The New Broadway Building – October 1926

The Broadway Building has been the lynchpin of Downtown Lorain since the 1920s. 

We've all spent time in it at some point over the years: in its offices, restaurants, stores or even the bowling alley that was in the basement. One of my mother's first jobs as a teenager was working in an office there. And our family dentist had his practice there during the 1960s and 70s.

Anyway, I've never seen an ad for the Grand Opening of the Broadway Building. That's why I was excited to see the ad below, which appeared in the Lorain Journal on October 4, 1926.

Unfortunately, it's not a Grand Opening ad – but it's the only ad that I've ever seen from around the time it was new. The building had been constructed in 1925 and had been renting offices, etc. apparently without a lot of success in 1926 so far.

The Lorain Journal even wrote an editorial that appeared that same month on October 20th to drum up some support.

The editorial makes several references to rookeries. So what are they?

According to Merriam-Webster, a rookery is a crowded dilapidated tenement or group of dwellings.

So now you know.

My recent attempt at a 'now' shot to go with the photo in the 1926 ad

Bye Bye Broadway Building?

The view on Saturday

It was strange reading in the Morning Journal this past week (here) that so many politicians in Lorain want to see the landmark Broadway Building torn down. Much of the population apparently feels the same way, judging by the comments posted online.

The Broadway Building under construction in 1925

The Broadway Building has been part of Downtown Lorain since 1926. Who would have ever imagined the possibility of it being torn down?

Unfortunately, a variety of issues – including the current selling price of the property and the cost of renovations and repairs – make it likely that it will be demolished.

It's surprising that there doesn't seem to the same affection for the Broadway Building that there was for the Gel-Pak Building. A federal award of $6.6 million was spent renovating the Gel-Pak Building; wouldn't it be great if grants could also be used to restore a building that was once the linchpin of Downtown Lorain?

Since there doesn't seem to be a need for hotel rooms in Downtown Lorain, it would also be nice if the Broadway Building was once again used for its original purpose – providing offices for dozens of small businesses and organizations. Through the years, a variety of companies called it – and Downtown Lorain – home.

In 1926, the building was brand new and largely vacant. But it was still home to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, lawyers, realtors, architects, a beauty shop, a contractor and a billiards room in the basement. The 1930s brought more tenants to the Broadway Building, such as the Lorain Chamber of Commerce. During the 1940s, the Board of Elections, the Lorain Chapter of the American Red Cross, a photographer, a collection agency, and investment companies moved in. And the 1950s saw the Girl Scouts, the U.S. Housing Expediters, the U.S. Army - Air Force Recruiting Station, the Social Security Administration, the American Cancer Society, the Lorain Community Chest, and others calling the building home.

And in the 1960s, tenants still included the U. S. Selective Service Local Board No. 71, Kelly Services, the City Dept. of Community Development, the Lorain Port Authority, and Dr. James R. Coulter – my family's dentist.

It's easy to see how the Broadway Building touched the lives of many Lorainites. That's why it's a shame that yet another symbol of Lorain's glory days will probably end up as a vacant lot.

Will this familiar view soon be a thing of the past? We'll see.