Eagle Country 99.3 By Hillforest Victorian House Museum, news release Hillforest Victorian House Museum. File photo. (Aurora, Ind.) - On Friday, January 27, 1956, a public announcement was made that the Thomas Gaff residence at 213 Fifth Street, Aurora, was being purchased and would be preserved. Completed in 1855, “Forest Hill” was built by local entrepreneur Thomas Gaff for his family. Members of the Gaff family resided at the home until 1926. The last Gaff living there, Agnes Gaff Howe, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Gaff, sold the home to Will and Birdie Mae Stark who resided there twenty-two years. The home was purchased in 1948 by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who used the home as their post club house. In 1956, Esther Wilson Roache, a local bank executive, is credited with enlisting the support of nine other local citizens of influence to purchase the century-old home, which was in poor condition, to save the structure. Ultimately the Hillforest Historical Foundation was formed in 1956 to oversee the restoration and operation of Hillforest Museum. The purchase price of $15,750 included the entire ten-acre plot once owned by Thomas and Sarah Gaff. Esther, along with the other founders and volunteers, worked tirelessly and methodically to restore the home to its original beauty, including accurately appointing the rooms with period furnishings and artifacts, many belonging to the Gaff family. The museum room restored in 2020 features Gaff business memorabilia and family photos and artifacts.