Wednesday, July 8, 2015

That Building Looks Familiar

Dennis Lamont recently sent me the above undated, vintage postcard of Lorain's Hook & Ladder Company. But it wasn't the photo of the firemen that captured our interest; it was the stately house behind them.

Although I'd seen this postcard many times through the years, I had no idea where it was taken in Lorain, and assumed it was out in South Lorain. It wasn't until Dennis mentioned that the photo was labeled "Moose" in his files that I thought the house looked familiar.

Sure enough, it was the onetime headquarters for the Moose Lodge in Lorain at 1112 West Erie Avenue, and later, the home of the American Legion. Here's how it looked in 1963 when the American Legion had it for sale (which I wrote about here).
And here's my shot from the holiday weekend of the truncated, unrecognizable version which is still the home of American Legion Post 30.

4 comments:

Rick Kurish said...

Talk about something being a shadow of its former self! This building is it. I have a vague recollection of a fire at the post some years ago. Is that what resulted in the "truncated" building? Surely no one would intentionally modify such a grand old house into what currently exists.

Anonymous said...

I remember that fire. I do believe there was to much damage to rebuild the upper half. if I remember right it was electrical. my grandpa was a previous post commander there. many steak and fish fry's. plus easter, Halloween and xmas parties as a kid there.

Loraine Ritchey said...

so sad I have seen the post card dozens of times always wondered about the beautiful house and like you thought South Lorain but who knew it was right in the village - I think Renee has some info on the original owners will check

Loraine Ritchey said...

Renee is checking but IF it is the same house it was apparently WS Lyons the shipbuilders House