Stevan Dohanos, the nationally known artist famous for his great Saturday Evening Post illustrations, is often overlooked or even forgotten when Lorain is remembering its sons and daughters who went on to greatness.
That's why I try to always post any mention of him in his hometown newspaper. Above is the announcement that he was to be the featured speaker at the Lorain High School commencement exercises on June 8, 1955. It appeared in the Lorain Journal on May 5, 1955.
Elsewhere on the page are plenty of items of interest.
The Ohio Turnpike wasn't entirely finished at that point. Like 'new' Ohio State Route 2 and I-90 in the 1960s and 70s, the Turnpike was apparently completed and opened in chunks. The map on the page showed that for a short time, it was necessary for Lorain motorists to pick it up in Akron if they wanted to use it to connect up with the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Other items of interest: a story about a stage play featuring a girl with blue hair – back when blue hair was unusual; an article about a trailer camp in Lorain located at 36th and Dayton Avenue; some hilarious remarks by Senator Richard L. Neuberger about toupees, teleprompters and makeup; and a photo of Mr. and Mrs. Emory Harrison and their 13 sons.
Love the coonskin caps on the nine sons on the left!
36th and Dayton would have been in Campito.
ReplyDeleteI think you should say Mrs. and Mr. Emory Harrison - she did all the work while pregnant for almost ten years straight! Dressed like hill folk with bare feet. I hope they received some payment for the image so the mister could manage to buy some condoms.
ReplyDeleteJust yesterday, my sweetheart and I were talking about remembering when the Interstate system came into being. Being from Pennsyltucky, of course, with our state-of-the-art controlled-access PA Turnpike, the only thing novel about the Interstates was not paying a toll. For my father (b 1915), being able to drive 100 miles in 100 minutes was simply nothing less than a miracle.
Stevan Dohanos was one of the finest illustrators of the 20th century. He was supremely talented.
ReplyDeleteThe Ohio Turnpike is starting to get expensive and I avoid it when possible.It costs $7.25 now to go from the Elyria entrance to the end of the Turnpike near Youngstown.When as little as 2 years ago it was around $5.00.So I have been traveling I-480 till it ends in Streetsboro.That turns into Rte 14 and then you pick I-76 east.Maybe 20 minutes extra to save some cash for gas.As Tim Misny always says,I will make the Ohio Turnpike Commision pay.
ReplyDeleteI located several ODOT aerial photos of the 36th and Dayton area from 1947, 1955 and 1958. There sure wasn't much there in 1955. I don't see how they figured hundreds of people were in trailers unless they counted more of South Lorain. Alan, I always thought of Campito as east of Elyria Ave. Dayton Ave is not too far from Lincoln Park. It looks like more trailers scattered around going towards Broadway. I'll send the photos to Dan to see if they are interesting enough to post.
ReplyDeleteAlan, I can recall taking short cuts from South Lorain to Broadway using 36th St. That's why I remember the area. It was a bit unsettling to drive though with the dimly lit side streets. I have read past articles about people who grew up there and remember it fondly, though. I guess it was a tightly knit community.
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