By Ricky Rieckert
This week I’m touching a bit to complete information on last week in Aurora history.
The buildings on Broadway, from East New York Street to Benton Street had vaults in the front of the basements, that were right under the sidewalks, with steam pipes overhead, under the sidewalks to heat the sidewalks in the Winter to keep it snow-free and ice-free.
The City government would pay each business a stipend for the steam heat, which at first, was from coal, with that room or vault used as a coal shoot, and bin, and later natural gas.
I had the opportunity to check out a few of them in my lifetime.
That’s what I meant last week on a cover-up.
I believe they’re closing them up, they haven’t been used in years.
When I was five years old, when I wasn’t chasing that five-year old girl in last week’s article, my dad would take me pheasant-hunting November through January on the property, (farm) where Fox Valley Mall later was built and opened in 1974.
I picked up a pheasant, that my dad shot, approximately where Sears later was built.
The intersection had a four-way stop with a blinking red light.
On the southwest corner, was a gas station. To the West of that was Sho-Bars Restaurant in which my dad and I would eat prior to going hunting, and west of that was an Aurora fire station.
The other three corners and west of the Aurora Fire Department was farmland which it should have stayed, in my opinion.
In the 1960s a Naperville fire truck was heading south bound on Route 59 with lights and sirens all in order, responding to a fire.
Two guys were inside the truck and two guys were riding on back.
All of a sudden at the intersection, a car heading east ran the stop sign and collided with the fire truck, killing the two firemen on the back. What a tragedy. It was talked about a long time.
God bless those men.
I know the son of one of them.
I don’t mention names.
To the west was nothing but farmsteads.
Eola Road only ran north from East New York Street which was called Route 65.
Now it’s time for some humor, truth, and wisdom.
Most guys say, I’ll tell you everything, I know, if you can spare a couple of minutes. Not me.
I was at the Knights of Columbus convention in Springfield a year ago.
After Saturday’s part, we needed to change clothes for church and the State Deputy banquet.
As I entered the elevator, a much younger guy, said to me, “how’s it going? I didn’t know him from Adam.
He said, you were the life of the convention last year.
I didn’t want to break his heart, I wasn’t there the prior year. I thought it was a set-up to kick my butt.
When we got off the elevator on the 11th. Floor, I said, no hard feelings.
He said, you’re the life of every party.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
He said, “what was that for?”
I said, I thought I had an ugly break-up with your sister.
He laughed and said, you have always been a fun guy.
Little does he know, after the banquet I found his sister, on the 30th floor in a hospitality room, and we went to at least eight of them, before I said, what are you doing here, with all guys? She said, “My brother is a Knight from up north and I live six blocks from here. She said she came as his guest for the banquet and hospitality Room.”
Then, she said;
“Wanna go outside.” I said, “Heck, yes.”
We sat on a bench together for over an hour.
She smoked a cigarette, she offered me one, I said I don’t smoke.
That was the best part of the convention in my mind.
At 1 a.m., she said, I should get home.
We both stood up, embraced with the biggest hug, I ever had.
She attempted to kiss me. I wanted to, but the I would want it every day.
So I said no. She respected me.
She’ll always be a keeper, in my book.
I told her to drive safe.
Little did her brother on the elevator, know I had one of the best times in my life, with his sister. I never saw him Sunday.
Remember, what’s funny, is the way life treats you.
I believe in karma, the good kind. Always remember, the train rolls on, long after you’re gone. I wish the best for all you readers. See you next time.