By Ricky Rieckert
Hello fellow The Voice followers.
This week, we’re going to start at E. Benton Street, starting at S. Ohio Street.
On the northwest corner is Beaupre School, on the Northside built in 1908, I believe, along with Bardwell School on S. Lincoln Avenue, at the same time.
Heading west to S. State Street, E. Benton turns one-way east at Water Street, downtown, but surely from Broadway to State Street.
It is two-way, from Water Street west, and State Street east.
Moving west on E. Benton Street, the wrong way from S. State Street, to Jackson Street.
On the northeast side is the Old East High, now K.D. Waldo Middle School, on the southside of the School.
On the southeast side of Benton at Jackson, is the old St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, School, and bowling alley.
The bowling alley, St. Paul’s Lanes, is on 2nd Avenue, one street south.
On the southwest corner of Benton and Jackson, was the Old Wm. F. Meyer plumbing supply company. They now reside on E. New York Street.
That building today, is All About Caring- Aurora, a childcare business.
On the northwest corner, was the Old Kramer’s Gas Station and Auto Repair. It was in business for years.
Today, is it is Baeza Auto Repair Aurora.
As we move west on an eastbound Street, Benton Street, to Lincoln Avenue, on the southeast corner was the Masonic Temple.
It once was a beautiful building, inside and out. I was inside the building several times as a teenager to attend the Aurora Kiwanis Club Annual Pancake Day.
The building needed TLC (tender loving care), but never received it.
The building was bought and sold several times after the Masons, moved out. Nobody ever repaired the building. I have no idea why it wasn’t classified as a Historic Bldg.
Then years later, the mayor talked about razing this once beautiful gem, two weeks before the building caught fire at night, and burned down. Relief for the Mayor’s Office, perhaps.
The Masonic property now is a pasture of green grass, an eyesore to me and a lot of people traveling east on Benton, or north or south on Lincoln Avenue.
Maybe that would be a perfect location for the push cart vendors in town, along with all the men and women holding cardboard signs at all the busy intersection’s in “A” town. Guitar’s included. What kind of venue would this be without music?
Hell, just a few minute before writing this article, there was a guy in the intersection of Orchard Road and W. Galena. Luckily he hasn’t been hit by a car yet, but people are donating to his cause.
Let’s get him out of the wild and into the Masonic Fun Land, where he can eat while entertaining. You go, guy.
That building always reminded me of the Old Chicago Stadium in Chicago, where the Blackhawk’s and Bull’s use to play.
Sweet dreams now and forever….
Have a nice week, see you next week on Benton Street.