The old town of Aurora located on the west side of War Eagle and established in 1874, when John Wesley Upton opened the first general store there, followed by the second store owned by the Johnson Brothers. In 1875 J. R. Robinson opened the first blacksmith shop.

The main street was part of the north-south road between Huntsville and St Paul, which wound along the banks of War Eagle River. There was a hotel, owned by James and Mary Hooper, which served meals as well as providing rooms. Another store was owned by Everette Spurlock and Clint Seals. At the peak, there were about five stores, two drug stores, two doctors, a hotel, barber shop, post office, two wood shops, blacksmith shop, ten to twelve dwellings and Aurora had its own constable.