Al Capone in Aurora... or was he?

Al Capone
Not caring since he's smarter 
than the cops! 
Or so he thought...

 

808 North Lake Street
Aurora, IL

What does this building at 808 North Lake Street have what no other building in Aurora has (that we know of)?  A direct line of history to the one and only.... Al Capone!

In 1931, the court proceedings were underway for Al Capone for Tax Evasion. It was found that this building was part of Al Capone's bootlegging syndicate. Several men were arrested for their involvement with Al Capone's bootlegging syndicate in Aurora from this location. So, the next time you're driving down Lake Street and go past this house, just remember that it is a history with Al Capone.

June 6, 1931
Decatur Herald

Federal agents had broken up an enterprise that was attributed to Alphonse "Scarface" Capone which distributed 10,000 gallons of alcohol weekly to the Midwest and operated a "protection system" under which liquor could be transported over hundreds of miles of highways. 

There were 20 men connected with the scheme and had been arrested in raids at the Aurora, Illinois headquarters (808 N. Lake Street) and also in Waterloo, Iowa.

The Aurora syndicate had been under the leadership of Mike Myers, a Capone lieutenant and had been operating for four years. Since November of 1930, there were undercover agents working to obtain the evidence on which arrests were made.

High-grade alcohol was made by the combining of re-cooking moonshine whisky. The sale prices were from $3.00 to $4.00 a gallon (around $50.00 in 2021 currency). 

Grand Opening of Leland Hotel February 8, 1928 Part 1 -- The Speeches, Entertainment and Menu

                           

Here we are. The grand opening of Leland. The biggest party of the night if not the year! The biggest and best hotel around! 22 stories of luxury and pizzazz! On February 9, 1928, over two hundred guests gathered for the formal opening party in the Sky Room (later on the Sky Club). The manager of the hotel, W.H. Byron, directed the planning of the party and the dinner. The Sky room was decorated with balloons and confetti. The menu was fit for a king! 

B.C. Forbes

As told by B.C. Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine, noted economist, "I foresaw the erection of a building that would be a benefit to the city, the citizens, the visitors and all others concerned. We are therefore proud to have been associated with such an undertaking; to have worked with those others who have faith in both the present and the future of the city and who have triumphed through their adherence to this faith. We extend the best of good wishes for an unqualified success to those responsible for this achievement, as well as to the management of the Aurora-Leland, and sincere congratulation to the officials, the citizens, the visitors and all who lend themselves to the constituency of the city of Aurora."

Why Leland Hotel is considered "fireproof"

Leland Hotel

I had seen a lot of posts on social media where someone asks "Why is Leland known for being "fireproof"". For this question, we have to go all the way back to the late 1800s in Chicago, IL. To the first "skyscraper" ever built, the Home Insurance Building.

It all began in Chicago,IL after the great Chicago Fire in 1871. There were many new building constructions that were made mostly of iron, brick and steel instead of wood. During this time period it was illegal to erect non-fireproof buildings of more than sixty feet in height. Basically, you couldn't build anything that was taller than nine stories tall (this is an important fact to remember later in this story). 

William LeBaron Jenney

Well, along came William LeBaron Jenney [1832-1907]. He was a Chicago inventor, engineer and contractor. Now, here is a fun fact for us history nerds. W.L.B. Jenny had began his formal education at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA in 1846, then to the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard in 1853. Hang in there... you'll see where I'm going here... He then transferred to École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris to study engineering and architecture. Here is the fun fact, he learned the latest iron construction techniques with his classmate, Gustave Eiffel [1832-1923]. So, knowing this, the technique that is used for Leland Hotel, was also used for the Eiffel Tower. Kind of neat!

Leland: In the Beginning 1926 Beacon News Article September 19,1926

Leland: In the beginning 1926: As originally written in the Beacon News Article
September 19, 1926

Aurora Beacon News Article
Provided by Aurora Public Library
Photo of Leland was original architectural sketch
different than what was built

Aurora Beacon News article September 19, 1926

Aurora is to have the tallest skyscraper in Illinois outside of Chicago, when the new 18 story hotel to be erected by a building corporation headed by Herbert P. Heiss, president of the First Illinois company at the southwest corner of Main street and Island avenue is completed. Work will be started within 30 days.
The cost of the building, land and equipment which will include the Moose building, recently purchased by Mr. Heiss, as a part of the Improvement, will be $1,750.00 according to an announcement made last night by Mr. Heiss. The building itself will call for an investment of $1,000,000. The Aurora Building corporation, organized by Mr. Heiss with himself at the head, will handle the financing of the project, the largest single downtown real estate development in the history of the city.