Back in the early 1960s, Lorain and the surrounding communities were experiencing a major growth spurt. World War II veterans had started families, which meant that new homes, schools and roads were needed. Consequently, the Journal was full of ads spotlighting the new housing developments that were replacing farmland.
Many of these ads were designed to appeal to the young housewives, as if to say, "Picture yourself in this beautiful new neighborhood." Here's one for Candle Lite Park out in South Lorain, which ran in the Journal on July 6, 1963.
 |
| That's some big hair on the young woman in the ad! |
Candle Lite Park had only announced its Grand Opening in February 1963 (which I wrote about here). Other developments with the same "Housewife in Paradise" theme included Rock Creek Run.
But not all new house ads took that approach.
Here's an ad that ran in the Journal on the same page (and the same day) as the ad shown above. It's for Timberlanes in Vermilion.
"We have trees in the heart of Timberlanes and we have homes in the heart of trees, on large 80 ft. lots surrounded by greenery, within walking distance of the new Valley View Swim Club, the New Valley View School, several Marinas, Camp Valley View."
It's a pretty convincing argument.
Trees on a lot are pretty nice. I had 16 of them surrounding my house in Sheffield Lake. But I cursed each fall, when I would rake or mulch the blanket of leaves that, when bagged, resulted in more than a dozen bags at the edge of Route 6 in front of my house each week.
Anyway, what interests me most about the Timberlanes ad is that I suspect the illustration was done by our old pal Gene Patrick, of "The Passing Scene" fame. It just looks like his style to me. He would have been just a couple years away from launching his well-remembered comic strip.