By Ricky Rieckert Part 2 of 3 Dear readers, As we return this week with part 2, I hope everyone enjoyed the article last week and the newspaper. There were a lot of good stories and pictures throughout the paper. Let’s start. In part 1, the Luxembourg Club, on High...
By Ricky Rieckert(Part 1 of 3) Dear readers, This week, on Aurora’s Buildings, Businesses, and Streets, we’re heading to the Luxembourg Club (Luxie’s), 416 High Street. We’re parking the History of Aurora Tour Bus, up front in the north lot, off of Front Street, used by Art’s Body Shop during...
By Ricky Rieckert Greetings, The Voice readers! This week, as we start another week of The History of Aurora: Buildings, businesses, and streets on the History of Aurora Tour Bus, we’re heading from the start of Jackson Street at E. Downer Place, (originally Fox Street), to the south. On the...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, We start off this week in our tour of Aurora, on W. Benton Street, heading west toward S. River Street, from the former Post Office and Sci-Tech building. As we cross over the west branch of the Fox River, take notice that between the east...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear faithful subscribers, readers, and all. This week, the Aurora History Tour Bus, is at the northwest corner of Benton Street and Stolp Avenue, (originally known as Island Avenue). This building, was home to the Aurora Elks Club. It was a beautiful two-story brick building. When I...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear subscribers, patrons and readers: Hope everyone had a special time, with their special someone, on Valentine’s Day. I didn’t let that opportunity slip away from me, this year, no way, no how. I went on a date with a blonde, female nurse with tattoos, who I...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear “The Voice” Readers: As we enter this week, I took our Aurora history tour bus in for a tire repair and decided to get an oil change, also. It should be ready to roll, next week. •Last week, I touched on building a new train depot...
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....
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....
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...
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...
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...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear subscribers and readers of The Voice. I would like to wish everyone, a Happy New Year and I hope the quarter century mark of 2025 will be a prosperous year for everyone. With 2024 at the end, we always wonder what happened to the year. Boy
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,...
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”...
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,...
By Ricky Rieckert As we enter a new week, I hope everyone enjoyed Thanksgiving Day, and any extra, time with family and friends. Last week when writing about The First Presbyterian Church, we had a small glitch: It was organized in 1858, not 1958. On the First United Methodist Church,...
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,...
By Ricky Rieckert Dear readers, subscribers, all. This week, I’m going to write about, first, something a reader suggested. Betty sent me a compliment about my articles and that she likes reading them. She said it brings back memories. This letter was forwarded to me from The Voice. Upon reading,...
By Ricky Rieckert I’m proud to say that I received my first compliment letter from a woman reader/subscriber. Thanks to The Voice for forwarding it to me. It was really touching. This week, I’m going to finish-up with E. Galena Boulevard (Main Street) in Aurora. Starting at Root Street and...
