Black River Township Fire Station Then & Now

Here's a vintage photo from the archives of the Black River Historical Society. Lorainites easily recognize it as being the former Lorain Fire Station No. 7 on the northeast corner of Meister Road and Leavitt Road.

In this photo that predates the annexation of the area by Lorain in 1964, the fire station was still being used by the Black River Township Fire Department.

What's interesting to me is the long-gone house immediately to the west of it. The handwritten caption on the undated photo is "Whitie Holzhauer's House." Its address was 2390 Meister Road.

A little research reveals that the gentleman's real name was Elmer J. Holzhauer. He was at one time the assistant chief of the Black River Township Fire Department next door to him. At least he didn't have to worry about his house burning down. Plus he had a short commute.

In 1958 he was also the Black River Township Road Superintendent.

Today, decades after the widening of Leavitt Road, it's hard to believe that there was ever room for a house at that location.

Here's a modern view of the building, now used by the Lorain Police Department (since Station No. 7 was moved to an old bus garage at 2111 West Park Drive).

When my family first moved to Skyline Drive in the mid-1960's, and there wasn't much development west of our house, we could see this fire station across the fields. It sure was comforting to know it was there.