Thank you to all who participated in the Go for Gold Scavenger Hunt! We had a great turnout, and hope everyone had fun learning about Aurora. Please see below for the winners, chosen at random. Each will receive a wonderful prize basket full of gifts from the Aurora Historical Society and local business gift cards!

 The Kilroy Family - Mikaela, McKenzie, Kaleb and Jade

The Dove Family - Grady, Luca, Ollie & Teddy 

Also, a HUGE thank you to the following businesses who donated to the final prize drawings:

The Aurora Historical Society, Mario’s Spa, Pure Bliss Yoga, Essential Zen, Mad Jack’s, Liberty Ford, White Flower Home LLC, Abigail’s, Aurora Inn, Mazzulo’s, Salon Patrick & Schell Bell Boutique

Event

• 2021 Go for Gold Scavenger Hunt – Celebrating Aurora’s 50^th Anniversary of Cityhood

Location

• The first clue will be posted online on the City’s website and the Parks & Recreation social media pages by 8am Friday, March 12.  From there, each clue will lead you to a different location until you reach the final destination.  

Date

• Scavenger Hunt can be completed any time between Friday, March 12 and Friday, March 19.

Cost

• Free to Participate!

Prize

• Winner(s) will be chosen at random on Saturday, March 20 and announced via City’s website and Parks & Recreation social media pages.

Important Event Information 

• This event is virtual, so you can go through the scavenger hunt any time between Friday, March 12 and Friday March 19.
• There will be 4 locations, 5 clues in total. Each location will have a sign with the next clue.
  1. To start the scavenger hunt, the first clue will be posted on the City’s website and the Aurora Parks & Recreation pages on Facebook and Twitter by 8am Friday, March 12.
  2. From there, each clue will lead you to the next location until you reach the final destination.
• In order to be entered into the prize drawing, email the following to Jenny Nichols at NicholsJ@auroraoh.com:
  1. Photo of you, or your group, at the final destination.
  2. A list of the locations you visited throughout the scavenger hunt.
  3. Names of those who participated.
     • Submissions are due by the end of the day on Friday, March 19.
       • Any submissions after this will not be included into the prize drawing.
       • Individuals and family/friend groups of less than 10 are eligible.
       • One submission per individual/group will be accepted.
       • Winner will be announced Saturday, March 20 via the City’s website and the Aurora Parks & Recreation pages on Facebook and Twitter.
• Social distancing and masks required.

Aurora 50^th Anniversary of Cityhood Background 

Founded in 1799, the settlement of Aurora had grown and prospered by 1807, making it necessary to form a village government.  Samuel Forward, Phineas Perkins and Ebenezer Sheldon were elected the first trustees of the village.  In 1928 the central portion of Aurora was incorporated into what officially became known as Aurora Village.  Lee Gould was elected the Village’s first mayor.  Lacking a town center, the Village had two primary areas of activity.  Located along Garfield Road (Route 82) was “Aurora Station.”  It was the village’s main area of commercial activity.  “Main Street” (Routes 306 and 43) where the Village Hall, the Federated Church and Aurora Centralized School House formed the cultural center of the Village.  Surrounding the Village was the political division of Aurora Township which included the community of Geauga Lake.  The Township had its own elected trustees under the jurisdiction of the Portage County commissioners.  

The situation of having two political division within the five square mile area of Aurora presented problems with providing services to the entire community.  Issues of police and fire protection along with water and sewer, recreation, and taxation all presented the need for cooperation between the Village and the Township.  Reaching a population of nearly 5000 voters, concerned citizens and government officials saw the necessity to resolve the issues.

In the spring of 1966 the Aurora Village Council established a committee to investigate the advantages and disadvantages to seeking “city status.”  The committee determined that “cityhood” would provide the Aurora with local authority eliminating control by the Portage County Commissioners.   The Aurora Board of Education supported the idea since it would put control of the schools under local jurisdiction without have to depend upon the County Board of Education for services.  Cityhood would also have Aurora’s tax monies staying in Aurora.

By 1971 the population had grown to include 6549 registered voters qualifying it to be designated a city by the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office.  Application was made to Ohio’s Secretary of State’s Office which granted Aurora the status of “City.”  Mayor George B. Hettinger declared March 20, 1971 as “Birth of a City” day.