One of the most profound impacts on Aurora’s growth was the real estate market of the 1920’s. Having seen the great economic success of the development of Shaker Heights by the Van Sweringen brothers, Alfred B. Smythe and partners established the Aurora Land Company with the intent of making Aurora “Cleveland’s First Commuters’ Village.”
In addition to the “commuters’ village” and “golf club,” Smythe began construction of the Aurora Inn, which was completed in 1927. The Inn was located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Garfield Rd (Rt. 82) and Chillicothe Road (Rt. 306). The Inn consisted of a lobby, lounge, dining room, and 23 guest rooms. Construction cost $75,000 with an additional $25,000 spent on authentic antique furnishings.
By 1929, 35 homes had been built along Hurd Road, Shawnee Trail, Hudson Road, and Pioneer Trail. However, Smythe’s dream faded with the onset of the Great Depression. Landowners defaulted and most of the land fell into the hands of the Cleveland Trust Bank Company. The Aurora Inn went into receivership in 1931 until it was sold in 1940. It wasn’t until after World War II and the 1950’s that the land was purchased by various developers.
The articles about Aurora’s history have been written by the Society’s director John Kudley.
