Old Second National Bank
Also known as: The Old Second National Bank of Aurora
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Why it's listed
Completed in 1924 in downtown Aurora, this bank building was designed by George Grant Elmslie in a late version of the Prairie School style. The first floor and foundation are pink granite brought by barge from New Hampshire, while the upper walls are golden-brown Roman brick under a steeply pitched red tile roof. Ornament is restrained and uses figures of people and animals to symbolize bank customers and early Aurora history. Sculptor Emil Zettler carved the limestone capitals and the bas relief above the entrance, Kristian Schneider modeled the terra cotta cornice, and John W. Norton painted a lobby mural of Aurora around 1835. The nomination treats the building as one of the last Prairie School works by a principal architect of the movement, reflecting Elmslie's work with Louis Sullivan and William Gray Purcell. The exterior is largely original, though the interior banking area has been redesigned, and the building remains in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the last structures in the Prairie School style by a principal architect of that school. It is a strong statement of Elmslie's work over three decades, carrying ornament he learned from Louis Sullivan. It is also a well-preserved Prairie School building that foreshadows later followers of the style.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000840, listed May 8, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 37 S. River St., Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | May 8, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000840 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924 |
| Architect / builder | George Grant Elmslie |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior unchanged apart from an added Prairie-styled chime clock; interior altered for modern banking; described as in excellent condition and occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.75790, -88.31843 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000840.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.