Today's feature article is an interview with a Civil War veteran who describes what Downtown Lorain was like back in the late 1870s.
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OLD TIMER TELLS OF DAYS WHEN BROADWAY HAD BUT THREE STORES
August Baldwin Describes Lorain as It Looked 46 Years Ago
WHEN August Baldwin and his wife, Mary Baldwin, moved to Lorain from Cleveland, 4 years ago they established themselves for business on Broadway north of Erie-st, so they could be in the downtown district.
And the site of the present home of the Baldwin family, at 630 E. Erie-av, was a waving wheat field in those days.
Baldwin, who is 82 and a Civil war veteran, once refused to buy the southwest corner of Broadway and Erie-av for $1,200. He did this because he already had his business north of Erie-av and he wanted to stay “in the business district.”
Had Faith in Lorain
Baldwin came from Cleveland in June, 1878, because he saw prosperity here. He knew the little village of that day would eventually “grow up.” There were just 160 voters here.
“I saw a chance to grow up with the town,” he said to the Journal. “Broadway was a little more than a cow path. Our wagons and buggies sank to the hub in the mud in wet weather.
“And once in a while someone would be knocked in the jaw by a loose board in the sidewalk which would fly up as it was stepped on.
Three Stores on Broadway
“There were a few houses on Broadway and three stores. From 21st-st south there was nothing but woods. Small farms were located right off the Main Street.
“When Tom L. Johnson, Cleveland, had the steel plant started in South Lorain real prosperity started. People began to move here and improvements were started.
“On Reid-av there were but a few houses. The one school in this section was located on the site of the Lorain High school.
Four Hours to Cleveland
“When we wanted to waste a day we went to Cleveland. It took about four hours to drive there in an old wagon. It's a little different now,” and Baldwin smiled reminiscently.
Baldwin is a free thinker and refuses to believe in any foolish doctrines. “If some people want to believe the moon is made of green cheese, that’s their business,” he said.
He believes that people are more agreeable and sociable nowadays, and he does not think that young folks now are any worse than formerly.
“Boys and girls will be young. They can’t have their fun unless they are young, and I’m for then.”
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I’ve mentioned Mr. Baldwin before on this blog (here). By 1933, he was one of three remaining Civil War veterans living in Lorain. He passed away the next year.I like his description of the possibility of some hapless citizen getting whapped in the face by a loose sidewalk plank in Downtown Lorain in the old days. And he has a refreshing attitude towards young folks as well.
2 comments:
Dan,
Today's page mentions the Samuel Mapes house "at the foot of Oberlin Avenue" - would this have been at today's intersection of Oberlin and West Erie?
Mike
Hi Mike! I’m guessing the house was located north of the intersection with West Erie and closer to the lake – especially if it was torn down for industry (of which there were several down there, including Lorain Crystal Ice).
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