Aurora Cosmos give $500 to help Aurora museum reopen after two years

In December, the Cosmopolitan Club of Aurora, the club that fights diabetes, awarded the Aurora Historical Society a $500 grant to help reopen its Tanner House museum.

The museum is in an 1857 former Aurora merchant's home at 305 Cedar St. in Aurora.

Russ George, Cosmos president, made the presentation Dec. 2 to John Jaros, Aurora Historical Society executive director and Mary Clark-Ormond, society president.

"Cosmopolitan Club has a great history of assisting the Aurora Historical Society, especially the 1857 William Tanner House," George said. "Since the early 1950s, Cosmo members made saving the museum the club's main project. Members regularly donated materials and labor to maintain the lawn and grounds, along with exterior and interior renovation projects.

"Cosmopolitan Club donates $250 annually to sponsor society's annual Fourth of July bell ringing celebration and picnic," George continued. "The Cosmos put up a tent, distribute information about diabetes and bring a registered certified diabetes educator to answer public questions.

The $500 donation helped to reopen the festively decorated museum every Sunday afternoon in December, according to George.

The Tanner House Museum is now closed for the season. The historical society is hoping to reopen the house in late spring or early summer. You can tour the house, however, via several videos available on the website, www.aurorahistory.net.

The historical society gift shop at the Pierce Center, 20 E. Downer, is open noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It features Aurora memorabilia, including the Vintage Aurora 2022 Calendar "Building Aurora," embroidered chef aprons, drinkware, infant onesies, clothing, Aurora history books, and more.