639 Broadway

It’s always interesting when an old building is remodeled (or otherwise modified) and something hidden is revealed.

Recently while photographing the vacant lot where the Thistle Building used to stand, I noticed that across the street, the front of 639 Broadway was being worked on. A neat bit of artwork – a large painted ‘639’ – was exposed.

Here’s a closer view. That’s craftsmanship.

So what did the building’s facade look like before the current construction work? Here’s a Google Maps view (below), circa August 2013.

Courtesy Google Maps

Of course, I got to wondering what companies were in the building during Downtown Lorain’s heyday, and just had to hit the city directories.

Apparently just before the 1924 Lorain Tornado, a building called Olympia Hall was at that address. The main tenant at that time was the Independent Order of B’nai B’rith.

Beginning in the next available city directory post-Tornado (1926), the building at 639 had no name, unlike the many named blocks in Downtown Lorain. Early tenants were William H. Emery (a physician), the Universal Bearing Company, and the Lorain Brass & Bronze Foundry Company.

1926

The building’s tenant list stayed the same for years. Here’s the 1931 listing.

1931

Within a few years, Attorneys Austin O’Toole and John D. Pincura called the building home as well. The O’Toole law firm would eventually become the building’s longest tenant.

Here are a few more random listings from over the years.

1939

1947

1959

1965

1975

By the early 1980s, things were winding down at 639 Broadway. The Warhola, O’Toole & Lumley law firm was the last holdover tenant from the glory days; by the time of the 1985 city directory, the building was vacant.

A few more companies called the building home in the 1990s, including Epic Video Film Production and Cardinal Driver Training. 

Today I believe the building at 639 Broadway is home to Nesbit Physical Therapy.