Remember A&W Root Beer Stands?

1962 ad for the Vermilion A&W

Now that it's finally nice out, my thoughts automatically turn to the old drive-ins that my family used to go to back in the 1960's. One of them that I remember is the A&W Drive-in out in Vermilion on US Route 6 (back then it also included State Route 2 – thus it was 6 & 2).

It was a real treat to go there, and it's probably where I started my lifelong love of chili dogs. If I remember correctly, the Vermilion drive-in had those speakers that you spoke into to place your order. When it was ready, the carhop brought it out to you.

Here's a 1965 ad for the A&W Drive-ins. I don't remember the Vermilion carhops wearing stewardess uniforms, though!

1965 ad from the book Drive-in Deluxe by Michael Karl Witzel

Today the Vermilion A&W is long-gone; in its place at 4372 E. Liberty is a Wendy's restaurant.

****

Strangely enough, there was an A&W stand in Lorain on US 6 that I don't remember it at all. It was located at 2600 W. Erie Avenue and first appeared in the city directory in 1960. It was right where Madison Avenue intersects with W. Erie Avenue.

I probably don't remember it because my father always took W. 21st to get to West Erie if he was going west, bypassing that area entirely.  Most likely, my family went to the Vermilion one because it was a nice drive and something to do. If other families thought the same way, maybe it had something to do with the Lorain restaurant disappearing from the city directory in 1969.

Anyway, here's a May 29, 1965 newspaper ad for the Lorain A&W.

And here's an ad from the Journal from a few years earlier that's probably a little politically incorrect!

August 20, 1963 ad from the Journal

Don't Forget to Donate for the Admiral!

I just thought I'd remind you all that Lorain Pride Day is slightly less than two weeks away – and that's the day that the Charleston Village Society and the Black River Historical Society hope to have their memorial to honor Admiral Ernest J. King in place on Hamilton Street, across from his birthplace.

You can read the whole story here, in case you missed it.

This little memorial park is pretty important in my opinion. Back in the 1950's and 1960's, several attempts were made by various civic leaders to honor the Admiral. But plans to rename Lakeview Park in his honor failed, as well as an effort to attach his name to the Ohio Turnpike and I-90. It was even proposed that a new lakefront state park west of Lorain be named in his honor, but the park proposal went nowhere as well.

Oh, Lorain did manage to name its new high school after him in 1959, but as we saw, that honor had an expiration date on it. And as for the new Admiral King Elementary School, who knows if it will even be in use in another twenty years, in view of Lorain's shrinking public student population?

In other words, this small lakefront memorial may be the only thing honoring Admiral Ernest J. King that lasts.

Please consider a contribution to this worthy cause.

The above link to the Morning Journal website has all the information.

****

Incidentally, the illustration of the Admiral above is taken from a famous World War II poster (below). A framed copy of it hangs in the Lorain Public Library upstairs in the local history section.

The Deutschof Part 3

Here's a 'then and now' view of the Deutschof.

Joe Deutch appears to have passed away around 1950. By 1952, the Deutschof was no longer in business  – but that wasn't the end of the good times at at 651 Broadway.

Around 1954, Danny's Bar took over the space, followed by a variety of other businesses, including Ben Hart (also known as Ben Hart Show Bar) from 1955-1963, The Tropics from 1964-1965, D'Agnese Restaurant and Lounge from 1966-1968, The Golden Nugget from 1969-1973 and The Angry Bull in 1974. (All dates are approximate and from the City Directory.)

Later businesses included Duffy's Lounge, Secrets Club and the current occupant, Old Towne Charleston.

****

I'm sure Lorain has a hundred stories like that of the Deutschof, in which a popular business thrives for a number of years, brings much enjoyment to its customers and employees, and then promptly disappears, leaving only memories along with some photos in a scrapbook.

I think it's important to try and tell as many of these stories as possible to keep those memories alive, and to let future generations know how special a place Lorain was during its 'golden years'.

If you have a personal connection to a business and/or some reminisces that you would like to see highlighted here on the blog, please send me an email. I have a couple of people already who are compiling photos and histories, and it is a pleasure to be able to provide a forum in which people can share special memories and good times.

The Deutschof Part 2

The new location of the Deutschof at 651 Broadway

Brad Nitzke's father was a bartender at the Deutschof in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Brad was nice enough to allow me to post these photos from the family photo album.

The inside of the restaurant looked quite opulent.

The photo below is of special interest to Brad. "The man on the left clapping is my father," he notes. "He did sign painting on the side and I believe the sign above  them was done by him. He painted signs for a lot of the small stores around Lorain."

Brad's photo collection also includes many of the entertainers who used to perform at the Deutschof. The photo below shows Bob Veon at the piano & Solovox.

Check out the great steel mill mural behind Mr. Veon!

Special thanks to Brad for allowing me to share these photos.

The Deutschof Part 1

On Friday, May 26, 1933 the full-page ad at left appeared in the Lorain Journal and Times-Herald announcing the grand opening of the Deutschof, which would take place the next day. (Click on it so you can read it.)

As you can see from the ad, the Deutschof's name comes not from Germany, but from its manager and host: Joe Deutsch. And it was much more than the mere bar that I originally imagined. Food specialties included broiled chicken, steaks, chops, lobster, fish, roast beef, corned beef and Virginia-baked ham.

What, no sauerbraten?

It also boasted "the best cup of coffee in town" along with homemade pastries.

The ad lists several old-time Lorain companies that had a hand in the Grand Opening or were suppliers for the new business, including the Lorain Creamery and the Lorain Crystal Ice Company.

At that time, the restaurant was located at 571 Broadway. According to the City Directory, the Deutschof moved down the street to 651 Broadway around 1947.

A 1949 newspaper ad (below) shows that the great menu followed the restaurant to its new location.  And, the new digs were not only air-conditoned, but also boasted something new: television to watch the ball games!

Tomorrow: Great Photos and Memories of the Deutschof!

Remember the Deutschof?

Last November, I received some great vintage photos in my email from Bob Kovach, one of the regular readers of this blog, that he thought I might enjoy. They were of a bar in Lorain that I had never heard of: the Deutschof.

The name sounded so German that I imagined that everyone who hung out there wore lederhosen. But Lorain already had the Liedertafel – so what was the story of the Deutschof?

I decided to do a little research about the place and find out when it existed before I posted the photos. It took a little while, but with some dumb luck I was finally able to dig up some information.

I also learned that the photos that Bob sent me had come from his friend Brad Nitzke, who has an interesting personal connection with the Deutschof.

So stop by here tomorrow (pour yourself a nice chilled Old Dutch first) and read Part 1 of mein story about the Deutschof!

One Last Greeting From Lorain

Local historian and archivist Dennis Lamont emailed me this last "Greetings from Lorain" postcard to go along with the rest of the collection. It has the tagline that Lorain used for a while: An Industrial Empire in Ohio's Vacationland. 

I wonder if the real Vacationland region  – which includes Vermilion, Huron, Sandusky, Oak Harbor and all points south down to Norwalk and Fremont – would object to Lorain joining the party?

The postcard is great because it includes the Lakeview Park of my 1960's youth, with its skimpy beach and view of the B&O coal-loading docks in the background.

Thanks, Dennis! I think the postcard collection is complete!