By Ricky Rieckert
(Part 3)
Dear readers,
Here is part three of Aurora’s nationality social clubs and other social clubs.
I hope you have enjoyed parts one and two, along with the entire paper.
In part two, I forgot to mention, the Aurora Moose Lodge #400, a fraternal organization, resided in the downtown originally, until they built their new lodge on Redwood Drive, on the far west side.
They closed the Redwood Drive location and sold that building at the turn of the 21st Century.
They then occupied the building on the southeast corner of Spring Street and Lincoln Avenue, which was once occupied by the V.F.W. and the East Side Social Club.
The East Side Social Club was there for a few years until the Aurora Moose Lodge #400 occupied the building. Sadly the Moose Lodge closed and is no longer operating.
Today, the building is vacant.
The Aurora Moose was part of Moose International which operates Mooseheart, in between North Aurora and Batavia on Route 31.
At Mooseheart they take care of orphan children and have housing and a school for grades one through 12.
Sports has been a part of Mooseheart, and several successful individuals have graduated from there, privileged and proud to have been taken care of, without having family to rely on.
I knew an Aurora postman who was raised there.
They have Moose-haven in Florida, for retired members, if you qualify.
Club 66 was for those of African-American descent.
The building was on North Lasalle Street, between E. New York Street and Spring Street, just north of the Aurora Turners, downtown, behind the new No. 1 Fire Department.
Both Club 66 and the Aurora Turners buildings were torn down for parking for the Aurora Fire Museum and the new No. 1 Fire Station.
The Aurora Latin American Club is on the southwest corner of N. Farnsworth and Dearborn Avenue. The club for those with Hispanic Heritage, opened in 1959.
The other Social Clubs in Aurora are: The Third Ward Club, The Tiger Athletic Association, The Phoenix Club, St. George Citizen Club, The Wildrose Club, The Athletic Club, and The Seventh Ward Club.
Next week, I will add Fraternal Clubs; Knights of Columbus and The Eagles Club. I will add the service clubs and touch on a couple of other clubs, on the way.
I may actually end up with five parts to complete this multi-part story, because I never finished the story about the Luxies Club.
I won’t disappoint and hope you stay with the story, as readers of the history of Aurora, and The Voice.
Have a good week!