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First Presbyterian Church (Aurora, Indiana)

19th-century Presbyterian church buildings in the United StatesChurches completed in 1855Churches in Dearborn County, IndianaChurches on the National Register of Historic Places in IndianaGreek Revival church buildings in Indiana
Indiana church stubsIndividually listed contributing properties to historic districts on the National Register in IndianaMidwestern United States Presbyterian church stubsNational Register of Historic Places in Dearborn County, IndianaPresbyterian Church (USA) churchesPresbyterian churches in IndianaSouthern Indiana Registered Historic Place stubsUse American English from July 2025Use mdy dates from August 2023
Aurora First Presbyterian Church
Aurora First Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church of Aurora, Indiana is a historic Presbyterian congregation and church located at Aurora, Indiana. The original building completed in 1855 is still used, and is believed to have been designed by architect John R. Hamilton. It is a two-story, rectangular, Greek Revival style red brick building painted white. It measure approximately 45 feet wide by 75 feet deep and rests on a rough cut limestone foundation. It features a steeply tower consisting of a base, belfry, clock, and steeple. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is located in the Downtown Aurora Historic District. According to the church's website "a committee of the Presbytery of Madison organized the 'First Presbyterian Church of Aurora, Indiana' in 1844" with members of the Hancock, Gaff, Cannon, Kennedy, Lotham, McConnell, and Witherow families and Rev. W.A. Smith as the first installed pastor. The church's website states that land was purchased in 1848 and the first phase of construction was completed by 1850 "when the congregation began to meet in what is now the basement of the church". Second phase construction was completed in 1855. This included the "Greek Revival" sanctuary and bell-tower and "a four-faced" public clock which was "the official time-piece of the City of Aurora until 1981 when it was formally donated to the Congregation by the city council". The church is said to have had the first pipe organ in Dearborn County, installed in the church in 1860 after "a boat transporting the instrument was wrecked at Aurora and the congregation purchased it as 'salvage'." "The pipes were made of wood, and the bellows were pumped by hand." The congregation is currently in a "yoked" relationship with Hopewell Presbyterian Church of Dillsboro, Indiana, meaning that the pastor of First Presbyterian also serves as the pastor of Hopewell and that certain administrative and mission functions of both congregations work in close harmony with one another.

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First Presbyterian Church (Aurora, Indiana)
Water Street, Center Township

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Latitude Longitude
N 39.054166666667 ° E -84.897777777778 °
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Address

Water Street 349
47001 Center Township
Indiana, United States
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Aurora First Presbyterian Church
Aurora First Presbyterian Church
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Aurora Public Library (Indiana)
Aurora Public Library (Indiana)

The Aurora Public Library was first organized by voluntary contributions. When the town was incorporated in 1819 a lot on Fifth Street (then called Literary Street) was set aside for a public library, but it took time for enough funds to be raised for its establishment. In 1882 fundraising by the sale of stock in the library property was done in $5 per share for 141 shares, subscribed by 51 people, and the sale of the library lot for another $700 raising $1,405. Non-shareholders could access the library for $1.50 a year. In 1901 the library with its 3,500 volumes and "several current magazines" was transferred to the city, and opened in two "well lighted rooms" in the city building three afternoons and two evenings per week with an annual circulation totaling 11,000. It was funded with a 3 cent tax per $100 in property value ($370 per year) supplemented by donations of books and money. A 1904 account stated that under its board selected by the city council "Aurora now has a good, free, public library operating under a very favorable law and there is no reason why, fostered as it is, it should not fulfill the expectations of the liberal minded founders of the city who planned for a community where culture would be general and where ignorance should have no place." The current Aurora Library building was constructed by the Cincinnati architectural firm of Garber & Woodward in 1913–1914, with a small rear addition designed by the same firm and added in 1923. It is a one-story, "T" plan, Renaissance Revival style red brick building on a raised basement. It has a low hipped roof, round arched openings, and terra cotta ornament. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. It is located in the Downtown Aurora Historic District. The Aurora Public Library operates today as the Aurora Public Library District. The Aurora Public Library also serves residents of several surrounding townships and of the nearby city of Lawrenceburg through a reciprocity agreement.