That House By Lakeview Park – Revisited "Then & Now"

While getting my photo of the Lorain Public Library last weekend, on the way home I happened to pass this well-known Lorain landmark at 1405 West Erie. I couldn't resist talking the photo above, since the sunlight was just right.

It's a quite different view from the last time I photographed this house back in 2012.

At that time, the house was the subject of a two-part post on this blog. Part 1 dealt with the fact that the residence was a Sears home, and featured quotes and information by a gracious authority on the subject, Rose Thornton. Part 2 included my research as to who lived in it over the years.

But somehow during my research back then, I missed the fact that at some point, it was known as Wickens Manor and was the home of Mr. and Mrs. George B. Wickens. I was only made aware of it by stumbling upon this vintage postcard.

So of course, I had to go back there last night and try to get a matching 'now' shot. I couldn't quite match the angle, and a sign post got in the way. So this was the best I could do.

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And as noted on Part 1 of my 2012 post, the house shows up on several Lorain Tornado postcards.

Oberlin College's Tank Hall

When I saw this vintage postcard of a huge, magnificent home in Oberlin entitled, "The Tank Home," I thought, "I'll bet that house is long gone – no doubt torn down for some campus building." It didn't look the least bit familiar to me even though I've been commuting to Oberlin for almost five years via various routes.

Little did I know (after doing a little research) that Tank Hall is a part of the Oberlin College campus and that I was driving by it every day on the way home. It's set back from the road a bit and hidden by trees, so it's easy to miss.

So what is Tank Hall? 

According to its Wiki entry, “Tank Hall, also known as Tank House and Tank Cooperative, is an 1896 Queen Anne living and dining cooperative owned and maintained by Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, United States. Originally the Tank Home for Missionary Children, the house underwent a series of renovations before becoming the co-op it is today. It currently operates as one of the Oberlin Student Co-operative's co-ops.

“The house was built by the Oberlin Missionary Home Association in 1896 to house the children of the missionaries abroad. It was designed by Cleveland architect F. A. Coburn. The firm of Glen and Copeland, from Oberlin, were the builders. The Home was named after Mrs. Caroline L. A. Tank, who contributed a quarter of the cost of its construction as a gift from the estate of her late husband Nils Otto Tank, who was a wealthy son of a Norwegian gentryman and worked as a missionary in Dutch Guiana in the 1840s; he also founded a Moravian religious commune in northern Wisconsin. 

"In 1922, after the Association had ended, the College acquired the property for use as a women's dormitory. It became a residential co-operative in 1963.

“This building is set back from the road on a slight hill and has a large front yard. A sandstone path leads from the sidewalk to the front porch and to a large bike-rack on the west side of the house. There is a paved driveway on the east side of the house that leads to a small parking lot in the back. In front of the house is a massive ash tree.”

It's a beautiful building. I stopped there several times this week trying to get some good photos to match some vintage postcard views. On my first try early in the week, the sun didn't cooperate and I wasn't happy with my photos with the cloudy sky. So I tried again last night since the sun was out. I'm surprised someone inside didn't call campus security and say,"Hey that guy in the blue car is back again!"

As expected, the trees interfered with my ability to get a good, matching 'now' shot angle. 

New Lorain Public Library Begins to Take Shape – August 1956

The Lorain Public Library has been a big part of my life since I was just a kid.

I can still remember in the 1960s when there was a branch library at the Lorain Plaza on Oberlin Avenue; we went to a few times, as it was just a few minutes away from our house. Later, when I was in fifth or sixth grade, I had to write a report on something that our Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedias (acquired by Mom at a local grocery store – one volume at a time) didn't cover. Then it was necessary to go to the Main Branch on Sixth Street. Before I could drive, I rode my bike there. If it was a weeknight, Mom or Dad would drop me off, and come back for me when the library closed.

Mrs. Hudak

I can still remember the layout of the library back then, with all those tables and chairs arranged in the front of the main room downstairs. It was a place to study or read, and Mrs. Hudak (who went to our church) was stern, and kept things under control. It was very quiet and no horseplay was allowed. 

And there were thousands and thousands of books. The stacks were jammed with them. (Now, not so much.) After all, it was a place for people who loved to read. And there were records you could borrow, and out-of-town newspapers that you could peruse. 

If it wasn't for the library, I probably wouldn't have this blog. This blog came about because I took a class there back in 2009 about how to create one. And I've relied on the library microfilm and local history section for my research and content ever since.

Anyway, 70 years ago, the current Lorain Public Library on Sixth Street was under construction, as noted in this photo from the August 16, 1956 Lorain Journal.

The new Library would officially open the following year.

Today, it's amazing that the Library hasn't moved or been replaced. But the building still looks great and is yet another beloved landmark in Lorain.

The view this week

Andy's Hardware Grand Opening Ads of the 1950s

Courtesy Lorain Historical Society

Mention Andy's Hardware to someone who grew up in Lorain in the era from the 1950s to the 1980s, and they're sure to smile at the memories that it conjures up. Who didn't go in there at some point, seeking some hard-to-find-item and it turned out that, sure enough, Andy had it?

I was one of those that for some time thought that 'Andy' was his first name. But it turns out that his real name was Edward Andy. 

While looking through old Lorain Journals from August 1956, I found what I thought for sure was the Grand Opening ad for his store. But further digging revealed that there was another Grand Opening ad from earlier that year. And another Grand Opening ad a year later when he apparently did some remodeling.

Here then are an ample sample of 1950s store ads, beginning with what I believe is the first one.

Feb. 29, 1956

June 27, 1956

August 8, 1956

With two different Grand Opening dates in 1956, it's not surprising that the Anniversary Sale in 1957 would be held in a different month than either of them.

May 7, 1957

July 4, 1957

The store closed in the early 1990s and the building was eventually demolished. It was like losing an old friend. 

Andy's Hardware, Willow Hardware, Whalen Drug, Selenti's Pizza, DiSimones, Steve's Shoe Repair... all fading Oberlin Avenue memories for those of us who grew in Lorain in the 1960s and 70s.

Back to School With Kline's – August 1956

The thought of having to go back to school in the fall might be fairly upsetting to some kids – even a little scary. 

But 'a little scary' could also be applied to the freakish 'teacher' shown in the ad below for Klines department store, which ran in the Lorain Journal back on August 2, 1956.

With a globe for a head, a chalkboard for a torso, and a variety of pointy objects (including a pen nib, and two pencils) for appendages, this teacher/monster is the thing of nightmares.

And then there's the pupils.

The scanning of the Journal's microfilm no doubt played havoc with some of the images in the ad. The digitization of the illustration of the schoolchildren (which originally had a screen tint applied to their faces by the artist) has created an odd, disturbing effect of making them look like the Batman villain Two-Face. Ugh!

And lastly (and for the final cheap laugh here), although the kids are merely raising their hands hoping to be called on by their mutant instructor, the little boy appears to be giving a salute that would be right at home in the Third Reich. 

Anyways, the gimmick in the ad was that a lucky boy or girl could win a portable Columbia 3-speed phonograph just by coming in and registering.

Here's a '1956 Columbia Portable Record Player Suitcase' (as it is described) that can be found on eBay right now. It needs to be repaired (it's missing its cartridge and stylus) or can be used for parts. I don't know if it's the one mentioned in the ad, but – it could be.

We had something like this in the Brady household in the early/mid-1960s. I know it was portable because I remember we had it out in the garage one time. There might have been an illustration or design on the cover, rather than just a solid color.

I also remember some of the records we played on it were yellow, not black; now I know that they were Golden Records. Other records included some Christmas carols such as Oh Come All Ye Faithful.

C-T Drive-Ins Article – August 10, 1994

Well, the weekend is here but summer is winding down. Why not take a little trip back in time by visiting one of our two original area drive-ins where you can still be waited on by a carhop and eat in your car? 

Of course, I'm talking about Dog 'n Suds and Dinner Bell.

It's a good idea now and it was 32 years ago too, when Pam Plas of the Chronicle-Telegram wrote the great article below about those two very same drive-ins. It appeared in that newspaper on August 10, 1994 and includes some great quotes by Ilene Hampton (who still owns Dog 'n Suds) and Marie Reynolds (who along with her husband Bill owned the Dinner Bell).

I've included the great photos by Chuck Humel of the Chronicle that accompanied the article, which I've saved all these years. (The photo below was a challenge to seam together; when it appeared in the C-T it took up half a page.)

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Kenny Anderson of Lorain likes Dog-N-Suds because,
"It's original. It's the old-fashioned one. I don't like those drive-throughs."

Cruisin’ the Drive-ins

Pam Plas • The Chronicle-Telegram

You’re not likely to find Richie Cunningham and the rest of the “Happy Days” gang hanging out at Dog-N-Suds or the Dinner Bell Drive-In. But any given night during the summer, you are likely to find a crowd.

In the days before McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants, drive-ins were THE place to hang out.

Teen-agers waited on by carhops, munched hamburgers and drank milk shakes behind the wheel of daddy’s ’57 Chevy or Studebaker. During the 50s they packed drive-ins from Sunset Strip to Coney Island.

Car hopping may be a lost art, but Dinner Bell and Dog-N-Suds, still offer that door-to-(car) door service.

Dog-N-Suds carhop Tracy Griffin of Avon takes an order
from Dan Stanic of LaGrange who cruised in in his
1970 Buick Skylark GS convertible. Tracy, who has plans
to go to LCCC, says she likes her job. "I like meeting
people and the tips are good."

Ilene Hampton is now in her 35th year of ownership of Dog-N-Suds 2050 N. Ridge Rd. in Sheffield Township.

When Hampton borrowed $8,500 to buy the restaurant in 1959, it was one of hundreds of Dog-N-Suds in a national chain.

Today, Hampton said, there’s only about a handful left in the United States. The Sheffield Township restaurant is the only one remaining Dog-N-Suds in Ohio.

Hampton said her business has been prosperous.

“It’s a lot of work but this business has been very good to me,” Hampton said.

She and her husband, Thomas, the manager of the restaurant, work more than 100 hours a week.

“It’s tiring but we have the winter to rest up,” she said, chuckling.

Dog-N-Suds is only open six months a year – from March 1 through Aug. 31.

Hampton said her customers range from teens to senior citizens to families with small children.

The menu includes hot dogs with Coney sauce, sizzle steaks, corn dogs and curly fries. A favorite among customers is the Texasburger, a double-decker burger, and Dog-N-Suds homemade root beer.

“We make it right here and serve it in frosted mugs,” Hampton said.

Old time Rootbeer: It's homemade and served
in a frosty mug at Dog-N-Suds.

Double-decker hamburgers are popular at Dinner Bell Drive-In too. The Dinner Bell also serves hot dogs, chili dogs, sloppy joes and sausage sandwiches.

Bill and Marie Reynolds have owned Dinner Bell, located at 6340 Lake Ave. in Elyria Township for 14 years. They are open from April 1 through Sept. 30.

Marie Reynolds, who owns Dinner Bell Drive-in
with her husband, William, says their homemade
sloppy joes and two styles of lemonade are hot menu items.

“We get a big lunchtime crowd and we’re busy on weekends,” said Marie Reynolds.

“We have a lot of regular customers. And we have a lot of older customers and families. We’re family priced.”

Reynolds said she hires waitresses who are naturally friendly.

“We expect them to give good service and be personable. And we tell them to always say ‘hello’ to senior citizens because it may be the first time all day that someone has greeted them.”

Hampton said she, too, believes that good, friendly service has been the key to her success.

“That’s important. And the food has to be good, too. I haven’t changed much over the years. My philosophy has always been stick with what works. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” she said.

The neon root beer sign jets Dog-N-Suds diners back into the '50s.

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(The article has one minor timeline error. The Dog 'n Suds drive-in first opened under a different owner in 1963. Ilene has owned it since 1966.)

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I've eaten at Dog 'n Suds about once a week since it opened this year. Manager Heather does a fantastic job of running the place so the food and service is always great and very reasonably priced! And my favorite carhop Kasey always takes good care of me.

Back to School With Popeye at Penneys – 1935

Fans of pop culture know that during the 1930s, Popeye the Sailor was more popular with kids than Mickey Mouse. Because of his animated cartoons (which beat the ever-cheerful Disney rodent in polls taken by theater owners) and his daily comic strip (drawn by cartoonist/creator Ezie Segar), the one-eyed, spinach-eating sailor was truly a national sensation. 

Thus it's not too surprising to see Popeye featured in this Back-to-School ad for Penney's that ran in the Lorain Journal back on August 28, 1935. Since it was assumed that rough-and-tumble Popeye had great appeal to little boys, most of the ad space is taken up with boys' clothes: shirts, knickers, sweaters, slacks, golf hose and school oxfords. The inclusion of girls' tub frocks seem like an afterthought.

The main drawing point of the ad was a complimentary ticket to the Warner Bros. Palace Theater on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, Aug. 31st. Lorain schools started the next week, so it was sort of a last hurrah for summer vacation.

And what was showing at the Palace on those two nights? None other than the just-released W.C. Fields comedy Man on the Flying Trapeze. 

Despite the fact that it sounds like a circus movie, the plot was no doubt a familiar one to the great comedian's fans. He plays a henpecked husband with a shrewish wife (and nasty mother-in-law) and a loving daughter. And happily (like most of his movies), his character come out on top and there's a happy ending.

But what about Popeye?

If you look closely at the ad, there is indeed a Popeye cartoon as part of that night's program. It doesn't say which one it was, but a football-themed Popeye cartoon was released to theaters that very weekend. Here's a clip of You Gotta Be a Football Hero featuring Popeye's football team versus that of Bluto's. The game is already underway and Popeye is getting clobbered. Fickle Olive isn't even rooting for him!