First Baby of 1965

Ten years after the events of yesterday's posts, the Journal (it had dropped the 'Lorain' in its name by then) promoted the First Baby of 1965 Contest with this front page article.

As you can see, the rules had been adjusted since the 1955 contest. "To qualify for the prizes, 1965's First Miss or Master must be born in St. Joseph Hospital, with the time of birth certified by the attending physician," it noted. "Parents must be residents of Lorain County."

(So much for having a baby at Lorain Community Hospital, which had opened in 1964. And if the expecting parents lived in the Erie County portion of Vermilion, I guess they'd be out of luck.)

There were some pretty creative prizes mentioned in the article, including a ride home for the infant in a 1965 Thunderbird, and an oil portrait.

Unlike the 1955 announcement, the revealing of the First Baby of 1965 didn't make the paper until January 2nd. As the front page article below notes, "Baby Boy Potts 'shocked and surprised' his parents, Virginia and Robert Potts, when he became Lorain's First Baby of 1965. "He wasn't due until the 19th," Mrs. Pott explained."

It's kind of nice that the first name of the mother of the First Baby was actually reported this time. 

And here are the goodies awarded to Baby Boy Potts. Only one page of freebies this time!

According to the ad copy at the top of the page, babies born in Lorain Community Hospital weren't snubbed after all, which is good. But what happened to the oil portrait mentioned in the article? Looks like it was actually an 8 x 10 color photograph by Michaels Studio – still a nice gift. 

First Baby of 1955

Does the Morning Journal still sponsor a "First Baby" contest?

I don't subscribe to the paper these days, so I have no idea. I doubt that it does. Perhaps a MJ subscriber can fill me in.

Anyway, I like to feature the winners of past "First Baby" contests at the beginning of the New Year, as it provides some easy posts. First up: 1955.

The Lorain Journal (as it was still known back then) drummed up some interest for the contest with a front page article on December 31, 1954 about the various goodies for the winning baby.

The article spelled out the contest rules briefly; the first baby born within city limits after Midnight would be the winner. There's also a detailed listing of what the winner would get. In addition to the usual prizes (a baby blanket, a bottle warmer), there are some creative ones, including the free painting of baby's room by contractor Donald Johnson.

The newspaper didn't waste any time announcing the winner. Right on the front page of the January 1, 1955 edition, it was revealed: a baby boy born to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Leonard of 1408 Abbe Road.

And here are the two pages of goodies won by Baby Leonard.

The Lorain Journal did a nice follow up story about the christening of Danny Leonard (he finally got a name, and a good one I might add) on January 10, 1955. There's also a cute family portrait with Mr. and Mrs. Leonard and their seven children.

With that many kids, I guess the odds were in their favor that they might win a "First Baby" contest eventually!

Happy New Year!

Here's wishing all of you a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

As is my custom each year on this day, I'd like to wish my older brother Ken (Lorain's First Baby of 1958) a Happy Birthday!

Here's Ken in front of our old Brady homestead at 1604 W. 30th Street in Lorain. He's about one and a half years old here. The photo dates from May 1959.

The car in the garage is of interest to me, because it's not one that I recall. The trunk emblem says "Power Glide" so it seems to be a Chevrolet Bel Air, maybe a 1953 model (as seen below in a stock photo).

The car is also in this photo of my sister circa 1956 at my parent's first house at 305 W. 30th Street in Lorain. I remember that disc saucer-style sled.

There's a story behind that car. 

As I might have mentioned, Dad's side of the family was extremely generous, although they weren't in the least bit wealthy. His grandfather (Grandpa Esterle) gave Mom and Dad their first home at 305 W. 30th. It was a 'kit house' that he owned and had been renting out. And at some point in the early 1950s, Dad's mother (Grandma Brady) told Mom and Dad to go to Elyria and pick out a new car, as she wanted to buy them one. That's the car in the photo. 

Mom always spoke lovingly of Dad's family, reminiscing how sweet and kind and generous they were. She always said Grandma Brady was practically a Saint.