Samhain – All Hallow’s Eve – Hallowe’en- or witch came first?

Celebrate Samhain 🙂 thanks to CelestialElff

Last week found me pondering the narcissism of one’s beliefs being the paramount “belief” to be foisted upon others. Quite frankly I try to be very respectful of another person’s belief especially if they aren’t mirroring my own. I know what it is like to have one’s beliefs trampled upon , I have been devastated by the control of one group in negating my beliefs when it concerned the death of my son. ( Might does not make Right!) . I would not knowingly inflict that pain on anyone .
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/ignore-stance-and-the-roman-catholic-church-part-three/

It is a long story( as to the email received) and the person who had the idea the majority in the community would certainly agree because hey! aren’t we all Christian and Roman Catholic in Lorain They meant well and they have a good good heart. But once again there is a narcissistic naivety in assuming ALL in this community have the same beliefs just because you are a part of the “majority!. I am sure my email to them stating I had to disagree and that I don’t believe as they do and would have to come out against their proposal came as a bit of a shock.

Photo Lisa Miller Lorain 365 Blog

As I watched Zombies walk in Lorain

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.531496826936192.1073741848.476252369127305&type=3 “bloody and yukky” and the enjoyment of the undead as they danced along celebrating “death” gearing up for Hallowe’en and the retail pushing of ghosts , goblins and witches. As I was taking that on board and Christianity and the “holi DAYS” and their meanings I decided to go on a journey of my own. There is a sanctimonious piety that happens here as to ones beliefs being the “ONLY” true belief. Let us go back in time to other rituals of other beliefs …….

Everything has a beginning somewhere even religious beliefs and some are a great deal older than the “recognized religions” in this part of the world!.

300th to 51st millennium BCE
223,000 – 100,000 BCE The earliest evidence of Hominids, such as Neanderthals[2][3] and even Homo heidelbergensis,[3][4] deliberately disposing of deceased individuals usually in funerary caches. The graves, located throughout Eurasia (e.g. the Pontnewydd Cave, Atapuerca Mountains, Qafzeh, Es Skhul, Krapina),[3] are believed to represent the beginnings of ceremonial rites, although there is some debate about this.[5] Neanderthals placed their deceased in simple graves with little or no concern for grave goods or markers; however, their graves occasionally appeared with limestone blocks in or on them, possibly an archaic form of grave marking.[3] These practices were possibly the result of empathetic feelings towards fellow tribespeople, for example: an infant buried in the Dederiyeh Cave after its joints had disarticulated was placed with concern for the correct anatomical arrangement of its body parts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_religion

We have to fast forward through thousands and thousands of years and about 87 thousand years later than that first evidence and over three thousand years before Christianity there were a groups of people – pagans – some call them :)but only since the 14th century wonder what they were called before that?

Green Man earth element

Pagans
Middle English, from Late Latin paganus, from Latin, civilian, country dweller, from pagus country district; akin to Latin pangere to fix — more at pact
First Known Use: 14th century heathen 1; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome) one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person

Druids – who celebrated October 31st as summers end.

http://www.albany.edu/~dp1252/isp523/halloween.html

Samhain (pronounced sah-win or sow-in) means “summer’s end” by the Celts. In old Germanic and Celtic societies, what we call equinoxes and solstices marked the middles of the season, not the beginnings.” Therefore if there exist an autumnal equinox, winter solstice, spring equinox and a summer solstice, there are also the beginning of autumn, winter, spring and summer. All of these eight dates were important. Summer’s end which meant the beginning of winter was an important time for people who survived on plants grown in the field and animals that were kept in pastures. “This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death” It is most likely this reason that the Druids (Celtic pagans) believed that the spirits of those who died the preceding year roamed the earth the night of Samhain

The Druids celebrated this holiday “with a great fire festival to encourage the dimming Sun not to vanish” and people “danced round bonfires to keep evil spirits away, but left their doors open in hopes that the kind spirits of loved ones might join them around their hearths”.
On this night, “divination was thought to be more effective than any other time, so methods were derived to ascertain who might marry, what great person might be born, who might rise to prominence, or who might die”.

Also during the celebration, the Celts “wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes”. Crops were burned and animals were sacrificed The spirits were believed to be either “entertained by the living”, or to “find a body to possess for the incoming year”. This all gives reasons as to why “dressing up like witches, ghosts and goblins, villagers could avoid being possessed.” (Navarro )
Roman Influence
By 43 AD, “Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory.” For the 400 years they occupied Celtic lands, two Roman festivals: Feralia (the commemoration of the passing of the dead) and a day to honor Pomona (the Roman goddess of fruits and trees). The apple served as a symbol for Pomona and which might have been incorporated into Samhain by the practice of “bobbing for apples”

Christian Influence
When “local people converted to Christianity during the early Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church often incorporated modified versions of older religious traditions in order to win converts.

” Pope Gregory IV wanted to substitute Samhain with All Saints’ Day in 835, but All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2nd) which is closer in resemblance to Samhain and Halloween today, was “first instituted at a French monastery in 998 and quickly spread throughout Europe” (MSN Learning & Research- Halloween).

In the 16th century, “Christian village children celebrated the vigil of All Saints’ by doing the Danse Macabre. The Seven Brethren whose grizzly death is described in the seventh chapter of the deuterocanonical book of Second Macabees” is also said to have resulted in children dressing up in grizzly costumes to signify these deaths.

So “which came first the “witch” or the priest, the goblins or gods, and what pagan holiday are you celebrating- the trick or the treat………….

The Legacy – Light Up Lorain- 1996 – ?????

Antus said this year’s ”Light Up Lorain” promises to be the biggest event in its five years.

ED NOTE: Actually since the Morning Journal was part of the “1st Annual” event back in the day you would think they would have had a greater background knowledge of the who what and WHEN!!!! 😉

http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=277

Photo Mark Teleha

My rant in the post
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/non-quixote-tired-of-tilting-at-windmills/

as to the correcting event history of LIGHT UP LORAIN took me back to the “first order of business” for the then fledgling “mainstreetlorain” organization ( Not to be confused with MAIN STREET Program – therein lies another chapter) ).

I had met, at the end of 1995, with Al Kirchner (Herman Kirchner Furniture) and members of the Downtown Merchants Association. Charleston Village Society,had at that time, been a somewhat viable organization representing Lorain’s oldest neighborhood for half a dozen years. The merchants had decided to move in a different direction wanting to be inclusive of the abutting neighborhood, after all you can’t have a healthy downtown without a healthy neighborhood, something that still holds true today!

It was a few months later I was asked to attend a meeting in the conference room at the Spitzer Hotel. The newly formed “mainstreetlorain” interested parties were in attendance . I only knew two personally- Gary Fischer (Arkinetics) and Al Kirchner ( Herman Kirchner Furniture). I had, of course, heard of the other attendees that morning in the spring of 1996. I was introduced to Joel Kruek (Lorain National Bank), Anthony Giardini ( Spitzer ) Dick Gieonopi (Crystal Clear Cleaners) Scott Beyers (Jax Mens Wear and Endless Summer ) Mary Smith ( Morning Journal) .

I sat and listened, during that first meeting, as to how they wanted to form an organization, following a plan to promote the “downtown area of Lorain” . A number of suggestions were discussed including Gary Fischer outreaching to the National Main Street group as to recommendations, looking at funding sources and so forth, contacting the city, designating the area which would come under the “mainstreetlorain” umbrella, contacting the Koziura Administation as to the intent of the organization and to keep them up to speed.

Just before the meeting was to end Anthony Giardini stated : (I am probably paraphrasing here a little.)

If we are going to promote the business area in Lorain then we need a kick off event . I am sick of those tattered lantern decorations that the city puts up every year. They need to go and be replaced. We need to purchase new decorations , we need them to go along Broadway on every light pole, we need to have a centralized location and light trees in front of city hall”

Photo Mark Teleha

I am not sure who came up with the idea of Veterans Memorial Park, I think it may have been Al Kirchner , as the ideas were now coming fast and furious around that conference table, Gary Fischer was aglow:

“Fireworks!!! we must have fireworks, let us have the Mayor throw the switch, I will build the switch with a flash bang and when it is thrown the lights will come on that will signal the guys to light the fireworks , and the firework display will start.

There was some conversation about warning Mayor Koziura about the switch!

I know

Dick said “

hot chocolate, lets give away hot chocolate and cookies, candy canes

someone else said

bands, carol singing, the library has “characters, Santa Claus, wait let’s get the Palace involved, let’s have a parade….. what shall we name it?

– various names were tossed around – Celebrate Lorain , Holiday Lorain and it was Gary Fischer who said

“How about Light Up Lorain!!!”

and everyone agreed!

And there I sat – wondering what all this was going to cost? I didn’t say a lot – I had been down this path before, lots of great plans and ideas that came to nought.

Finally calm was restored and Anthony Giardini said

are we all agreed we will have the kick off event for the organization the Saturday after Thanksgiving?

I said

so that will be 1997 right

–
OH NO! it is going to be this coming Thanksgiving !!!

ERRRRRRRR do we have any money ?

No” we are going to have to raise the funds, we will meet next week.

TMC News photo of the 11th annual Light Up Lorain

http://tmcnews.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

In the meantime, Gary contact American Fireworks and get quotes, we will contact the city and get their thoughts and how this will work with their programs- Mary, talk to Kevin Walsh (the Journal Publisher) about publicity, Loraine we will need Charleston Village to act as our non-profit so donations will be tax-deductible, Joel talk to the bank etc. etc.

and off they went out the door leaving me somewhat dumfounded. I honestly didn’t think they stood a hope in hell getting this off the ground – you see it was already the end of May.

The next week’s meeting had the same people gathered , excitement filled the air, quite overwhelming my caution. There were some new faces ( Rich Robbin ( my co-chair of CVSI- I definitely needed a cooler head to back me up in case I had to be a negative! That idea went south when he agreed to be Santa Claus.

Vivian Alexander, was there representing the City of Lorain, she had come with the quote for the lights , with the discount it was about $59,000 dollars for the wreaths, holders, lights in the trees and standing decorations.

Photo Lisa Miller Lorain 365 Blog

Gary had a quote of $3,600 for a fifteen minute display of fireworks. The hotel would provide the hot chocolate , Tom Boyer and family would man the tent with chocolate and baked goods and provide the tent! The Morning Journal would run a story, the Palace would be on board with Billy the Clown and a parade as well as the Lorain Police Department and Lorain Fire Dept.

Mayor Koziura would see to it the Street Dept and Chuck Camera and crew would hang the lights and wreaths along Broadway and in Veterans Memorial Park. Jimmy Dillion, from the Electrical Dept would see to it there was power in the park and at City hall. Lorain Public Library and Terri Fredericks would bring in “characters” and Frank and Carolyn Sipkovsky from Black River Historical Society would help liase with the museum , coordinating holiday displays at the museum and canned good donations etc.

The only fly in their ointment that first year was the Lorain City Schools thought it would be too cold for their choirs and band. However Clearview Band had no such problem and Bobbi Emery stepped up to the band stand ( literally). Elvis would entertain. We had a commitment from Alan Spitzer to pay for the fireworks!

We had our MC Gary Fischer who two years later was joined by his assistant Natalie Fischer although she wouldn’t be talking for a while yet 🙂 – the program for the night was set, the food, fireworks all seem to be in hand. BUT the nagging little voice kept saying

errrrr what are we going to light up because the “lighting vendor” wanted to be paid before they delivered and I didn’t have 59,000 hanging about in CVSI accounts

.

We were now in June- Once again it was Anthony Giardini –

we will have a Christmas in July fundraiser at the hotel, Mary and Loraine you take care of decorations, the invitations etc. etc.

And so the fundraising started , there were afternoons spent at Scott Beyers’ store ( since he had multiple phone lines) calling donors , getting pledges it was a busy few months.

“mainstreetlorain” had its first “member ” Alan McCartney ( SQP) Print Center, he more than paid his dues as I was always running in for “can you print this please….” It was well deserved his family became front page as they watched the fireworks on that November 30th night of 1996 and the 1st Annual Light Up Lorain!

Photo Morning Journal

The funds were raised and the lights delivered however to our amazement over 100,000 light bulbs needed to be screwed in , hundreds of thousand of feet of wire had to be stretched out , every display needed to have their bulbs attached. Frantic calls to Frank and Carolyn, their volunteers, the girl scouts, the boy scouts, the school kids, Alan Spitzer donated the hotel and lunch but due to hotel commitments it had to be done in three hours. The Spitzer Hotel ballroom and hallways were filled with wire , bulbs and laughter but the volunteers came through and they got it done in time .

There were some difficulties along the way even then, the test run saw one exploding reindeer in front of City Hall- and George Koury commenting

in every battle at least one soldier must fall.

I was concerned it may be the mayor and that exploding switch!

Photo Mark Teleha

And lessons learned – As the Fire Dept rushed to the scene during the fireworks extravaganza ( as we lit them on top of city hall- a place well known for fireworks”) the ensuing smoke was sucked into the air vents setting off alarms throughout the building- I do believe that was the 1st and last time for fireworks on the roof!

Since THAT 1st Annual Light Up Lorain Event the “mainstreetlorain” organization became Lorain Growth Corporation and has seen directors come and go, new committees have succeeded those of the original group they have added a great deal to the Light Up Lorain, Santa has a wife and a kitchen, window displays and more lights, there are bonfires and icesculpting planned, rocket rides but along with Gary Fischer the one and only constant from those days in the 1996 it is about celebrating the holiday Lorain style!

photo Mark Teleha

So you see when publicity for the Light Up Lorain event has been promoted as the first annual, or the 3rd annual and recently the 5th annual as the headlines last week; I took exception!

Yes! I had my own brand of fireworks going off because I can still remember sitting around that conference room table in 1996 thinking OMG these people are off their trolley this will never happen by November 30th 1996… but it did because they had a vision and a passion and a willingness to work together for Lorain!
THIS YEARS LIGHT UP LORAIN CELEBRATION IS ALSO NOVEMBER 30TH 2013

Captain Chronicles- Settlers’ Watch

Photo Lisa Miller

Every year we have faithfully maintained the carvings by cleaning, filling with special wood filling any problems and sealed them religiously . We always knew the 4 carvings on the tree lawn would have to be cut from their base after a few years.

Photo Mark Teleha

You see they were cut from living trees, but the roots would eventually die and the carvings will have to be moved to a concrete base as well as off the tree lawn as the City of Lorain ordinance prohibits anything over a few inches to be placed on tree lawns.

Photo Mark Teleha

We hope to be able to tackle that particular project in the spring of 2014.

The Ship Captain , had to be carved off site due to the fact the sewer project took a different turn back in 2007-8 and they bulldozed down the trees earmarked for the Captain and the Eagle.

We began the first carving to coincide with the Bicentennial celebration of Lorain August 2007 and were stopped dead in our tracks just weeks later. We didn’t get the site back until the spring of 2009

Photo Mark Teleha

There in lies another “tale” however I am told I shocked the foreman when I arrived on scene as to my “usage of the English language” upon finding the trees in the process of going and gone.

I was definitely none too complimentary and any sailor would have been proud of my salty articulation! I managed to draw quite a crowd 🙂

The powers that be at the time , including the “sewer project people” got together and in the end CT Consultants paid for the wood for the carving of The Captain .The Captain was afloat again.

The Captain was ready for placement however, the site was still a construction zone so the Captain had to be stored off site. ( See delivery etc here )
http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=151

Photo Mark Teleha

Unfortunately , for some reason after delivery to the host site at Black River Landing he did not get his coat of preservatives. The concrete and fierce sun coming off the concrete caused an issue as he dried too quickly. We could not move him back to 2nd street as we were now dealing with the “finished” construction zone:

Eventually as volunteers and contributors came together the Captain was back where he belonged,

Photo Mark Teleha

but he was very dry and whilst the other carvings took a gallon of sealer for all 4 he took 2 gallons by himself, he was soaking it up like a sponge. His other problem is he attracts seagulls – these seagulls have a tendency to sit on his hat and poop – that poop eats away at the sealer opening his wood up to the elements and bugs . He has changed over the 4 years he has been on site

Just as the site itself has changed in those 4 years

Once again this Pride Day 2013 , as the weather was favorable, to sealing and cleaning- we did. We noticed the Captain’s Wheel and hat were having some issues, so we pegged the loose stanchion and gave him extra sealer ( 2 coats this time) Unfortunately, just last week I noticed the stanchion on the ground -the wood had rotted, in fact his whole ship’s wheel, was hanging on by a thread he was sounding decidedly hollow. We checked the other carvings they seem to be fine except the root bases of the ones on the tree lawns which is to be expected.

After searching on the internet we found http://conservepoxy.com/ Paul of Conservepoxy spent a great deal of time with me on how the process works and what we need to do. Also Andy from Sherwin Williams came to the site and is also looking for ways to help us for which I am eternally grateful http://www.sherwin-williams.com/

Today, thanks to the quick delivery from Paul and Conservepoxy, we spent the morning at Settlers’ Watch giving the Captain injections , stabilizing him – with fingers crossed.

It was a busy day at the Watch, Frank Sipkovsky cleared, pruned, weeded, purchased coffee to toast the power towers coming down and helped me check for any problems on the other carvings . The other “boys” Ernie Ritchey, Don Fugitt operated on the Captain, while the Lorain Dudeshttps://thatwoman.wordpress.com/category/lorain-dude/ – Gavin and Braedyn planted spring bulbs in the “Children”s Garden” – (future home of the tree lawn lighthouse). Nikki ( their mum) helped them to plant the bulbs right side up and I just watched and worried distracted from my thoughts now and then by the towers being cut away…….

(N)on Quixote- Tired of Tilting at Windmills

http://www.barry-kay-archive.org/SETS/sets.html

“It is one thing to write as poet and another to write as a historian: the poet can recount or sing about things not as they were, but as they should have been, and the historian must write about them not as they should have been, but as they were, without adding or subtracting anything from the truth.” ― Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Don Quixote

I have come to a point where I am tired of tilting at windmills.How often has one naively thought-

if people know about this they will react- and the situation ( whatever it is) will change………

. Have you thought that ever and have you walked away shaking your head because you have come to the realization that on the whole people just don’t care, don’t want to be involved….let someone else do it……. or they have tilted at too many of their own windmills.
It is difficult to rouse one’s passion when one is in the limbo of apathy.

United States and the Government Shutdown
The leaders of -arguably- the once most powerful country and form of democratic government in the world “shutting it down” – what message is that sending to the great unwashed and her enemies… won’t have to send weapons of destruction to their borders they are killing themselves laughing !
http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/bl-government-shutdown.htm?PS=354%3A15

Closer to home – whilst working on a booklet for those unfamiliar with this neighborhood and her treasures I realized, looking at a previous booklet, the architectural treasures held to high esteem were now for the most part decaying lumps.
Case in point – The Broadway Building where we once touted her glory are we really going to direct people to come and visit her now…..

I then realized the “book” would have to be rewritten ……. maybe as a POET and not a historian………

And as for Poetic License , the headline in the Morning Journal two days ago “poetic license or revisionist history”?
Fifth annual Light Up Lorain ready to roll Nov. 30By Ron Vidika, The Morning Journal
the article follows:
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20131010/fifth-annual-light-up-lorain-ready-to-roll-nov-30

Picasso

For the “historians among us this is not accurate ‘LIGHT UP LORAIN” as christened by Gary Fischer in 1996 has been an ongoing event since 1996. Not a big deal??? well it is to me – and I stated as much to the committee when they touted it as the “1st annual, and the 3rd annual my latest non poetic email to the powers that be. You see this windmill keeps on a turning no matter how I tilt so “Preservation of history ON the “NET”

Photo Mark Teleha

I am sorry but the history of Light Up Lorain ( named actually by Gary Fischer) goes back to 1996 and has been a continuous event since then. The Mayor at the time was Mr. Kozuria and it was with his administration’s help and the then Mainstreetlorain organization the decorations were purchased that organization ( Now Lorain Growth) went into debt for those decorations !

As I have mentioned before by saying this is its 5th year does a disservice to those that volunteered during those years volunteers at the time and for the next decade of hard work- revisionist history

This did not start 5 years ago as I keep reading in the publicity! under Krasienko…. It was an event even under the Foltin administration( he actually paid for the fireworks out of the Parks and Pools account at least twice to my knowledge when I was Mainstreetlorain (Volunteer) Director) , and Rey{Carrion} I have given you all the history on more than one occasion .Please tell your publicity committee to correct their records .

I, being one of the people ( and whose organization Charleston Village Society were the original 501C3 for the donations want this corrected) I am annoyed that even after this has been pointed out on more than one occasion to your committees we are still having erroneous publicity as per the Morning Journal today. .

Back in 1996 the committee raised over 40 thousand dollars and went into debt for $20,000 for that first Light Up Lorain and the decorations from Oberlin Avenue along Broadway to the Old St. Joes hospital.

The hard work of Mary Smith, Dick Gionopki ( sp) Scott Beyers, Joel Kruek, Rich Robbin, Gary , Al Kirchner, Palace Theatre staff, Vivian Alexander etc. should not be dismissed….. the who is who of organizations filling the Spitzer Hotel to put together and string lights, the efforts of the grocery stores with baked goods, hot chocolate provide by the hotel as well as Alan Spitzer footing the bill for the fireworks in those early events. and those companies and individuals who footed the bill for those original $60,000 dollars worth of a decorations do not deserve to have their ideas and hard work negated. .

And it was Gary’s idea way back then to have fireworks. and he was the MC even then.

The committees may have changed and other decorations added but the parade, the Veterans Park entertainment and the throwing of the switch by the Mayor ( even in 1996 was the same ( and Gary built the first switch.) for the fireworks, and Tony Giardini was the driving force behind the decoration as well as the person that came up with the original concept and the date the Saturday after Thanksgiving who spearheaded the concept and event. Now I don’t suppose any of the above mentioned people want any kudos for their effort but the facts are this is NOT the 5th annual Light Up Lorain it is 17th annual Light Up Lorain-

Rey, I mentioned before this was irksome to me that by the “now committee” claiming to have come up with this concept in past 3 -4 and now 5 years negates the history of the event and the efforts of those that worked very hard for a great number of years to bring this event when they touted it as the 1st 2nd “3rd , 4th and now 5th annual” Light Up Lorain-

I would like the record put straight for once and for all with the outgoing publicity Thank you Loraine Ritchey

AKA ATTACKER OF WINDMILLS …..for all the good it does….

CH-CH_CCHANGES- SOME GOOD SOME NOT SO GOOD -LORAIN

The face of a founder TR Bowen – when one was proud to claim ownership of their Broadway Building( 430 Broadway)- no hidden LLC here !
photo Lisa Miller Lorain 365

As with everything else as soon as I start to write a post on one aspect of Lorain and I start- only to be sent off of the original concept on another journey of discovery.

I am putting together a booklet for Charleston Village Society’s – promotions and outreach committee, they are basically CVSI’s speakers bureau. Since we have two upcoming events/programs and in the need of updated handouts, I have been immersed in the research for some photos both in our files and on the web. I came across more information on my favorite Lorain Hero and Captain- Captain Wilford . I truly believe his story is the stuff books and films are made of-.

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/capt-wilford-a-hero-of-the-inland-seas/

His home, which should be embraced by Lorain’s city and county governments , historical societies , pointed to with pride is, as readers of
Who is Who in the 052. are already aware a rental now with an RSO – but I digress

One photo of Broadway ( back in the day) on the web took me to

Lorain Street Railway Blog. and there I stayed for the next couple of hours, leaving my own job of work to do on this blog and my coffee to get cold.
You really must pay this site a visit if you haven’t already.http://www.lakeshorerailmaps.com/lsry.html
There was my Captain!!!!!- along with Frank Vernam and George Clark listed as Founders of the Lorain Street Railway
Source Drew Penfield

The opportunity for improved transportation in Lorain caught the attention of eight local businessmen, who organized the Lorain Street Railway to connect the town’s business district to the factory and neighborhood south of town. The list of the founders is a who’s who of Lorain’s business community at the time. Thomas R. Bowen was a tailor and proprietor of the Union Clothing Store on Broadway;

Frank B. Vernam served as mayor of Lorain from October 1877 to April 1878, and was a real estate broker;

Thomas Wilford and Robert Crowley were lake captains of wide renown; Irwin D. Lawler established and edited the first newspapers in both Lorain and Amherst, and was also a real estate broker and attorney;

Note: you can find the Lawler ( The Leo) tragedy here

https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/category/the-leo/

John B. Tunte (ED note: also killed by the sinking of the Leo) was the leading grocer in town and a real estate broker in partnership with Lawler; Walter Root was a farmer and member of a pioneering family involved in various business ventures in town, including a feed store and a bank. The final investor is listed as “H.F. Borrow”, but may have been Henry Barrows – proprietor of the Lorain Flouring Mills on Broadway. Thomas Bowen was elected president of the new company, while Frank Vernam served as manager and superintendent of the railway.

So thanks to the Lorain Street Railway I went off the track again…….. to be continued

October 3rd- Signs and Times – Chris Ritchey

Tuesday the 1st of October, found your sister , nephews and I at Black River Landing for the “falling of the electrical towers”. Gavin loves construction and de construction I am sure he dreams of “diggers, excavators, dump trucks and all things “hard hat”.

Since the officials were having a press conference and a 4 year old and a 20 month olds patience can wear thin, we excused ourselves started to walk down to the site of the falling tower to be –

Coverage can be found here
Chronicle Telegram

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2013/10/01/electrical-tower-demolition-first-of-many-in-lake-front-development-plan/

Morning Journal
http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20131001/tower-comes-down-at-lorains-black-river-landing-with-video

Gavin and his dad are looking to build a shed ,for all the boys ( vehicles) their Chris- Miss presents
https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2009/12/25/christmas-the-day-after-chris-miss-christmas/

therefore, Gavin is very interested in sheds and made a bee line for the one at Black River Landing.

Once again you were there and the flash back to the day you painted the signage on that little shed for what was then Mainstreet Lorain- ( Lorain Growth Corporation). I could see you as if you were standing there once again.

The shed and the welcome sign has graced many a festival, stored many an object, had any number of photos taken as found on searching for “Lorain”

As Nikki explained to Gavin and Braedyn this too, was one of Uncle Chris’s signs just like the street signs in Nog’s neighborhood of Charleston Village .

Another month – so many memories – and as the tower came down – a hat tip to the future a bridge between the past and future was captured once again in the lens of the camera …..

Please note I couldn’t find the source for the photos taken from the internet – but one ( Art Light- the winter photo) Mark Teleha