The Scoop on the Loop – Part 1

The Loop, circa 1905

If you grew up in Lorain like me, then you undoubtedly heard your parents refer to the intersection of Broadway and West Erie as the Loop.

I don’t recall my parents explaining why they called it that. They just did.

It wasn’t until I learned a little local history that I got an explanation. It was called the Loop because that’s where the northbound streetcars used to turn around via a big loop in the tracks before heading south on Broadway again.

It’s kind of neat to see vintage postcards of the actual Loop itself, with the tracks forming a big circle right in the middle of the intersection. The postcard at the top of this post was postmarked 1905.

And here’s one in color (below), circa 1907. (It’s actually the same composition as the 1905 view, only with color added, and with the ugly wires and poles retouched out.)

And this (below) is a slightly tighter view, circa 1910.

And here's a view circa 1911.

So why am I bringing this up now? Because it was back in June 1919 that the streetcar tracks for the original Loop were removed. And it was quite a historic occasion.

How did it play out in the newspapers? To stay in the loop, stop back here tomorrow!