Town of Aurora 200

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Letters to the Future time capsule. All the letters were vacuum sealed today and will be opened on April 15, 2068, ...the 250th anniversary of the town's charter. Today's ceremony officially concluded the Town of Aurora's yearlong bicentennial commemoration. Thank you for a great year! (Photo courtesy of the Aurora Historical Society). See more

200 YEARS AGO TODAY, THE TOWN OF AURORA WAS BORN. By Act of the New York State Legislature, the Town of Willink was divided into the Towns of Aurora, Holland and Wales, effective March 1, 1819. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

IT'S YOUR LAST CHANCE! Just a reminder that tomorrow is the deadline to submit your letter to the future. Don't miss YOUR chance to be part of history! The lett...ers will be sealed up during a ceremony at the Town of Aurora Public Library at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 2. Please join us. The letters will be opened in the year 2068! Visit http://www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial for details about the project and how you can take part. See more

Check out this week's issue of the East Aurora Advertiser; the newspaper staff ponders life in the year 2068, when Aurorans will open the "Letters to the Future..." we are writing to them today. Have you written your letter yet? Don't miss YOUR chance to be part of history! The deadline is Friday, March 1, at noon, and the letters will be sealed up during a ceremony at the Town of Aurora Public Library at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 2. Visit http://www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial for details about the project and how you can take part. See more

HAVE YOU WRITTEN YOUR LETTER YET? We will seal up the bicentennial "Letters to the Future" time capsule in just over a week. Letters are arriving each day, but ...don't miss YOUR chance to be part of history! The deadline is Friday, March 1, at noon, and the letters will be sealed up during a ceremony at the Town of Aurora Public Library at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 2. Visit http://www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial for details about the project and how you can take part. See more

The East Aurora Art Society will present a special Aurora Bicentennial show at the Aurora Town Public Library, 550 Main Street, from Nov. 1 through Dec. 29. An opening celebration will take place tonight, Thursday, Nov. 1, from 5:30-7:30. Join us! https://eaartsociety.weebly.com/

Does the snowstorm have you stuck in the house and looking for something to do? How about writing a letter to the future? We are excited to announce this unique time capsule project to celebrate the conclusion of the Town of Aurora’s year-long bicentennial. We invite you to take out a piece of paper and write a letter to your counterpart 50 years into the future. The president of a civic organization could write to the future president of that civic organization; a family cou...ld write to the future owners of their home; a business owner could write to the future owner of their business or building; or a Scout troop could write to the future members of the Scout troop. The letters will be sealed inside a time capsule box during a ceremony at the Aurora Town Public Library, at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 2. When the new town and village municipal center on Oakwood Avenue opens, the box will be put on display in the building, with instructions that it be unsealed and the letters delivered on April 15, 2068, as part of the Town of Aurora’s 250th anniversary commemoration. Everyone is welcome to participate, and it's easy! Visit the Town of Aurora's Bicentennial website to see how you can take part: www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial See more

The Town of Aurora Recreation Department will be hosting a New Years ball drop at the Healthy Zone Rink. East Aurora Rescue 7, Utility 6, and Ladder 2 will be p...resent. Ladder 2 will be dropping the ball for the celebration. The Ball itself was made by student from the Wallace D. Ormsby Center. (Continued) See more

Congratulations to the Griffins Mills Presbyterian Church (in the early days known as the West Aurora Congregational Church) on the dedication of their roadside historic marker last evening. The dedication comes just in time for the Town of Aurora's bicentennial, as well as the 150th anniversary of Sojourner Truth's documented visit to the church on Oct. 1, 1868.

Some East Aurora Firefighters under the watchful eye of Aurora Rec Department staff practiced today for the inaugural New Year’s ball drop at the Healthy Zone ...Rink. The Town of Aurora is organizing and sponsoring the family friendly event on 12/31/18 with a free open skate from 11 pm to the ball drop at midnight. Additional parking available thanks to Fisher-Price in their lot on the corner of Riley and Girard. See more

Congratulations to the members of the East Aurora Garden Club on their successful show over the weekend at the Aurora Senior Center. Their theme, "A Day at the Races," celebrated the community's horse-racing history as part of the Town of Aurora's Bicentennial this year.

Join us Saturday night to celebrate the 200th anniversary of "Silent Night" and the Town of Aurora. The 46th East Aurora Carolcade will be held from 7-8 p.m., in front of Vidler's.

Be sure to stop by the Aurora Senior Center this weekend for the East Aurora Garden Club's annual show. Noon-5 p.m., Saturday, and noon-4 p.m., Sunday. https://www.eastaurorabee.com//Mambrino_King_focus_of_gard

There are still a few seats left for tonight's presentation at the Aurora Town Public Library. Join us! Call the library at 652-4440 to register. AURORA & THE W...AR OF 1812 Presented by Aurora Town Historian Robert Goller Date: Thursday, November 8, 2018 Start Time: 6:30 PM Aurora Town Public Library Learn the stories of some of the war’s veterans, discover how the war impacted the early settlers and the development of this small community. See more

Join the Friends of Griffins Mills for a bicentennial program Wednesday, Sept. 19. Learn about the Rev. John Spencer, who was credited with starting more than 50 churches in Western New York.

From this week's East Aurora Advertiser...

Did you get your copy of the East Aurora Advertiser's bicentennial special section? Copies are available at a number of locations around town, including the Southside Municipal Center, 300 Gleed Ave.

Thank you to the Historical Building at the Erie County Fair for allowing us to spread the word about our great bicentennial celebration. Be sure to stop by the... Historical Building during the fair to learn more about the history of local towns, including how the Towns of Aurora, Holland and Wales were formed 200 years ago. See more

THE TRADITION CONTINUES...In 1968, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of New York State dividing the Town of Willink into Aurora, Holland and Wales, the town supervisors of all three towns met for a photograph at the exact spot where the three municipalities geographically meet. Twenty-five years later, in celebration of the 175th anniversary (also known the Triquasquicentennial), the three town supervisors at the time made the trek to the corner post. Most recently, in hon...or of the 200th anniversary, the three current supervisors continued the tradition by gathering at the geographic point for a commemorative photograph. For decades the spot, which is located on private property off Darien Road, has been marked by a nondescript stake placed there by the property owners. Colden, which was part of the Town of Holland until 1827, also intersects there. It’s one of the few places in Erie County where someone can be in four towns at the same time. See more

Check out the Summer 2018 issue of Western New York Heritage magazine, which features the history of the formation of the towns of Aurora, Holland and Wales. The website features a short preview; buy your copy or subscribe to support this great not-for-profit local publication! https://www.wnyheritage.org//a_tale_of_three_to/index.html

Thank you to the Griffins Mills Presbyterian Church for a wonderful evening of living history, in commemoration of the Town of Aurora's bicentennial. Abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth made a "return visit" to the church, where she first lectured during a tour in the early 1850s and again on October 1, 1868.

Thanks to up-and-coming photographer Jack Moffat, who captured this wonderful image of a bicentennial banner and Old Glory on East Aurora's Main Street. Jack will be a freshman at East Aurora High School in the fall. And thanks again to the Bank of Holland for generously providing the banners for our year-long celebration!

--an Arts and Crafts take on a Bicentennial Barn Quilt at the Elbert Hubbard Roycroft Museum

In case you missed it, here's Rick Ohler's account of the Bicentennial Beard Growing Contest from last week. http://bit.ly/2mdqFLv

Up next in the #auroratownpubliclibrary bicentennial programs A Short History of the Roycroft Campus presented by Alan Nowicki, Program Director at the Roycro...ft Campus. August 6th at 1pm at the Aurora Town Public Library Space is limited and registration is required. Aurora Town Public Library Buffalo & Erie County Public Library

Throughout the month of July, be sure to check out the bicentennial exhibit in the lobby of the Aurora Town Public Library. Thank you to the library for allowing us to spread the word about the Town of Aurora's 200th anniversary!

Our neighbors in the Town of Wales will celebrate the Bicentennial this Saturday with a Pioneer Day at the South Wales Community Hall in South Wales. Bring the entire family! (Article from this week's East Aurora Advertiser).

The Third of July and Bicentennial Parade are now in the history books, but the Town of Aurora's Bicentennial celebration continues throughout 2018. Next up: A special Living History Event, on Wednesday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m., at the Griffins Mills Presbyterian Church. Join us!

Thanks to all of the Beard Growing Contest participants-you're all winners!

Congratulations to all the winners of the Bicentennial Beard Growing Contest!

Thanks to Andrews Barber Parlor for partnering with us and for cleaning up after the contest........

1890s PARADE...The Independence Day parade makes its way through East Aurora in the 1890s. Note the rather large utility poles, which had been installed just a few years earlier. (Image from the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office).

TODAY IS THE DAY!...Join us for the bicentennial parade at 6:30 p.m., the bicentennial program and beard growing contest at 7:30 p.m., and fireworks at 10 p.m.! Visit http://www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial for details.

Getting ready for the East Aurora July 3rd Parade, with a birthday cake float to celebrate our church’s (and the Town of Aurora’s) 200th Anniversary. We’d love... for all members and friends of First Presbyterian Church to come walk or ride with us. We will meet at 6:00 pm on Riley Street. Thanks to Heidi Baust for designing and building the structure of the float and a team of 22 children, youth, and adults who built it on Saturday. Tomorrow we add the final touches of flowers, candles, and fringe. Come join us! See more

This year’s Independence Day Parade will have a pair of prominent East Aurorans in the lead cars to mark not only our nation’s independence, but Aurora’s 200th birthday. Rick Ohler reports on this year's grand marshals: http://bit.ly/2lIx1SG

Judging for the Bicentennial Beard Growing Contest, sponsored by the Aurora Historical Society and Andrews Barber Parlor, will take place at the Rotary Bandstand in Hamlin Park at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 3. Stop on by after the parade and before the fireworks!

THANK YOU, BANK OF HOLLAND...for the wonderful bicentennial banners along Main Street! Join us for the bicentennial parade at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 3! (Image from this week's East Aurora Advertiser).

The 3rd of July Parade is next week already! Come walk with us. Meet us at the @healthyzonerink by 6pm #weloveeastaurora #greatesttownontheplanet

WHO WORE IT BETTER?...Town Supervisor Christopher Peek or Town Supervisor Jim Bach? Our current town supervisor is a contestant in the Bicentennial Beard Growing Contest sponsored by the Aurora Historical Society and Andrews' Barber Parlor. Stop by the Rotary Bandstand in Hamlin Park after the parade on Tuesday, July 3, to see the winner crowned and watch the contestants lose their beards courtesy of Andrews Barber Parlor. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m., and the bicentennial program will begin at 7:30 p.m. on the bandstand.

Check out this week's special bicentennial edition of the East Aurora Bee! On newsstands now. Join us Tuesday, July 3, for the Independence Day celebration. Visit www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial for event details.

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, 1936....Part 2. (Images from the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office).

SESQUICENTENNIAL PROGRAM...S-G Press Publisher Clayton Bailey looks over the official program for the Town of Aurora's Sesquicentennial with Town Supervisor Abb...ott Henshaw in 1968. Fifty years later, Mr. Bailey will be one of the Grand Marshals of the Bicentennial Parade, which will step off down Main Street on Tuesday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m. (Image from the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office). See more

INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE, PART 1...In anticipation of Aurora's Bicentennial Parade this Tuesday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m., in the coming days we will present images ...of the giant Fourth of July parade down Main Street and Oakwood Avenue in 1936. (Images from the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office.) See more

Special thanks to the East Aurora Art Society for helping the Town of Aurora celebrate its bicentennial over the weekend!

It's a busy weekend in East Aurora. Be sure to stop by the East Aurora Art Society's annual show to see the Aurora Historical Society, along with special bicentennial-themed activities and exhibits.

ARTISTS WANTED!...Participants are encouraged to celebrate the Town of Aurora's heritage during the annual Chalk Walk on Main Street at the Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, July 28. Bicentennial themes are encouraged! Space is limited, so register today! Visit the Bicentennial website to download the registration form: www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial.

Join us in Hamlin Park on Tuesday, July 3, for our annual Independence Day celebration, which will be the highlight of our bicentennial year. Visit www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial for a complete list of events.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE GIANT BICENTENNIAL PARADE!...Community organizations and businesses are encouraged to take this opportunity to highlight their own histories and contributions to our town. A bicentennial theme is encouraged, but not mandatory. Help us celebrate! The registration form and additional information about the July 3 parade is available on the Town of Aurora Bicentennial website at www.townofaurora.com/departments/bicentennial, and at the Town of Aurora Recreation Department at the Southside Municipal Center, 300 Gleed Ave. Registration forms are due by June 26.

The Town of Aurora and Village of East Aurora have begun fundraising efforts for the 2018 Bicentennial Celebration fireworks display at Hamlin Park. Here's where you can donate: http://bit.ly/2kB4iyG

TAKE THE BICENTENNIAL BARN QUILT TOUR...Businesses, churches and residents in the Towns of Aurora, Holland and Wales are celebrating our heritage by creating barn quilts. Click on the link for the official Barn Quilt Trail brochure! http://www.townofhollandny.com/20180508130044139-1.pdf

In celebration of the Town of Aurora's bicentennial, all three Aurora Historical Society Museums will host an open house this Sunday.

Join us tonight in Griffins Mills. http://www.mywnynews.com//article_e4c4e34c-546f-11e8-8738-