Aurora to celebrate its historic roots
This May, Aurora residents will join thousands of individuals around the country as part of a nationwide celebration of National Historic Preservation Month to honor their communities' past and spotlight preservation efforts.
Mayor Tom Weisner encourages residents to celebrate the city's distinctive history by taking part in one of several activities planned for May:
Mayor's awards
The Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Historic Restoration and Property Improvement will be at 7 p.m. May 20 at the Blues Alley Art Gallery, 37 Stolp Ave. The event is free and no registration required.
Green Reservation
Carl Elefante said, "The greenest building is the one that is already built." Historic preservation helps the environment, is sustainable design, conserves energy, is energy efficient and can meet the latest Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System standards.
To learn more about green preservation, join the Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Elgin, and Kane County preservation commissions for a presentation by Mike Jackson, chief architect for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
The free presentation will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Geneva Public Library, 127 James St., Geneva. A $10 appetizer reception will follow at the Nosh Restaurant, 211 James St., Geneva. RSVP to safanda@ppfv.org.
Your house history
Have you ever wondered how old your home is and who lived there before you?
At 7 p.m. May 13 at the Aurora Public Library, 1 East Benton St., staff members of the Aurora Preservation Commission and the Aurora Public Library will host a free workshop on how to research a historic Aurora home.
Experts will teach attendees how to use historic city directories, Sanborn Maps, the Internet and other resources at the library to piece together the story of an old home.
No registration is required.
Green preservation bike tour
Leave the cars at home and join us for Aurora's first Green Preservation Tour on bikes at 9 a.m. May 18.
The free tour starts at the Phillips Park Visitor Center and will include 6-mile and 12-mile routes. The tour will include a stop for snacks.
All biking levels are welcome and helmets are strongly recommended. To reserve a spot, call the Aurora Preservation Commission at (630) 844-3648.
West Aurora cemetery de-siding, painting
The West Aurora Cemetery Association is in the midst of restoring its historic chapel, and volunteers are needed May 31 to assist with this project.
Join the Aurora Preservation Commission in assisting with the removal of vinyl siding and an interior painting project at 9 a.m., with a pizza and pop lunch at 11:30 a.m.
Parking is available on the 600 block of Wilder Street. Bring paintbrushes, pry bars and work gloves.
Local revolutionary war soldier honored
The public is welcome to attend the 240th anniversary of Revolutionary War soldier Israel Warner's birth and grave dedication at 3 p.m. May 31 at Big Woods Cemetery on Eola Road, just south of Butterfield Road, Aurora. The event is hosted by the Israel Warner Commemorative Committee
Celebrate on your own
• The Aurora Regional Fire Museum, 53 N. Broadway, is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is $3.50 for adults; $2.50 for seniors or firefighters; and $2 for children ages 12 and younger. Discount rates are available for groups of 10 or more.
• The Aurora Historical Society's exhibit space at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer Place, is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults; $1.50 for students and seniors and free for historical society members.
• There are two free downtown Aurora self-guided tours: The Downtown Heritage Tour and the Cell Phone Tour. Tour brochures are available at city hall, the Aurora Public Libraries and online at www.auroradowntown.org.
• There also are self-guided driving tours: An Architectural Portrait and Building Sears Houses in Aurora. These brochures are available at city hall and the Aurora Public Libraries. They can be downloaded from the Historic Preservation section of the city's Web site: www.aurora-il.org.