A look back during Aurora’s 175th birthday

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New poster designed by Neal Ormond IV for the 175th anniversary (2012) of Aurora. | Aurora Historical Society

Updated: March 24, 2012 11:19PM

Aurora is celebrating its 175th birthday this year. The Aurora Historical Society has several events planned including a city birthday party March 2, where longtime residents will be honored. More information is available at www.aurorahistory.net/175.html.

As part of our role in honoring Aurora’s milestone, every week The Beacon-News will revisit stories from 50, 100 and 150 years ago. Here’s what people were talking about in Aurora this week ...

... in 1862.

Last week, The Beacon-News published a letter praising the end of the 36th Regiment band. The letter writer said they only knew a few songs, but played them all poorly. The letter writer said the band blamed poor instruments for their poor play. After the regiment raised $500 to buy new ones, many of the band members found it was too hard to play well.

Following that attack, The Beacon-News published a response from a member of the former band:

“I suppose the writer of that letter expected to be transferred to Paradise and to hear something glorious and grand peal forth from these new and progressive instruments — something unnatural to humanity. But instead of heavenly strains floating melodious in the air, there came “The Star Spangled Banner;” “Red, White and Blue;” and many other appropriate tunes. He must be the brother of the man who, when played “Mockingbird” for the first time, asked us to play something new.”

... in 1912.

The second unofficial “Roughneck Day” was held at East Aurora High School, where boys and girls intentionally dressed sloppy as a school spirit prank. The tradition started with a few boys last year. This year, it spread through notes scribbled on chalkboards, which warned students who wore neckties or other conventional clothing they would face awful penalties. About 150 girls tried to look their worst by wearing pigtails and disheveled dresses. Many boys wore red flannel shirts and canvas trousers. One boy wore a padlock around his neck. Three boys were suspended.

... in 1962.

Sgt. Daniel Cluka, a Marine recruiter in Aurora, was the first person in town to buy a sheet of the new 4-cent stamps that honored John Glenn becoming the first American to orbit the Earth. For days, sealed packages were hidden away in 300 post offices around the country carrying orders: “Do not open.” As soon as Glenn was plucked from the Atlantic Ocean, a flash went out: “Open package and sell stamps.” The stamp was a simple blue rectangle with a space capsule catching the rays of the sun as it soared over Earth. More than 70,000 stamps were sold nationwide in the first two hours.