Didi you know that back in the early 1950s, the State of Ohio planned to make U. S. Route 6 between Lorain and Vermilion a limited access highway?
That was the plan in the story that ran in the June 21, 1954 Lorain Journal shown above. As it notes, "The four lane highway which the State of Ohio plans to build between Lorain and Vermilion next year on Routes 6 and 2 will be a limited access road, it was learned today."
It was unclear in the article whether existing businesses on the highway would have to be served by service roads. The state highway officials seemed to be noncommittal about how it was going to work.
"Route 6 is dotted with drive-in, motels, restaurants and private homes along the 11 miles between here and Vermilion," the article points out. "There is also Crystal Beach amusement Park, a drive in movie and a golf driving range."
In the end, the City of Lorain managed to get the State of Ohio to change its plans, since Routes 6 & 2 did not become a true limited access highway (like today's relocated Ohio Route 2).
But the widening did wreak havoc with many highway businesses, causing them to close all together, move their buildings back or move to an entirely new location.
This post highlights some of the concerns voiced by Routes 6 & 2 businesses in January 1955 to the widening of the highway. And this post shows some construction photos of the Routes 6 & 2 cloverleaf constructed near the railroad underpass at W. 21st Street.
****
Elsewhere on the Lorain Journal page above is a great suggestion for angel food cake and lemonade as a summertime treat; a Clevelander arrested for shoplifting at Neisner's; and an ad for a beer I never tried, Duquesne Beer. Maybe it's because I wasn't sure how to pronounce it?
But how to say it is right there on the can – "DUKANE" – under its name.
