A former Civil War slave turned abolitionist and women’s rights advocate came alive in Batavia Tuesday, Feb 4. With words, period costume, and acapella gospel music, North Aurora resident Pam Welcome portrayed Sojourner Truth at the Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association membership luncheon at Lincoln Inn Banquets in Batavia. Welcome
By Ricky Rieckert Greetings one and all. Board the Aurora history tour bus, as we proceed on Benton Street. This week, heading west on E. Benton Street, the wrong way from Lincoln Avenue to Lasalle Street. On the southwest corner was, from what I know of, the Aurora Barber College.
February 6 After a long illness, King George VI of Great Britain and Northern Ireland dies in his sleep at the royal estate at Sandringham. Princess Elizabeth, the eldest of the king’s two daughters and next in line to succeed him, was in Kenya at the time of her father’s
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.
Aurora University’s Schingoethe Center museum will exhibit “Away from Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories” Jan. 28-March 14. The event at the museum in the Hill Welcome Center, 1315 Prairie St. in Aurora, will display photos from a permanent exhibition at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Ariz. “Away” explores off-reservation
January 30 During a funeral service in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol to honor the late U.S. representative Warren R. Davis of South Carolina, a man discharged two pistols in the direction of U.S. president Andrew Jackson. Both weapons misfired, and the shooter was promptly subdued and arrested.
By Ricky Rieckert Last week, I finished up at W. Downer and S. River Street in Aurora’s past. This week we’ll start there and head west. On the northwest corner of Downer and River is the Old Second National Bank. I believe it’s the oldest bank in Aurora. The bank
January 23 An earthquake in Shaanxi, China, kills an estimated 830,000 persons. Counting casualties is often imprecise after large-scale disasters, especially prior to the 20th Century, but this disaster is still considered the deadliest of all time. – 1556. Elizabeth Blackwell graduates with the highest grades in her class when
By Ricky Rieckert To start with this week in an historical look back at Aurora, I forgot to add the addresses of both Fox Theaters. The Original, on Fox Street, was 24-28 Fox Street (three units). The New Fox Theater on Main Street, was 54 E. Main Street. Just west
January 16 The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes,” is ratified on this day in 1919 and becomes the law of the land. – 1919. Faced with an army mutiny and violent demonstrations against his rule, Mohammad
By Ricky Rieckert As we enter the New Year, I hope everyone had a great time with family and friends, over the holidays. I had some feedback on Fox Street (now E. Downer Place) from some friends. First off, directly across from the present City Hall, is the building that
January 9 Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union leads Missouri Highway sit-down of 1,700 families. They were evicted from their homes so landowners wouldn’t have to share government crop subsidy payments with them. – 1939. Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs unveils the iPhone, a touchscreen mobile phone with an iPod, camera, and
January 2 Georgia votes to ratify the U.S. Constitution to become the fourth state in the modern United States, and was one of the original 13 colonies. – 1788. Albert Fall, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior, resigns in response to public outrage over the Teapot Dome scandal.
By Ricky Rieckert Dear subscribers and readers, I hope everyone had a merry Christmas. In last week’s article on Aurora’s Aurora’s historical Fox Street (now E. Downer Place), I forgot to mention about the Stallion Restaurant, 35 S. Broadway, on the northwest corner of E. Downer Place, and Broadway. Today,
December 26 The first day of the first Kwanzaa is celebrated in Los Angeles under the direction of Maulana Karenga, the chair of Black Studies at California State University in Long Beach. The seven-day holiday, which has strong African roots, was designed by Dr. Karenga as a celebration of African
By Ricky Rieckert Hello everyone. I’m back to recount Aurora’s history, continuing from Fox Street, E. Downer, from Lincoln Avenue and heading towards downtown Aurora. On the southeast corner of Fox Street and Lasalle Street was the original Y.M.C.A.. It ended up being a drive-up for Merchants Bank. The “Y”
December 19 After nearly 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives approves two articles of impeachment against president Bill Clinton and charges him with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton, the second president in American history to be impeached, vows to finish his
The historic William Tanner House Museum is now festively decorated in holiday finery and is ready to receive visitors for the annual Tanner House Holidays, through December 29. Open days and hours are Sunday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., December 8, 15, 22, and 29; and Friday evenings
By Ricky Rieckert This week in Aurora’s past, I’m going to write about the Main Hatters Store. But first, thanks to the subscribers and/or readers, and The Voice, for two more fan letters. Last week, we were discussing the Hammond family on Liberty Street. This week will be Main Hatters,
December 12 More than two years after it was stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris, Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece The Mona Lisa is recovered inside Italian waiter Vincenzo Peruggia’s hotel room in Florence. Peruggia previously had worked at the Louvre and had participated in the heist with a group
