By Ricky Rieckert
Greetings readers,
This week we have the History of Aurora Tour Bus out and about on Jackson Street at North Avenue, on Aurora’s east side.
North Avenue and Jackson Street in Aurora, are part of an historic Eastside neighborhood with a rich past. The neighborhood developed as a safe and peaceful environment, with families living there for generations. Residents could easily access essential services like groceries, schools, and churches within the neighborhood, often without needing a car.
I mentioned in a previous article about the northwest corner being an ice-cream shop called Twirly Top, when I attended K.D. Waldo Middle School in 1972.
Before that, Jackson Press, occupied that building.
North of there, heading towards Benton Street, on the west side, were a few more businesses with a house or two, before the Wm. F. Meyer Company’s building.
On the east side of Jackson Street where North Avenue dead-ended, in the 1960s, was a gas station called Rockabrand’s Phillips 66 that had been in business for many years at that location. It was owned by an uncle of a good friend of mine.
In the late 1960s, a car ran the stop sign heading eastbound on North Avenue and crashed into the gas station.
In the 1970s, Prairie Chicken operated there, along with a location on Prairie Street, just west of the present Prisco’s Family Market.
A few years after that, a Greek, named George, opened up George’s Garbage Pizza. He served a pizza with a load of all the fresh ingredients you could imagine, except the kitchen sink. He called that pizza “The Garbage.” It was delicious.
Today, it’s Primo’s Food Mart-Grill, which I have not been in.
On the southwest corner was a cobbler shop. He was there for years, but I forgot the name of it, sorry. I did take a pair of work boots to him, to have new soles put on, in the 1980s for about $15.
I don’t know when he closed, but today it is an auto repair place.
On the northeast corner of Jackson and Fourth Avenue is Emmanuel Lutheran Church, which was established in 1901 and dedicated in 1903.
On the southeast corner, was Emmanuel Lutheran School. I played basketball in a tournament, in their gym, while attending Sacred Heart Grade School, in fifth Grade.
In addition, I coached Sacred Heart’s fifth and sixth-grade team in a tournament there, at 17 years old. Two neighborhood boys I coached on the team, went on to be Aurora Police Officers.
Alvin Soto, who while playing in the Emmanuel tournament. After the game, I saw him holding hands with a cheerleader. I asked him if she was his girlfriend and he replied, “No coach Rick, she’s my arm piece.” I used that phrase many times after.
Alvin, was named the Aurora Policeman of the Year, about 10 years ago. I’m very proud of him. Alvin and his wife opened up an ice cream shop downtown. I don’t know if it’s still open.
Reynaldo “Rey” Rivera, whom I called Rey Rey, was the first Aurora Police Officer shot at the Henry Pratt Company shooting, on Prairie Street, a few years ago. He survived, but was off the force for six months. I’ll write more, in a later article.
Moving south on Jackson, to 452 Jackson, on the East Side was Frost Electric.
Founded in 1922, Frost Electric is a family-owned and operated business in Aurora. They moved to Morton Street on the West Side. I don’t know what’s in the old building today.
On the southwest corner of Simms Street and Jackson, was a Piggly Wiggly grocery store, which later became Rusty’s, a grocery store owned by Robert Wallers, Sr.. He owned the store for several years. Former Auroran, Roy “Ro” Parker, was employed there. Both are friends of mine. Roy is deceased.
Today, it’s an aluminum extrusion shop.
Jackson Street ends at Ashland Avenue, for the north extension.
While no longer in existence, the before-mentioned businesses were significant stores for the neighborhood, demonstrating a self-sufficient nature in the past.
Overall, the North Avenue and Jackson Street area has a history rooted in its neighborhood community, churches, schools, and local businesses, reflecting a time when residents could meet most of their needs within walking-distance.
Hopefully you enjoyed this article. I’m thinking of keeping the tour bus in the area, for the excursion next week.