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| Undated aerial photo of Thew Shovel (Courtesy Dennis Lamont) |
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| Courtesy P. C. Campana |
I happened to pass by it on the way home from Oakwood Park on Sunday and thought it was strange to not see the buildings that were so familiar to generations of Lorainites.
Thew Shovel is sometimes overlooked when it comes to celebrating Lorain’s glory years as an industrial powerhouse. Perhaps that’s because after a merger in 1964 the name was changed to the Thew – Lorain Division of Koehring Co.
Nevertheless, Thew Shovel was an important part of making the name ‘Lorain” known all over the world.
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| July 1949 newspaper ad |
Anyway, I took a few photos from my car as I proceeded west on E. 28th Street.
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| The intersection of Fulton and E. 28th Street |
For great and poignant photos documenting the gradual demolition of the former Thew Shovel buildings, visit the always interesting Lorain365.com website.
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I did take a few photos on another Sunday morning back in 2013. I’m kind of glad I did.
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Speaking of the Thew Shovel buildings, it didn't take long for the company to expand its operations in Lorain in the early years. As this news item that appeared in the Norwalk Reflector of December 12, 1901 explains, a 100-foot extension to the shop on the west end was planned.
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| (Courtesy Drew Penfield) |
Also, according to the May 26, 1913 edition of Industrial World, a 125 x 60 extension to the Thew Automatic Shovel works main building was being pushed to completion.
8 comments:
I still see a lot of rolling cranes down here in Houston with the big LORAIN on them, on the road construction sites.
When that happens, Bro, I'm sure you tell your fellow Texans, "See that thar 'LORAIN' sign? Wal, before I went West, that's the li'l town back East I was a-born in, Pardner! It's a ghost town now, but it used to be real bustlin' place!"
Texas -- heck, thats practically next door! During my tour of duty in Vietnam I remember seeing a shovel with the large LORAIN on the crane arm doing some kind of harbor work at Cam Ranh Bay. It made my day!
Thanks for the shoutout, sir! I'm glad to see your 2013 shots - those are views I missed out on. I wish I would have been able to go through the office building before the demolition.
I see the Lorain Cranes in different spots in Houston as well; Proud to say, they are still in use ! I may have had a part in building that one. I was layed off in July of 1972.
Really my father worked there in Lorain Ohio 35 years! Do you still see them
Did you know ANDY SCHUFFERT
We found a Thew shovel in the Yukon in perfect condition. Last used during the Gold Rush in Dawson City.
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