- Aurora Inn
"Aurora Inn, 391 Main St, Aurora, NY" [http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&q=aurora+inn&near=Aurora,+NY&fb=1&cid=0,0,10969732072641595807&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image/ Map] ----
History of the Aurora Inn
.During its colorful past, the Aurora Inn was a favored overnight destination for travelers borne by coach, canal boat and rail. It has long been a popular spot for students from
Wells College ,Cornell University , and other nearby colleges.Soon after the Aurora Inn's opening, an article appeared in the local newspaper remarking on the Inn's "regularity, neatness and order exhibited everywhere - as well as the thousand little attentions which are paid to the comfort and convenience of travelers." The writer also raved about the Aurora Inn's "uninterrupted view of the water scenery of the most enchanting kind" and its "elegance scarcely surpassed by the most extensive houses of our large towns."
In the early 1840s, Willem D. Eagles purchased the Aurora Inn and engaged his uncle John Eagles to manage it for him. Oil portraits of William Eagles and his wife Nancy now hang above the fireplaces in the reception area and parlor. Portraits of John Eagles, a former sea captain and his wife hang above the restored fireplaces in the dining room and bar. These newly restored portraits were painted in the 19th century by noted artist Charles Loring Elliott.
When a fire destroyed the main building at Wells College in 1888, many students lived temporarily at the Aurora Inn, which they renamed the Wayside Inn. Fire struck again in the early hours of February 27, 1919, destroying Aurora's tiny business district between the old post office and the Aurora Inn. When the south cornices of the Inn caught fire, Wells College President Kerr Duncan McMillan climbed on to the roof and doused the fire with buckets of water handed to him by the village brigade. Today charred beams remain under the roof as a reminder of the Aurora Inn's narrow escape.
In 1943, the Aurora Inn was deeded to Wells College. The Inn again served as a makeshift residence hall during the 1960s when enrollment at the college increased dramatically and space was tight in the dormitories. One student who lived at the Aurora Inn recalls that eight students lived in "four tiny rooms upstairs with one bathroom."Despite a series of additions, renovations and new managers, the Aurora Inn struggled financially starting in the 1970s. A drain on the college's resources, the Inn had to be closed several times during the last three decades, most recently in October 2000.
Aurora Inn Today
Foundation, began a complete renovation of the Aurora Inn in 2001 to restore its lost luster and make it appealing once again for lodging, dining and special events. Finished in 2003, the Aurora Inn was refurbished from top to bottom to create 10 luxurious guest rooms, a charming new restaurant with lakeside veranda dining, and banquet room for weddings, private parties and meetings. A stone terrace, neatly manicured lawns, and gardens that roll down to the shores of Cayuga Lake enhance the serene setting of the Aurora Inn. ( [http://www.wells.edu/whatsnew/wnnwar41.htm] )
The Aurora Inn renovation team included Holt Architects of Ithaca, McGlynn Interiors of
Skaneateles and Northeast Construction Services of Syracuse. The original fireplaces, woodwork and other architectural details were reused whenever possible, and when not usable were reproduced. Historic photographs and etchings guided the exterior changes, returning the Aurora Inn to its original beauty. Inside, the Inn was remodeled to appeal to the modern traveler and to meet current code requirements.The Aurora Inn's public rooms are decorated with an elegant mix of antiques, Oriental rugs, designer fabrics, comfortable furnishings and wall coverings in shades of caramel, red and charcoal. The Aurora Inn also features an unusually fine collection of historic and contemporary art.
The Aurora Inn restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, has a bank of windows and French doors that open onto a porch and tree-shaded veranda offering outdoor dining during warmer months.
Inside the restaurant, there is an appealing mix of traditional tables and comfortable chairs with intimate booths and banquettes. The bar, which also has a fireplace, serves spirits from around the world, including a selection of wines from the Finger Lakes.
The Aurora Inn guest rooms blend charm and comfort with high-tech amenities such as high-speed Internet access and flat-panel televisions. The eight rooms on the second and third floors all have private marble bathrooms and deep balcony porches furnished with rocking chairs, benches and swings that overlook the lake or village. Four of the rooms have fireplaces. The two large suites on the fourth floor have relaxing seating areas, well-equipped kitchenettes and marble bathrooms featuring deep-soak whirlpool baths with sky-lights overhead.
The Aurora Inn Lakeside Room serves as a banquet room, and features a restored 1958 mural showing scenes of the village and Wells College as they appeared in the 19th century. Designed with special events in mind, the room can accommodate up to 90 guests for a sit-down dinner or 125 for a cocktail reception. French doors extend the space out to a stone terrace with sweeping views of the lake. The Aurora Inn also offers lawn weddings for up to 200 guests under pristine white tents. In addition, the room is equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual systems for business meetings, seminars and corporate retreats.
Sources
[edmunds] cite book
last = Edmunds
first = Shelia
title = Aurora: Time Well Spent
date = 2000References
External links
* [http://www.wells.edu/whatsnew/wnnwar41.htm Wells Newsletter ]
* [http://aurora-inn.com/ Aurora Inn Website ]
* [http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&q=aurora+inn&near=Aurora,+NY&fb=1&cid=0,0,10969732072641595807&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image/ Google Map Image of Aurora Inn]Hotel Information
* [http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g29847-d571133-Reviews-Aurora_Inn-Aurora_New_York.html| Aurora Inn on Tripadvisor]
* [http://www.selectregistry.com/default.aspx| Search Select Registry for Aurora Inn]
* [http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-5186393-aurora_inn-i| Aurora Inn on Yahoo!Travel]
* [http://www.aurora-inn.blogspot.com | Blog on Aurora Inn]
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