By Ricky Rieckert
I want to wish all subscribers, readers, and all, a happy Thanksgiving Day, with your families and loved ones.
I was unable to write for a few weeks because I have been in the hospital with foot injuries. I’ll be out soon, hopefully.
Back to Aurora’s history, where we will go to Fox Street, which changed to E. Downer, in 1961.
Starting at N. Fourth Street, the southwest corner, was First Presbyterian Church founded in 1958, and the church building was built in 1901-1902.
They have added on to the building and parking lots.
Now we’re moving west to the third building on the northside, east of Lincoln Avenue, 314 E. Downer, (Fox Street).
The building is currently, Santa Maria. It was formerly Downs Funeral Home in 1948, then Dieterle’s Funeral Home in 1962, and Ron Stewart Photography, in the 1970s.
Now, for the main attraction. On the Southeast corner of Lincoln Avenue and E. Fox Street, was the First United Methodist Church.
This was the First Church in Aurora, which the McCarty brothers helped make it happen.
The Congregation was established in 1837 and the current Church was built in 1871-1874.
I would really love to see the flagstone of the building, which has turned black.
The Church Congregation has closed up, but the Children Center is still open.
We’ll continue next week, on E. Downer, entering downtown.
Here’s a quote to leave on: “Motivation comes from working on things, we care about.
“It also comes from working with people we care about.”