce.

The Leland Tower, established in 1928, was at 7 South Island Avenue. Interestingly, there was a No. 1 address which was in the same building, but was not a part of the hotel; this location housed a variety of businesses over the years, mostly small restaurants and bars. The Leland had a cigar stand, plus a beauty shop for milady and a barber shop for milord after 1933. After 1936, the Rotary Club met there.

In 1947, the Hotel created the world-famous Sky Club on the roof where one could enjoy fine dining and ballroom dancing while listening to fine music played by a community orchestra. The music was broadcast by a Chicago radio station, as well. The management installed a telescope outside of the Club so that guests could view the environs of Aurora for miles around.

We mustn’t forget the Armory, must we, dear reader? This outpost of the Illinois National Guard – Company K, 127th Infantry Regiment, was created in 1918 at 59 Island Avenue, later changed to 15 North Island. It stood right behind the original location of the Aurora Beacon-News (38 – 40 Main Street, 4 – 6, after 1929). The Veterans of Foreign Wars had its original post north of the Armory at 17 – 31 from 1930 to 1932.

We must mention the Keystone Building at 10 Island, later 30 South Island, and the Graham Building at 14 – 16 Island, later at 33 – 35 South Island. The former was built in 1922 and housed a large collection of non-government offices; the latter was built in 1926 as an apartment building. Individual occupancy of either was too numerous to mention here, especially because said occupancy kept changing almost month by month! The Keystone Building is being remodeled as luxury apartments.

Other notable addresses (all at South Island Avenue, unless otherwise noted):

Leath and Company (furniture) at 31 – 33 (14 – 20 after 1929) from 1914 to 1940 (moved to a new location).

Loyal Order of Moose at 26 – 36 (later 17 – 31) from 1914 to 1930 (moved).

Aurora Silver Plate Manufacturing at the northeast corner of Island and Fox from 1917 to 1920. It is now Charlie’s Silver Spoon Creamery.

Huesling Jewelry at 15 from 1925 to 1938+.

Block and Kuhl (household goods) at 2 – 8 from 1928 to 1954, then just at 8 from 1954+.

Montgomery Ward (household goods) at 12 from 1928 to 1940, then at #10 – 20 from 1940+.

The Virginia Shop (women’s clothing) at 37 from 1935 to 1936, then at 11 from 1936+.

The Isle Theater at 21 – 25 from 1936+.

Bill’s Hat Shop at 40 from 1936 to 1962, then at #35 from 1962+.

Aurora Township offices at 25 from 1935 to 1937, then at 41 from 1937 to 1938 (moved to 70 – 73 Stolp Avenue).

Assell Photo Service at 41 from 1938 to 1959+.

The Book Shop at 28 from 1945+.

Arnold Lies (contractor) at 37 from 1945+.

Staudt and Neuman (pharmacy) at 1 from 1951+.

The Steak House at 37 from 1954 to 1957 (moved).

JoAnn’s School of Charm at 17 from 1958 to 1959+. (JoAnn’s one claim to fame was that it created Miss Illinois of 1959!)

Carson Pirie Scott (household goods) at 2 from 1963+.

Continued at thevoice.us/chronology-of-businesses-on-stolp-island-in-aurora-varied.