Last Rites for St. Joseph Hospital

Over the last couple of months, a monumental demolition has been taking place in Lorain, largely unnoticed: the knocking down of the old St. Joseph Hospital. As noted in a comment left on a previous post, the parking garage will remain.

The demolition kicked into high gear earlier this month when only one portion of the building remained. Here was the view on Feb. 6, 2021.

The view from Broadway looking west

Heading west on W. 21st Street

Ten days later on Feb. 16, 2021 only this chunk remained.

By Feb. 20, 2021 only a small portion of the structure – dangerously close to W. 21st Street – was all that was left.

Here are a few views from the next day, Feb. 21st.

Well, today was apparently the Grand Finale. W. 21st Street was closed between Reid Avenue and Broadway so that the final beams and remaining wall could come down.

The view from Livingston Avenue looking south

Here’s hoping that something gets built there that can utilize the still-attractive parking garage.

 

But in the meantime – so long, St. Joe’s. Many of the people who read this blog were born there, had operations there, and lost loved ones there. Thank goodness the spirit of St. Joe’s lives on in our excellent Mercy Hospital on Kolbe Road.