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Vintage aerial view of the Lorain Country Club clubhouse.
That's Lake Erie in the lower left hand corner of the photo. A two-car
Lake Shore Electric train is heading west down Lake Road towards the railroad undercut.
(Photo courtesy of Dennis Lamont) |
During the 1930s, the Lorain Country Club continued to be the subject of articles in both Lorain daily newspapers on the sports pages as well as the social pages. Sometimes it even figured prominently in a crime story. Below is the story from the
Lorain Journal of Feb. 2, 1931 of how the Lorain police made an arrest by using the Country Club in a stakeout.
Most of the time, however, the Lorain Country Club was just mentioned on the sports pages.
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| Lorain Journal, April 29, 1931 |
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| Lorain Journal, August 12, 1931 |
The Women's golf teams were particularly good in 1931.
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| Lorain Journal, August 15, 1931 |
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| Lorain Journal, August 29, 1931 |
Unfortunately, the Lorain Country Club seemed to have bad luck.
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| Lorain Journal, May 31, 1932 |
The opening of the course each year always seemed to rate coverage in the newspapers.
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| Lorain Journal, October 17, 1936 |
But as the latter part of the 1930s unfolded, the Lorain Country Club golf course was suddenly offered to the City of Lorain for purchase.
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| Lorain Journal, Sept. 21, 1938 |
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| Lorain Journal, Nov. 21, 1938 |
But the Country Club clubhouse was not part of the sales proposal. And while the city pondered the offer, the course remained open.
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| Lorain Journal, August 15, 1939 |
It seemed to be a time to look back at the Country Club's history.
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| Lorain Journal, July 26, 1939 |
Nevertheless, golf was still being played there and the clubhouse remained a popular gathering place.
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| Lorain Journal, August 17, 1940 |
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| Lorain Journal, Sept. 14, 1940 |
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| Lorain Journal, Oct. 19, 1940 |
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| Lorain Journal, Nov. 30, 1940 |
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| Lorain Journal, April 17, 1941 |
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| April 27, 1942 |
Even as the City was still trying to decide in 1942 whether to buy the Lorain Country Club golf course, another issue arose to complicated matters: the extension of W. 21st Street. The road was to be extended west from its ending at that time at Leavitt Road to meet up with Lake Road at the undercut. The article below from the
Lorain Journal of Sept. 17, 1942, explains how the new road "slices off the extreme north edge of the golf course, necessitating the re-location of some of the greens."
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| Sept. 17, 1942 |
The Mayor of Lorain backed the proposal to buy the golf course.
Next: The wrap-up
What interesting history; I never knew there had been a golf course in that area. I recognized the name of the manager, Curley DeBracy, as a pal of my golf loving Grandpa - my mom told me they were always cooking up schemes for future courses and country club locations. In our family album there’s a 6 inch newspaper photo clipping of DeBracy and my grandma - with him perfecting her golf swing at “the Lorain Driving Range.” They didn’t have much money, but always enough for their golf! Looking forward to reading the wrap up tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteA links cliff-hanger!
ReplyDelete