The Story Behind the Buildings – Part 2

William Honecker – the man whose last name graced the Honecker Building – passed away on August 12, 1928. The longtime Lorain druggist’s passing was noted prominently on the front page of the Lorain Times-Herald the next day.

The article announcing his death noted that he was a ‘pioneer resident’ of the city.

His funeral was widely attended, as noted in this article from August 15, 1928.

Despite William Honecker’s passing, his namesake pharmacy continued on for a few years. By the time of the 1929 city directory, the store – still listed as being affiliated with the Rexall chain – was being managed by J. H. Stone.

At the time of the 1931 city directory, the drug store was still in business. Note that the Elks are again listed as tenants.

By the time of the 1933 directory, the drug store was closed, and replaced at its location by Jacoby Brothers grocery.

As the years passed, a variety of businesses called the Honecker Building home, including Trimmer’s Jewelers and the Nicholl Stone Company.

1940 city directory listing

1950 city directory listing

By the early 1960s, Trimmer’s Jewelers and the Nicholl Stone Company were still listed as a tenants.

Going into the early 1970s, the building picked up another well-remembered Lorain firm as a tenant: Svete Travel Bureau.

Finally, here’s the building's listing from 1985, when Downtown Lorain was in the period of its biggest decline, having lost many of its most longtime, iconic stores.

Tomorrow: the building at 436-440 Broadway