Pic-Way Self Serve Shoe Mart Ad – October 25, 1962

With all of the mass shootings and gun violence in the United States these days, the mere mention of guns often arouses apoplexy among those who are against them, even when used in sport hunting.

But obviously that wasn't the case sixty years ago, when this ad for Pic-Way Self-Serve Shoe Marts ran in the Journal on October 25, 1962.

The theme is "On Target for Savings," and the ad does depict a few hunting boots. But half of the styles in the ad are regular dress shoes.

I like the illustration of the hunter and his dog, which I assume is some kind of pointer.

Anyway, Pic-Way Shoes has shown up on this blog a few times. It's yet another pleasant memory of my youth.

Fire Prevention Week – October 1962

Did you know that it's currently Fire Prevention Week? This year the annual week dedicated to raising fire safety awareness is from Sunday, October 9 to Saturday, October 15. 

Not only that, it's the 100th Anniversary of Fire Prevention Week. Note the special logo above, featuring our old pal Sparky the Fire Dog (who has been the subject of several posts on this blog).

(Click here to visit the National Fire Protection Association website to learn more about the organization's history, and more importantly, some fire safety tips. And of course, Sparky will be there too.)

Anyway, sixty years ago, the Journal featured the half-page ad below for Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by many local insurance companies. There's no appearance by Sparky in this dramatic and highly effective ad.

Unlike many vintage ads featuring sponsors, several of the companies are still around, (including my insurance company, Janasko Insurance Agency).

Take some time to think about fire safety this week, and every week.

Elyria Furniture Warehouse Ad – Oct. 6, 1962

I saw this ad for Elyria Furniture Warehouse, which ran in the Journal back on October 6, 1962 – and thought it was a riot.

Which is appropriate, because the theme of the ad is "Price-Riot." The illustration depicts the chaos of frenzied shoppers, with women wearing hats (not unlike Jackie Kennedy's) and gloves making a mad dash to take advantage of the discounts. One unfortunate woman has been knocked to the ground, losing her purse; a husband and wife are shown triumphantly carrying off what looks like a double oven.

There's a nice rendering of Elyria Furniture Warehouse, "the King of Discounters," located in Downtown Elyria at 1 East Avenue, at the bottom of the ad.

The business appears to have lasted until the early 1970s, according to online sources. I don't know Elyria very well, but by the looks of things (via Google Maps, that is), I don't think the building is still there today. But the concept of buying furniture in a warehouse, however, is more popular than ever.

New Cleveland Trust Building – October 8, 1926

The streetscape of Downtown Lorain has changed dramatically over the years, thanks to the well-known 1924 tornado, as well as the urban renewal project that laid waste to many buildings in the early 1970s.

That's why it's always nice to see a 1920s photograph of a building that's still there.

In this case, the building was the home of the Cleveland Trust Company. The article above, which appeared in the Lorain Times-Herald back on October 8, 1926, celebrates the opening of the new building, which replaced the one destroyed in the tornado.

As the article notes, "Another milestone in Lorain's progress will have been reached Saturday, with the opening of the new $150,000 home of the local branch of the Cleveland Trust company, Broadway at Fourth-st.

"The structure, modern in every respect, replaces the former home of the bank, destroyed in the tornado, which swept the city in 1924.

As the article observes, the business had outgrown its quarters, and rather than repair the old building wrecked by the tornado, the decision was made to construct an entirely new building.

"It is faced with Ohio sandstone," the article describes. "Two huge columns flanking the bronze door are three feet four inches in diameter and 28 feet high.

"The interior of the bank is finished in Botticino marble.

"Sixteen tellers' cages are provided for the convenience of customers."

Of course, with the popularity of online banking, banks today rarely have more than a few windows open for those customers (like me) that prefer to bank in person.

Anyway, the stately building hasn't changed too much over the years. It still looks great and adds a touch of class to Downtown Lorain.

Murello Realty Opens – Oct. 1962

If you grew up on the west side of Lorain during the 1950s and 60s, then you might be familiar with some of the names of the builders and developers who helped transform the vast acres of farmland into the neighborhoods we all know so well.

Some of these names were on the trucks parked in front of the construction sites, or perhaps on signs mounted in the ground. But sometimes we saw the company name on a building, if it was based on the west side.

The article below announces the opening of Murello Realty, a new real estate firm associated with the namesake parent organization, Murello Construction. It appeared in the Journal on October 6, 1962.

Anthony Murello was president of the firm.

According to the article, Murello Construction was established in 1948, and "has erected more than 300 homes in the Lorain area with 60 homes being put up in Sunny Acres Allotment No. 5 at Meister and Leavitt roads," with another 70 homes to be constructed in Forest Hills Development at W. 40th St. and Edgewood Dr.

The article also notes, "Murello also said that a 93-acre tract on Rt. 254, west of Oberlin Ave., will be developed next year, to provide sites for about 350 houses. The tract will be known as Williamsburg Heights Allotment."

It's interesting seeing just how many homes Murello constructed. We probably all know someone who lived in one of his allotments.

Anway, I've written about Murello Construction before. There was a post about a 1958 ad for Murello Built Homes, a post about its factory-built homes being installed on properties on the west side of Lorain in 1969, and one about some proposed Murello high-rise apartments in 1970.

Pulaski Park Wreath Laying – October 6, 1962

Pulaski Park is one of those places in Lorain that I first encountered as a kid, roaming the city on my bike with my friends in the early 1970s. After all, when you're not old enough to drive, you have to find a way to entertain yourself, and Central Lorain – with its churches and thriving ethnic social clubs – was a fairly exotic destination.

I remember seeing the monument in Pulaski Park, and wondering why Pulaski was being honored.

A Morning Journal article written by Michael Fitzpatrick from October 19, 2021 noted, "Erected in 1938 by the Federation of Polish Societies, the park was named in honor of Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish-American Revolutionary War hero who fought at Brandywine, Germantown, Valley Forge and Charleston before he was killed at the siege of Savanah, at the age of just 31.

"Pulaski came from his home country to join America’s fight for independence, and is credited with creating the country’s first cavalry division."

Pulaski's Wiki entry also describes him as "a Polish nobleman, soldier, and military commander who has been called, together with his counterpart Michael Kovats de Fabriczy, "the father of the American cavalry."

Anyway, the article by Fitzpatrick mentioned efforts to clean up and improve the park in 2021, as the city no longer takes care of it.

But sixty years ago, General Casimir Pulaski and his namesake park were important enough to warrant a ceremonial wreath laying. Below is a photo that ran in the Journal back on October 6, 1962.

Here's hoping that the project of improving the park, and returning it to the city's care, is moving forward.

Queen Elizabeth Article – Oct. 1, 1972

It's hard not to feel a little sad about the passing of Queen Elizabeth last month. Even though I'm not one to follow the doings of the Royals, I thought it was nice seeing her perform her official duties well into her 90s, as well as maintaining her class and dignity right to the end. It was a reassuring and comforting sight (especially when you have elderly relatives), and something we'll never see again.

Fifty years ago, Author Judith Campbell had just written the book Elizabeth and Philip about Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, who back then had just celebrated their silver wedding anniversary.

The article above by Gregory Jensen, which appeared in the Journal on October 1, 1972, makes some interesting observations about "the Princess who was never supposed to be Queen and the Prince who will never be King."

"King George VI, Elizabeth's father who took the throne by the accident of his brother's abdication, first described his royal family as "a firm." Its products are a nation-uniting symbol, a quantity of ceremony and a vast amount of work for the public good. Miss Campbell portrays its present management as a kind of joint managing directorship.

""The Queen and Prince Philip manage it all so well because, despite their different roles... they contribute to the over-all essentials as a team, " she writes.

""The job they do so well is not easy, and would be envied by few, but it is made possible by the complementary partnership they have worked out with the years.

""The things that the Queen finds difficult to do are some of those that Prince Philip does best. The things about which he gets impatient are those that the Queen takes the trouble to work out."

It sounds like they had a good marriage.

Anyway, the article is also a book review of sorts and it notes the challenge of any writer to find some new angle about the Queen and Prince Philip. Jensen felt that Miss Campbell did a better job writing about Prince Philip, as he was "the more flamboyant character."

Prince Philip passed away in 2021.