The former Ray Harmon farmhouse on Bartlett Rd., owned by the city of Aurora was broken into sometime after January 11. (I guess that’s the last time the property was checked.)
The back door was pried open, and an ornate antique light fixture was stolen. The house and property was recently designated with Landmark status by the Aurora City Council at the recommendation of the Landmark Commission.
It has been vacant since the former owner, Ray Harmon died. The city had bought it but as part of the agreement Ray, who was in his 90s lived there until shortly before his death. The house was built in the 1830’s by some of the original settlers in Aurora.
Since Ray died, the city has left the house and barns vacant. The barn stores hay from the property. Perhaps it is finally time to find a tenant for the house. Who knows what’s next, all the copper gone? A mysterious fire? There several other city owned houses that have city employees living in them, it is a winning situation for the city.
If my memory serves me the stolen light fixture is a converted oil fixture kind of a Victorian style, most likely it has been in the house for 100 years. Probably sold off to an antique store by now, or on ebay.
I think it was similar to this, but not quite so fancy.
