Here at last, dear reader, is part two of the history of South LaSalle Street in Aurora. It covers a period of only 25 years because, by the time the 1970s rolled around, few new businesses were starting up and many of the old ones were either going out of business or re-locating elsewhere in Aurora. The malaise to which I alluded at the beginning of this project was setting in.
I’ll start with some of the old-timers still doing business beyond 1946.
First, however, a correction of the information about the Aurora Corset Company. It was sold to the FormFit Corset Company in 1943 which remained at No. 63 S. LaSalle Street until 1959. I apologize for my poor research. FormFit shared the building with the Mikalik Manufacturing Company (furniture) after 1945; the latter remained there when FormFit closed shop until 1979 when it too shut down and left the building abandoned.
Ruddy Brothers expanded its operations to include No. 63 in 1961, then reduced operations by leaving Nos. 65-67 in 1967. They left LaSalle Street in 1969 altogether and re-located to North Aurora.
Finch and McCullouch was still at No. 84 as of 1971.
Lite Soap Company was at No. 18 until 1947 when the Pictorial Paper Company bought the building.
J.H. Armbruster and Company at No. 73 changed its business practice to manufacturing burial vaults in 1967. It was still there as of 1971.
Colonial Engraving and Electrotyping Company at No. 80 became the Aurora Electrotype Company in 1951 and was still there as of 1971.
Other long-time businesses:
Walter Deuchler Company (engineering consultant), 1942-1961, at No. 63 until Ruddy Brothers expanded, then moved off the street altogether.
The Odd Fellows (social organization), 1940-1958, at Nos. 62-66. A number of their Camps headquartered there over the years, and occasionally small church groups rented space. There was even a dance studio on the premises! After 1958, the property was the home to several Aurora Township offices and some mental-health outreach services.
The Fraternal Order of Elks, 1936-1947, at No. 112 before re-locating to the southwest corner of Stolp Avenue and Holbrook Avenue (now West Benton Street).
John Baily’s Tavern, 1938-1953, at No. 12, then 1953-1971+ at No. 13. I have to mention it because it was the longest-lasting of a plethora of watering holes on LaSalle Street.
The LaSalle Hotel, 1945-1970, at No. 8.
Harting ServiSoft Company (water softeners), was 1947-1965, at No. 103. This address was also the home of the Aurora Barber College, 1961-1971+.
A Mr. Hamsmith operated both an auto body shop and a used-car dealership on the Street, the former, 1945-1961, at numbers 115-119, when it morphed into LaSalle Street Dodge, Inc. and the latter, 1951-1961, at No. 118.
Virginia Fields (photography studio), 1951-1961, was at No. 73 before re-locating to the northeast corner of New York Street and East Park Place, across the street from McCarty Park.
Isleman Towing Service, 1957-1971+, was at No. 177.
Schor Glass Company, 1953-1954, was at #56, then expanded, 1954-1963, at numbers 56-58. Eventually, it re-located to the southwest corner of North River Street and West New York Street.
Holland Furnace Company (self-explanatory), 1938-1954, was at No. 75, then 1954-1964 at numbers 75-77.
Aurora Window Cleaning Company and Venetian Blind Laundry of Aurora, 1954-1971+, at No. 779.
Norb Kornak opened for business in 1966 at #131, first as an auto body shop, later as an Oldsmobile dealership. In 1977, he re-located to East New York Street.
Two other items of note:
Jennings Terrace (nursing home) opened in 1961 at No. 275 on the site of the old Jennings Seminary (nee Clark Seminary) and has been there ever since.
A string of service stations occupied No. 309 at the southwest corner of South LaSalle and North Avenue, 1928-1958 (no change in the numbering after 1929). The most notable operators were the Ruffalos and the Islemans; here were their first locations as purveyors of gasoline. The former did business from 1938 to 1942 after which they re-located to the southeast corner of Woodlawn Avenue and Gale Street; the latter from 1957 to 1958 after which they re-located to the southeast corner of East Galena Boulevard and South Lincoln Avenue.
The only reason I mention this address is because this property has been vacant since 1958. One can still see the cement foundations which identify the location as a service station. I suspect that the fuel tanks are still buried there which may be why the property remains abandoned.
That’s all folks! Check out the new South LaSalle Street.
Just a thought.