A look back as Aurora celebrates 175th anniversary

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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 11:27PM

This year, Aurora celebrates its 175th anniversary. The Aurora Historical Society is planning events throughout the year, and more information about those celebrations is available at aurorahistory.net.

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

... in 1862.

Robert Neale, who drove for Roe & Howell, left his horse unattended at the Sash Factory for a few moments while he was handling some lumber. The horse was startled and began racing toward Eagle Mills. The horse ran past the mill into the partially frozen river, then got his feet and body stuck under the ice. After considerable exertion, a number of men pulled the animal from the river. By the next day, the horse was hauling lumber about the street “as good as new”.

... in 1912.

State Sen. Charles Hurburgh of Galesburg, a Republican candidate for governor, spoke at the downtown GAR Hall. Hurburgh criticized the waste going on in Springfield, nothing that he recently surveyed how much other states spend to heat their capitol building. It cost $16,000 in Iowa, $11,000 in Ohio and $8,000 in Indiana to heat the capitol, but $45,000 in Illinois, Hurburgh said. “Down in the little boiler room at the state house in Springfield, I found four engineers and 37 firemen on the payroll,” he said. Hurburgh said he supported a bill that would publish the names and salaries of everyone on the state’s payroll. Also, in a poll of people at the meeting, 69 said they supported Theodore Roosevelt for president and 14 supported William Taft.

... in 1962.

Four mink coats, worth $8,000, were stolen while the owners were attending a Child Welfare Society Luncheon in the basement of Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 N. Edgelawn Ave. The coats were taken from Mrs. Walter E. Deuchler of Aurora, Mrs. John Alexander of Big Rock, Mrs. G.H. Alexander of Aurora and Mrs. H.B. Spackman of Aurora.