View of Lorain’s New City Hall Site – Jan. 1971

The year 1971 was a big one for the City of Lorain. 

The long-awaited new city hall was going to finally become a reality. As a result, that meant that many of the Downtown area’s oldest buildings would have to go – taking with them the heritage of that area that gave it a unique personality.

The photo above, which appeared in the Journal on January 7, 1971, provides a nice “before” aerial view of the new city hall location. Demolition was just getting underway, with the comfort station coming down a week earlier, and the Herbert Hotel (whose rubble is shown in the photo) at 280 Broadway as the latest target of the excavator. 

(Click here to read about some of the restaurants that were in the same building as the Herbert Hotel over the years.)

Here’s a pre-demolition, late 60s street-view photo (courtesy of the Lorain Historical Society) of the area that was being cleared.

And here’s a “now” view, courtesy of Google Maps.

It sure would be nice if the present Lorain City Hall eventually has its own appointment with Mr. Buchs – and that all-important corner becomes the home of tax-paying restaurants, lodging and transportation companies again.