Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall

Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall. Downtown Heritage Tour. The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall was built in 1877-1878, and is one of Aurora's most widely recognized landmarks. The hall served as a meeting place for Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) or "Union" veterans of the Civil War. After the war, a Soldier's Memorial Association formed in order to raise money for a traditional monument to honor GAR veterans. Local businessman Fred White had seen a memorial building in Foxboro, Massachusetts, built in 1868. He proposed that Aurora build just such a structure, arguing it would be more useful than an ordinary monument. It took a year to build the hall. The one and one-half story Gothic Revival style structure was constructed of locally quarried limestone. The land for the building, and most of the materials and labor were donated by the citizens of Aurora., The cornerstone was laid in 1877, and the building was dedicated in 1878. The building was capped with a 700 lb. statue of a soldier on guard duty. Two Confederate cannons were installed in 1881, flanking the main entrance. In 1881, the new Aurora Public Library Association relocated to the GAR Hall. An addition was built onto the southern end of the building in 1885-1886. The GAR building served as the City's Public Library until 1904 when the new library was built on Benton Street. The existing tower was built at that time, and the Veterans resumed their use of the building. In the early 1960s, the City planned to demolish the GAR building to make room for additional parking, but public outcry saved the building. Although the 1885 addition was demolished, the 1904 tower with its castle-like profile survived.