George Wickens Home to be Auctioned Off

It’s kind of sad that the Walter A. Frey Funeral Home on W. Erie next to Lorain City Hall will be going up for auction in early November, as reported in the Morning Journal by Richard Payerchin (here).

Why? Because it’s one of those landmarks in Lorain that we’ve all gotten used to seeing, year after year, for decades. It’s somehow comforting seeing it there.

A 1945 Phone Book Ad

At least the business will continue, and soon celebrate its 75th annniversary. (Here is the link to the company website.)

Longtime readers of this blog know that the Walter A. Frey Funeral Home building is special for another reason as well; it was the home of Lorain Mayor George Wickens, a gentleman who made beautifying Lorain a priority.

His home was even featured on a postcard (which I wrote about here, featuring a Then & Now comparison).

It will be interesting to see what happens to the house after it changes ownership.

I would hope that the historic structure would play a role in a Downtown Lorain that is trying to make a comeback. It’d be ideal for a restaurant or B&B.

I have the perfect name for it too: Wickens’ Place.