Groundbreaking for Lorain’s New City Hall – 1972

Fifty years ago, the groundbreaking for Lorain’s new City Hall was just getting under way. 

It was a symbolic event, bridging the past – represented by the aging, decrepit mansion that had served the city for decades – and the future, with all the promise it held.

It was an exciting time in Lorain’s history. 

The actual ceremony was very well planned, with true inclusivity. The city’s youth figured prominently in the ceremony, since an Admiral King High School senior, Robert Goodman, was enlisted to deliver the keynote address. Here’s the story from the front page of the Friday, March 24, 1972 Journal.

On Monday, March 27, 1972 the newspaper's coverage of the event included the front page article below.

As noted in the article written by Staff Writer Glenn Waggoner, “The groundbreaking was a colorful ceremony under bright sunny skies. A chill wind off Lake Erie failed to take away the excitement.

“There were about 250 people on hand for the ceremony.

“The bands from Southview High School, Admiral King High School and Lorain High School performed for the crowd.

“Mayor Joseph Zahorec and Service Director Elio Jacobozzi presided over the ceremony. They introduced present and former councilmen and city officials. And Zahorec made reference to the fact that Lorain had been trying for 50 years to build a new City Hall.

“The ceremony began at 2 p.m. After introducing Republicans and Democrats who had worked on the project, the actual ground breaking took place at 3:54 p.m.

“Among those on hand was Woodrow Mathna, former mayor of Lorain who had worked toward a new City Hall during his administration. He served 10 years as mayor before he was defeated last fall by Zahorec.

“People of all walks of life – judges, lawyers, steelworkers, housewives, businessmen – were on hand for the ceremony.”

From the March 27, 1972 Journal.
(Note the long-gone West Erie Avenue streetscape behind the crowd.)