Last Thursday, D-Day – in Lorain, that means Demolition Day – finally came for the former
Walter Frey Funeral Home on West Erie.
(It was kind of sneaky that the usual tell-tale fence around the property indicating eminent destruction never appeared before the take-down started.)
The demolition is kind of sad. The house was both a link to the past, as the residence of George Wickens, as well as the home of a well-known funeral business that we all probably visited at some time in our lives.
But in case someone in the far-off future ever wonders what was once there (on what will surely still be a vacant lot), here’s an ample sample of images of it from down through the years.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wf3RC82Di56BcChubsN6RTSP8cNCfOOMZaap21HYGRl6NABdJZ3tN61SK4Buh8LxW8sevcqSbce5kG6xANE4OPdaGQ4X6kdV8f3I32vZityHRM3XhWy3OUan4mY6m9VrqlHcZvHsv8c/w400-h258/Wickens-PC.jpg) |
Undated postcard from when the house was George Wickens’ residence |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31lhczCdSe9cbzFItwindLc2XPUtYerX3RIxAdod5b_nO9UgtlidKGcKadsdwa-AHdbVK_bkbqH2x1uQCuuKdLLaJCfW8lYI0vCb-32qKgq5PVQXaaOb5EaZdVHYt2svU3FMzr5JdjX8/w400-h295/Walter-Frey+1945.jpg) |
1945 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv4CsVkxQdoldTa4uv1Vcx4evblhuoN4Y9ZB7_lZVgmiC1ds7A3g7xcz9lYs6iCm5D6cfcaGXfU-wSLBuR9LBLl5hgZHLE-G6af6JFe8dkRRju5-c0ZYVW0RcJG98iWVgXTmZN7lh8Qg/w252-h400/frey+ad+1947.jpg) |
1947 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxQownfe8LE65cs5GvNF3hpx1_acGDJA7Qod328Hj6GhhmETeUwhwAzFmgswjt46j2PrD-c6l091HaivXt3p3N7dYUk0RWQQe_c38QuY2Ov_Tjjajcify1mDvBiHrTp_0HncaRgjkPe0/w400-h309/walter-frey-ad-JUne-15-1958-final.jpg) |
1958 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNXzt3EJVxk2r0rSEGseAWpOj5SsemMW8FBoIyoE5UtRoKl2Lr8eVwdWCwTo1Tusln4c0lvKAyeCe6YU1rdcIXQSIvP6x8xxr3r0Uu2vLPFAngXBD92KCsOLg7zLcG049ft-IDaQPGPlw/w400-h300/Frey_2010.jpg) |
2010 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEz9yOhkVWK7Emlah8AbUVkcoCkn2XKsYD6wtcyOoY36Sl5xSW0oqYekjjZ8BphBoSCFghvgFFIERtFgRbTuwtDhZw9XWpo1-ynTZx3P3A_kf_yn5X096H0La9WleX39kzqrGmGF4U0uk/w400-h295/Frey+2012.jpg) |
2012 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqP2A531huWmEKTNg7tqxLihpq9jIwee1Adhc9F8oIKey05KFl17E-7AcJyABfyxPHVNS95KubqZ2sZWRlneLcOccmn3CxavsB5zfCcL4JnWEhQY0szaNIX0-5d_JNo-IeeB2f9ItKt1s/w400-h200/both+2014.jpg) |
2014 |
Back in the middle of January 2021, I decided I’d better grab a few shots of the building while it was still standing.
These shots (below) are from the eve of the demolition.
And here are a few Steaming Rubble® shots from Thursday. The weather was appropriately grim and depressing for the start of the demolition.
By Friday, the sun was out again – but the building wasn’t quite down all the way.
I drove by on Saturday and, by George (Wickens), part of the building was still standing (below). It looked like that on Sunday too.
Sad :-(
ReplyDeleteIndeed.
DeleteGo save the front doors! They would make a nice entrance for a business.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing I thought was "Couldn't that beautiful red door been salvaged?"
ReplyDelete