Vacation Spots – July 1, 1938

July 4th is only a few days away. 

And if you were wondering how to have fun on that holiday, eighty-three years ago today, you might have taken a look at your edition of the Lorain Journal for ideas. That’s where you would have seen the above group of advertisements under the banner of ‘AN ARRAY OF VACATION SPOTS FOR HAVING WONDERFUL TIME OVER THE FOURTH.’

There are some familiar suggestions: dining at Pueblo; having dinner followed by dancing at Helfrich’s (operated by Charlie McGarvey); enjoying the fireworks at Crystal Beach Park; dancing at Elberta Beach in Vermilion; taking in a movie at the Warner Brothers Palace Theatre.

And there are some new (at least to this blog) establishments listed as well, including two in Lorain: Silver Grille at 1726 Broadway, and Blue Grill at Oberlin Avenue and 8th Street. Nash Boat House in Vermilion, where you could rent canoes, row boats and cabins, completes the roll call of where to have fun.

But what about Country Home Tavern, shown above in its Grand Opening ad?

I had never heard of it before. According to advertisements found on one of the newspaper archive websites, it was located on Elyria Avenue at Dunton Road. 

Based on those vintage ads, Country Home Tavern seemed to be around from 1938 until about the summer of 1947. Since it was located between Lorain and Elyria, it was not included in very many city directories, and it had no numerical address.

Joe Celano was the manager, with his home phone number matching that of the business. A later city directory revealed the Celano address was 4597 Elyria Avenue, and vintage aerials shows only one building has ever been at that spot. So I have a hunch that the home at that location today was Country Home Tavern.

4597 Elyria Avenue today

It looks big enough, and somewhat special; more than just a house. Does anyone know for sure?

Vintage aerial photos also show a possible parking area in front of the building as late as 1952.