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| Vintage postcard with a postal mark of 1958 |
The Lakeview Park Easter Basket has been the subject of fifteen posts on this blog over the years. It's been a beloved Lorain landmark since its unveiling in 1941 and one of the unmistakeable symbols of the city. And as we all know, it's been a photo backdrop for countless family photos.
I like to post an articles that show up about it, and here's a new one to me. It appeared on the front page of the Lorain Journal of April 9, 1955 (shown below).
"About 10,000 snapshots are expected to be taken of the 3 1/2 ton green and yellow cement basket of nine colored eggs. Camera fans use it for backgrounds in snapping family and friends in their Easter finery."
The article notes how George Crehore, Lorain park department superintendent, 'dreamed up' the concept of a basket in the park. Unfortunately, the story only attributes its construction to Crehore and the park department workers – failing to identify the man who figured out a way to manufacture the basket: David Shukait.
Eventually, Shukait received recognition in newspaper coverage. A plaque acknowledging his ingenuity in the design and construction of the basket adorns it today.
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Elsewhere on that same front page are a variety of interesting news tidbits, including the report of singer Mel Torme being involved in an auto accident at Route 10 and Indian Hollow Road. According to the story, Torme was "en route from Los Angeles to Cleveland where he is making a personal appearance."
I guess Mel liked taking the back roads.
