Emerald Valley Golf Club Grand Opening – Sept. 1961

I heard that the Emerald Valley Golf Club clubhouse/nightclub was torn down last month, so I drove over to take a look over the weekend (above). It was strange not to see the familiar building that had been there since it opened in 1961. Here's a view from 2020 (below).

The golf course had opened with much fanfare in September 1961. Here's an article from the September 28, 1961 edition of the Lorain Journal about the impending opening. As we know from last week's posts about the Lorain Country Club, there was real enthusiasm for golf courses in Lorain.

And here's the Grand Opening advertisement from September 30, 1961.

I've featured the Kucireks many times on this blog, including a great Journal interview from 1969 in which the couple explain how they originally wanted to build homes on the site (the former Glen Mauer farm) – but ended up with a golf course.

Here's a YouTube video of part of the demolition. That's Joseph Kucirek, the grandson of Emil and Emily Kucirek, at the wheel of the excavator. He wanted to participate, as a way of honoring his grandparents and their legacy in Lorain.

And here are a few vintage ads of the nightclub and pro shop.

Oct. 9, 1964

Oct. 30, 1964

Nov. 6, 1964

Nov. 7, 1969

Dec. 28, 1970