Aurora Town Historian

Aurora Town Historian ROBERT LOWELL GOLLER, Town Historian Since 1919, New York State law has required the appointment of an official historian in each town, village and city.

The Historian's Office is available as a resource for local history for both the Town of Aurora and Village of East Aurora in Erie County, New York. OUR MISSION:
—To document and promote the history and heritage of the Town of Aurora and Village of East Aurora in a
transparent, equitable and politically non-partisan manner.
—To advise local officials, boards and residents on issues related to the

history of the town and village.
—To collect, preserve and maintain the archives for the use of the public in their own research.
—To curate and present the Aurora History Museum exhibits at the Municipal Center in collaboration with the
Aurora Historical Society. RESEARCH HOURS: The Historian's Office archives are open for research Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-4 p.m., and by appointment. Appointments are not necessary during regular office hours, but please feel free to call or email ahead and we can have materials from the archives ready for your visit. EXHIBIT HOURS: The exhibits of the Aurora History Museum, located throughout the first-floor hallways of the Municipal Center, are open during regular Municipal Center hours, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Town of Aurora social media policy: By visiting this site, you understand and agree that the Town of Aurora's social media pages are provided "AS IS". The Town of Aurora makes every effort to provide accurate and complete information of this website. The information contained on this website is not official or in any way shall it be deemed to be legal notice where such legal notice is required by law. The information contained in this site is provided as a convenience to people needing information about the Town of Aurora's local government. Portions of the information of this site may be incorrect or not current. The Town of Aurora government, its officers, employees, and agents are not liable for damage or losses of and kind arising out of or in connection with the use of performances of information including, but not limited to, damages or losses caused by reliance upon the accuracy or timeliness of any such information, or damages incurred from the viewing, distributing or copying of these materials.

09/01/2026
FISHER-PRICE WORLD HEADQUARTERS...The Fisher-Price World Headquarters building on Girard Avenue will soon turn 50 years ...
08/31/2026

FISHER-PRICE WORLD HEADQUARTERS...The Fisher-Price World Headquarters building on Girard Avenue will soon turn 50 years old. The week following the official groundbreaking in July 1976, the front page of the East Aurora Advertiser featured an architect's rendering of the building.

Preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office are several boxes and binders of documents, photographs and other materials related to the history of Fisher-Price Toys, which was founded in East Aurora in 1930.

EAST AURORA DAY AT CRYSTAL BEACH...60 years ago this summer, tickets for the East Aurora Rotary Club's annual "East Auro...
08/28/2026

EAST AURORA DAY AT CRYSTAL BEACH...60 years ago this summer, tickets for the East Aurora Rotary Club's annual "East Aurora Day" at Crystal Beach amusement park were available at local stores, including Grant's in the Aurora Village Shopping Center and Tops Market on Main Street.

Crystal Beach operated in Ontario, Canada from 1888 to 1989 and was a popular summer destination for many East Aurorans.

(Advertisements from the June 26, 1960 East Aurora Shopping Guide, preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office).

THE VILLAGE SEAL...The Village Board recently adopted a local law officially formalizing the use of the village seal, bu...
08/27/2026

THE VILLAGE SEAL...The Village Board recently adopted a local law officially formalizing the use of the village seal, but the village seal is hardly new! In fact, its more than 50 years old. Noted East Aurora artist Rixford Jennings designed the Village of East Aurora seal in 1971, incorporating various elements of village history, including a trotting horse and the original Roycroft logo.

Preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office are two of Mr. Jennings' early concept sketches ( #7 and #8) of the logo, shown here along with the final version. Mr. Jennings also designed the seal for the Town of Aurora and the logos for many local organizations.

For more information about Mr. Jennings' career, which included time with the The Walt Disney Company, visit https://www.meibohmfinearts.com/artists/details/58.

A GIANT WELCOME ARCH was erected 110 years ago this month outside The Globe Hotel at Main and Olean Streets for the annu...
08/26/2026

A GIANT WELCOME ARCH was erected 110 years ago this month outside The Globe Hotel at Main and Olean Streets for the annual Southwestern Association of Volunteer Firemen's convention, which was hosted in East Aurora in 1916. (A banner on The Globe advertised the following year's convention in Silver Creek).

Preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office are several photographs of the 1916 convention in East Aurora, which drew thousands of firefighters and other visitors from all over Western New York.

East Aurora Fire Department

LEAVING TOWN...Mrs. Audrey Persons was leaving town 100 years ago this month and selling the household goods from her ho...
08/24/2026

LEAVING TOWN...Mrs. Audrey Persons was leaving town 100 years ago this month and selling the household goods from her home at 430 Oakwood Ave. "Must be sold before Sept. 1st."

(Advertisement from August 12, 1926 issue of the East Aurora Advertiser, preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office).

CRYSTAL BEACH COTTAGE...An advertisement 100 years ago for a summer cottage at Crystal Beach, Ontario, near the amusemen...
08/21/2026

CRYSTAL BEACH COTTAGE...An advertisement 100 years ago for a summer cottage at Crystal Beach, Ontario, near the amusement park (1888-1989) that was a popular summer destination for many East Aurorans.

(Advertisement from the August 5, 1926 issue of the East Aurora, preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office).

DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS were a new concept on cars 100 years ago, when this article appeared in the East Aurora Advertiser...
08/20/2026

DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS were a new concept on cars 100 years ago, when this article appeared in the East Aurora Advertiser: "If you use a rear-view mirror in the center of the wind-shield top, you will find an additional one on the left side a valuable help."

This photograph from our archives shows cars (without driver's side mirrors) on East Aurora's Main Street around the same time.

(Article from the July 22, 1926 issue of the East Aurora Advertiser, preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office).

FIRESTONE TIRES...Preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office are hundreds of vintage advertisements...
08/19/2026

FIRESTONE TIRES...Preserved in the archives of the Aurora Town Historian's Office are hundreds of vintage advertisements for East Aurora businesses, including this one from 1926 for the John Reuther & Sons automobile shop, which had opened a few years earlier in a new building at the corner of Main Street and Hamlin Avenue. The building later became a bowling alley. Most recently the building was home to Mister's Bar and Lanes.

Address

575 Oakwood Avenue
East Aurora, NY
14052

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 4pm
Thursday 1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+17166527944

Website

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