Downtown Aurora is situated on Stolp Island, a river island that serves as the heart of Aurora, connecting the east and west sides of the city. It was first purchased by non-indigenous settler W. Frederick Stolp in 1848. After his death, his nephew Joseph established a wool mill and mill store on the island at 2 W. Downers Place. Historically, the Fox River bifurcated the residential development on either side of the river, creating a deep rivalry between the growing settlements during the mid-nineteenth century. As a result, Stolp Island was designated as the neutral territory for Aurora's public buildings and private organizations. In 1986, Stolp Island was listed on the National Register of Historic Places to celebrate the existing built environment as the tangible representation of Aurora's early settlement and industrious history, alongside its architectural legacy, which reflects a range of architectural styles from Beaux Arts to Art Deco.