A Tale of Two Houses – Sept. 1962 & 1972

The original Lorain High School went through several periods of expansion over the decades. 

Unfortunately, the high school's location in a dense neighborhood meant that each time a remodeling project was planned, properties would have to be acquired, and homes demolished.

Two very different stories, ten years apart, about houses that would meet the wrecking ball played out in the Journal. 

An article (below) that ran in the Sept. 14, 1962 Journal was about a house located at 651 Hamilton and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Butler. It was described in the article as "a landmark of the city," with an impressive pedigree – having been designed by the same architect who built the Lorain Public Library on 10th Street. The article details the house's attributes, including 12 rooms, 10 clothes closets, four rooms in the basement and a full-sized attic.

(Note the mention of now retired Lorain teacher/counselor
Roger Brownson in the article about student teachers)

The Butlers had lived in the home for 37 years.

However, their house on Hamilton would have to go so that a new high school gymnasium could be built. Consequently, the Butlers purchased another fine home at 1151 7th Street.

Meanwhile it was a much different – and sadder – story ten years later when it came to John Arlington Popp and his house at 711 Hamilton. Popp was a well-known Lorain character, described in the article below as a "4-foot-11, 75-pound former used car lot owner." 

In the article, which ran in the Journal on Sept. 13, 1972, it was noted that Popp had fought the Lorain school board to keep his home. "The battle had gone on for most of the summer, in and out of the courts. But it was over for Popp yesterday. He was about to lose his home at 711 Hamilton Ave. It held 14 cats, a lot of junk and memories. It was where he was born."

In the story, the eviction is carried out. The front door is broken down, and the school board's business manager and his team help empty the house and place some of Popp's belongings in storage until he could find a new home. Popp himself is forced to stuff his pickup truck and station wagon with miscellaneous possessions. He was planning on sleeping in his car that night.

During the emptying of the house, a few of the cats escape and disappear down Hamilton Avenue.

It's a tragic tale – made even worse by the fact that Lorain High School would eventually be razed itself, just like the homes that were sacrificed for its expansion.

Like a woman (who was watching the whole sad affair unfold at the Popp residence) said, "This is a sad day for America!"

"It's the most wicked thing in history."

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John Arlington Popp had 'popped' up on this blog before. Back here, the late historian Albert Doane reminisced about Popp and his Tucker car dealership.