Mom & Dad Make the Society Page – March 25, 1950

Remember when the Lorain Journal had a Society page?

You probably don't. Going back to the early 1920s, the Journal included a social column that reported marriages, social club news and fraternal meetings, calendars of events, and small briefs about the local citizenry, such as who was ill or who was visiting another city, etc.

By the early 1930s, a true formal "Society" column had evolved, that featured more detailed accounts of weddings, engagements and parties. It was part of the Women's page, with advertisements, recipes, advice columns, short serials and anything that might interest the members of the fair sex.

This approach carried on right into the 1950s, which leads us to the subject of today's post: my parents' wedding plans that appeared in the paper on March 25, 1950 – 75 years ago today.

Grandpa Bumke (Mom's father) was working at the Lorain Journal at that time, so perhaps that's why Mom and Dad got the primo spot on the page.

I like the "Open Church Observed" announcement. Apparently it was "an old English Custom" in which anyone who wanted to attend the ceremony could attend. It was a charming way of announcing to the community that everyone was welcome to witness the vows, and seemed to be pretty common in Lorain back then.

These days, I'm not sure how engagement and weddings are announced. 

The Chronicle-Telegram publishes 'milestones' twice a month, but it seems to consist mainly of wedding anniversaries of the senior crowd. The Morning Journal has an online wedding form but I don't see a price listed, or any information as to whether the announcement will appear in the paper or on the website. 

Perhaps a reader who still subscribes to the Morning Journal or Chronicle can provide some information.