On Sunday while I was snapping some shots of the ongoing demolition of the old Lorain High School, the guy who was wrangling a big brick-and-mortar souvenir chunk into his trunk stopped to talk to me.
"I graduated from here in 1970," he stated rather glumly. I could see the demolition really bothered him. "I live in Elyria now," he went on. "If this school was in Elyria, we would have saved it."
I think he's right.
Some communities value their heritage and try to hold on to the things that define them. Unfortunately, Lorain isn't one of them. I've written several letters to the Editor over the past decade to lament the fact that so many schools were being abandoned or slated for demolition that really weren't all that old. And the sterile, ugly 3-story boxes that replace them have none of the character of the old buildings.
The same thing that happened to LHS will eventually happen to Admiral King (my Alma Mater.) And I'm willing to bet the new school will not be called Admiral King either.
So...as I sit here, reading your blog, the song Hallelujah sung by Kurt Nilsen is playing on my computer. Looking at those pictures of Lorain High coming down, combinied with reading the discussion you had with the "brick saver"....along with the tune playing.. sort of tells the story of Lorain. I applaud your efforts and those of other Lorainites who have tried to change things for the good. I do not know what has taken a hold of Lorain, I have not been there in a while. It is sad to see it leaving...brick by brick.
ReplyDeleteHoy hoy,
Jeff Rash
You're right.. The new school is named Lorain High.. I love your blog.. I have learned so much about Lorain thru it.. I cant believe Corona Quarantine has me reading back to 2009..
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