Here's an interesting article that ran in the Lorain Journal back on February 24, 1953. It compares the 1891 Lorain City Directory with its 1952 counterpart.
"The 1891 directory, a copy of which is retained in The Journal's files, was the first ever published for Lorain and was issued by the firm of Mains and Disbar," the article noted.
"The 1891 directory is a paper backed pamphlet type of publication – that for 1952 a hefty book.
"Way back there before the Spanish American War, Lorain had only 43 businesses, professional men and firms. Today it has 48 full "yellow" pages of ads for merchants. And it has 59 pages of businesses, three pages of businesses for every single business firm or professional man in Lorain in 1891!
"In 1891 there was only one attorney in Lorain, W. B. Thompson, who had Room One in the National Bank Building. Today's directory lists more than half a hundred.
"The Lorainite in 1891 didn't have much choice either, when it came to getting a haircut. There was just one barbershop in town, that owned by H. J. Groene at 227 Broadway!
"In 1891 there were two hotels, the Mentel House and Schoff House, to cater to travelers. Today there are nine listed in the directory, eight of which are in Lorain proper.
"There were two dentists, one baker, two boot and shoe stores, two coal dealers, one clothing store, two hardwares, one jeweler, one laundry, two meat markets and one tailor in 1891."
The rest of the article examines other categories, including banks, insurance men, millinery stores and churches. Not surprisingly, there were no auto sales or repair shops in Lorain in 1891 – just a livery stable.
