Midview Middie Mascot - 1964

Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows that I really like advertising mascots of any kind. That's why this mascot for the Midview School District in Grafton caught my eye while I was looking at old Journal newspaper microfilm in the library. (Plus, the Midview sports teams have been doing really well lately.)

The accompanying Journal article from September 10, 1964 explained that the emblem (named "Midview Middie") was chosen by the Build Midview Committee as part of a promotional fundraising campaign. "Middie" was going to be featured on decals that would be sold to raise money to sponsor an essay contest, a poster contest and other programs.

The mascot was selected because he "exemplified the combination of friendship, warmth, and forward look of the Midview district," according to the article.

I like the freckled little guy and his clean cut, wholesome looks right out of a 1950s or 60s comic book. He looks like he should have a slingshot hanging out of his back pocket.

Contrast "Middie" with the design of the current Midview sports mascot (below).

I guess times and tastes have changed! "Cute and wholesome" have given way to a burly, hairy "goon" look, dripping with testosterone. He looks like he doesn't just want to defeat the other team, he wants to pound them into senselessness.

Somewhere along the line in our culture, the concept of a sports mascot seems to have changed from that of a 'lucky charm' to that of a symbol that must project the strongest, manliest attitude – lest the team and its fans stand accused of being utter wimps. 

Although the cute "Middie" has long since been retired, apparently his message is still relevant. On the current Midview schools website, the first paragraph leads off with "The Midview Schools are on the move!"

Midview High School Dedicated – Nov. 6, 1955

Midview High School is one of those schools in Lorain County (like Firelands and Keystone) that I'm just not too familiar with and couldn't tell you where they're located. Nevertheless, I wrote about Midview before (here), when I featured its "Midview Middie" mascot.

Anyway, the new $800,000 Midview High School was dedicated back on November 6, 1955 – 70 years ago this week, as noted in the article above that appeared in the Lorain Journal a day later.

What's odd is that when I was prepping this post, various sources (including its Wiki entry) noted that, "Midview High School was originally built in 1956 as a Junior High School, until the needs of the district demanded more room for students in grades 9-12. The building was then designated as the High School in 1956, and has remained so ever since."

I'm skeptical about the accuracy of that contention. It seems like from the beginning, the plan was to build a high school. Here's the August 31, 1954 report of the awarding of the contract for "the construction of the new Midview High School slated for completion on Capel Rd by Sept. 1, 1955."

Groundbreaking took place on Sept. 23, 1954.

That same week, an architectural rendering of the new Midview High School was unveiled.

After doing my Google Maps "drive by," I'm guessing it's been enlarged over the years. It looks like the classic high school design – very similar to my own Alma Mater, Admiral King High School.

High School Mascot Musings

The ongoing flap about the North Ridgeville High School Ranger sports logo (which you can read about here on the Chronicle-Telegram website) is very interesting to me as a graphic designer.

Tired of the current simple gold star symbol (on the above left), some North Ridgeville High School students came up with their own proposed Ranger character design (on the right). This hombre is a tough character, with gritted teeth and skull-like face. He reminds me of the DC Comics Western antihero Jonah Hex.

It's just another reminder that today's students don't want a wimpy or boring sports mascot.

But it wasn't always like that. Remember my post about the Midview Middie mascot? Here's the hairy behemoth that has the mascot job today (below).

But this is what the same guy looked like (below) in 1964 – just a lovable little scamp.

Closer to home, the City of Lorain has had its share of offbeat high school mascots.

For instance, here's the beloved Southview High School saint mascot (below).  It's rather unique that he represents a... well, a dead character.

Southview Saints mascot circa 1977

Just like the Navy, Admiral King High School (my alma mater) had a goat for a mascot that appeared at football games – but he did not serve as a symbol of the school, whose sports teams were called the Admirals.

Admiral King's arch-rival Lorain High School was the home of the Steelmen, as a tribute to Lorain's steelmaking heritage. Their steelman mascot was depicted in a couple of different of ways through the years.

One version resembled a cute, clanky, robot (below).

This particular version appeared in a 1965 Journal sports cartoon drawn by our old pal Gene Patrick (below).  I like the nuts and bolts flying off the Steelman, as well as the five o'clock shadow on the Elyria High School Pioneer.

Lorain High School was still using this design in 1978. The front of the Scimitar yearbook that year included an illustration of a whole gang of the lovable Steelmen (below).

Eventually this design was replaced by a more manly version that resembled an actual steelworker.

Remember when the 2009 demolition of Lorain High School revealed the wall containing his scowling countenance?

Speaking of mascots, did you know that your friendly blogger designed the mascot for the current Lorain High School? Stop back here next time and I'll tell you the story!