Posts filed under ‘Charleston Village’
What Happens when you hit Publish instead of Preview
Half way through the previous post on the Hat and I hit Publish instead of Preview icon – so those that follow this blog by email got the draft version- Sorry here is the somewhat NOW hastily completed Part 4 http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/28/catching-up-with-the-hat-cvsi-lorain/ Loraine
Catching up with the Hat- CVSI Lorain
photo Mark Teleha
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/the-chair-of-wom-pass-the-hat-part-one/
Part Two
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/the-chair-and-the-captain-cvsi-lorain/
Part Three
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/the-captain-and-the-hat-cvsi-lorain/
Part 4.
Not wanting to be the receptacle for Gull guano the hat followed Frank Sipkovsky from the Settlers’ Watch site -
1st stop was the CVSI – Out reach and Promotions Committee
On Saturday, October 19th The Lorain County Preservation hosted Preservation Exhibition at the Black River Landing, 421 Black River Lane, Lorain, OH This is an opportunity to showcasing and learning about preservation activities that are occurring around the County.
The Hat was glued to Frank at this event in the mix of meet and greet :
2nd stop October 24th -2013
The Spitzer Conference Center at Lorain County Community College and “Lorain County Reads” with 14 other Historical Societies and guest speaker Neil Zurcher promoting his new book Tales from the Road
The Hat still attached to Frank, decided to take a closer look at Neil’s Traveling companion
Although Frank tried to hide the Hat was quicker
Photos Renee Dore
Frank was still hiding out in November once again at Black River Landing and this time the International trees display for Light Up Lorain under the auspices of the Lorain Tourism Council ( Lorain Growth Corp) The Hat tries many heads
BRL Photos Lisa Miller
but Frank ( no matter where he tried to hide)
it seems was the “go to guy” ( as we all know )
The Hat soon learned a lot about what had been happening in this neighborhood over the quarter of century Charleston Village Society has been trying to preserve the history and quality of life of this Lorain’s oldest neighborhood
To Be Continued
The Captain and the Hat ! CVSI Lorain
WoM Logo by Scott Baklar
Part One
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/the-chair-of-wom-pass-the-hat-part-one/
Photo Mark Teleha
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/the-chair-and-the-captain-cvsi-lorain/
photo Mark Teleha
A now the tale of The Captain -
He took his place at Settlers’ Watch along with the carvings of the Lorain Lighthouse, The Anchor, The Lorain Portside Sign , The Heron and Eric Barnes’ Eagle
It was rough, very rough we had a lot to deal with in those first months but the carving and the work continued: The full pictorial can be found here from start to the dedication.
http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=390
( photos Mark Teleha)
The volunteers and those that donated so much time, effort, plants and hardscape got the area ready for the dedication August 1st 2009.
The summers and winters passed and The Captain suffered:
October 2013 found us up a ladder again
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/captain-chronicles-settlers-watch/
The Captain was being eaten alive from the inside out and losing the battle of the seagull guano.
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/
The “crew” filled him with chemicals and had to plug the holes with corks until spring arrives. The chemicals have definitely changed his complexion –
we added a hat to try to keep the sea birds and their bathroom habits away- but the hat decided it liked travelling a little better than being a guano inhibitor- felt it might have a worthier purpose…..
The Then and Now
a Captain waits….. and the hat travels where?????
Photo Lisa Miller
to be continued
The Chair and the Captain – CVSI- Lorain
Yes as Chairs go …. the Chair went …. one last look and he was gone…….
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/the-chair-of-wom-pass-the-hat-part-one/
photo Mark Teleha
BUT before he went he met up with The Captain -The Chair was a little worse for wear at this time – he had traversed the world of politics , been involved in erroneous media reporting and no one comes out unscathed even “The Chair”.
photo Mark Teleha
The Captain was just starting his journey primed and ready to take his place- only the place was not ready.
http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=151
So ,instead of a few weeks, it was nearly a year. The Captain sat bleaching on the hot concrete in full sun and “exposed” to all of the elements , until finally his home on the shores of Lake Erie – Settlers’ Watch was ready
Photo Paula Tobias
The volunteers and the City of Lorain spent countless hours undoing the damage done to the site by the need for storage space for the new sewers and water lines.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heneryhawk/sets/72157602814176200/
One last look at the Lighthouse and a Lake Erie Sunset – memories of what once was and The Chair is hopefully at peace………
Photo Mark Teleha
But The Captain’s troubles were just beginning .
To Be Continued……….
Lorain-The Real Postcards of Willis Leiter
UPDATE:
Dan Brady ‘s Blog
http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/2014/01/lorain-real-postcards-of-willis-leiter.html
“
As part of the celebration surrounding this book, my blog this week will focus entirely on Willis Leiter – his life, his work and even his former home on East Erie in Lorain. Plus, more about the book!
Click on images to enlarge:
Postcard History Series
The cover and back cover of the book depicting Lorain in its heyday
A new book about Lorain will be going on sale Monday January 27th 2014, published by Arcadia Publishing
Lorain: The Real Photo Postcards of Wilis Leiter, $21.99 will be available at local retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www. arcadiapublishing.com or (888) 313-2665. I believe locally you will be able to purchase the book through what was Black River Historical Society – now Lorain Historical Society-(440)245-2563 – they will also be holding a book signing in March
This is a collaborative effort by authors Albert Doane, Bill Jackson Paula Shorf, Bruce Waterhouse Jr., and Mathew Weisman-
“Bill Jackson and Paula Shorf are longtime collectors of Leiter real photos postcards. They joined forces with Lorain historians Albert Doane, Mathew Weisman, and Bruce Leiter Waterhouse Jr. – a great-grandson of the photographer” …..
“Between the years of 1908-1915, Willis Leiter carefully composed and skillfully developed images of life in early Lorain. The authors explain ” This is Lorain in its heyday- business booming, citizens marching in parades, streetcars traveling up and down Broadway and Willis Leiter was there capturing it all through his photographs.“
ED NOTE:For those who “remember” and care for Lorain and her history or wish to get to know this old town, her people and places this is a terrific publication – 128 pages of a time gone by and yet still captured in the pages and in the hearts of the authors and hopefully the readers .
Ed: Note all information is derived from the publishers Arcadia Publishing and Mary Margaret Schley- Publishing Editor
Charleston Village Annual Report- People Power
ED Note: As I wrote this report I realized it was truly down to the “people” who volunteer, take ownership in this community and the in kind donations which help us to continue to do what we do. There has been very little “cash” donated this year but still thanks to all the people who help this neighborhood with their expertise, talent and hardwork- it was a very successful year.
Charleston Village Society Inc. Annual report for 2013
Submitted January 15th 2014
http://www.loraincounty.com/charlestonlorai/
The in-kind donations continue to help us thrive and survive with all the projects we have taken on in this Lorain’s oldest neighborhood. For every dollar in cash we receive three times the donations with in-kind support of materials labor and equipment. We could not attempt these projects or their upkeep without the partnerships and in kind donations.
We filed our IRS form for our non-profit for the year 2013 on January 14th 2014 and once again I am pleased to report we were accepted January 14th 2014
You can find a record of our projects and events here: http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/category/charleston-village/ as well as on our website, which continues to be hosted thanks to Emerge here: http://www.loraincounty.com/charlestonlorai/
As in previous years 100% of all money collected goes toward the project for which it is designated.
The majority of our projects are on city owned property or involve the City of Lorain and it is thanks to the partnership and involvement of the City of Lorain- the Administration, Lorain City Council members, heads of various departments such as the Utilities Dept., Property Maintenance, Lorain Police Dept. and Lorain Fire Dept. and Economic and Community Development Dept. we are able to have continued success.
Charleston Pioneer Cemetery:
Many thanks has to go to the continued efforts of our Chairperson Diane Medina for continuing to take care of the historical and physical wellbeing of the city owned oldest Lorain cemetery on 6th Street. Without Diane’s volunteers and her passion, this oldest cemetery would be non-existent. She has been the driving force once more re planting, clean-up and preserving the history and the headstones
Settlers’ Watch:
We continued with Pride Day and many volunteers raked, mulched, planted, weeded and prepared the site for the summer. Lorain County Recycling and the Lorain County Commissioners delivered the matching bench for the area by the Children’s Garden. Since First Energy took down the rest of the power plant and the electrical towers the area has some beautiful views. I am pleased to say everyone has been very respectful of the carvings and the area. There are a great many visitors every day in the summer and fall enjoying the ambiance. With the addition of the recycled bench from Lorain County Recycling I am pleased to say everything at the SW site is NOW 100% from recycled items from mulch to hardscape!
However, we have had an issue with the Ship’s Captain. He attracts more than tourists. Unfortunately, he has become a stopping place for the seagulls and what they leave behind caused the sealant to be eaten away. He also was attacked by wood wasps and within a couple of months was being eaten from the inside out.
After much research we found a product that hopefully kills the fungus and the bacteria stabilizes and solidifies the decayed wood. Holes had to be drilled and the product poured into the Captain. The holes were then filled with corks. We are hoping that by the spring we will have a better idea if this has worked. The product has caused a reaction with the stain etc. used earlier and the Captain is now a dark mahogany. The product was very expensive but cheap at half the price if it works. We have been in contact with Bud Emerson, the artist and hopefully the Captain will be saved. Thanks has to go to Sherwin Williams who are donating the marine varnish for the spring sealing of the carvings.
The carvings, as we always knew would be the case, located on the tree lawn were carved from living trees but after 5 years the roots will rot. We have been lucky that we are now entering the 7th year. That being said this spring we will have to take the tree lawn carvings and put them on concrete and move them into designated places in Settlers Watch and through the Eric Barnes Heroes Walkway. As each carving is taken down it will be taken indoors, sanded, have any issues fixed and then sealed before being taken to its new designated position.
This will take some funding therefore we will have to start a donation campaign to cover expenses.
The Admiral King Tribute Site
Pride Day found the Admiral walk to the flag pole decorated with marigolds and two more rose bushes were planted by Ariel Vazquez and his crew from the Lorain Utilities Dept. Lorain County recycling supplied us with a metal waste paper basket. New flags were purchased and batteries for the solar lights as well as min solar lights. The solar lights are not working as well as we would have hoped however, we do not have any electricity at the site, so they are our only option.
This is also a shame as we have had a donation from Councilman Dan Given of 6 decorative iron bollards with lighting capability which is going to add so much to the area. Our wish list- watering capability at the Admiral King Tribute Site and electricity.
The City of Lorain will be using the photo taken by Lisa Miller for the City of Lorain App
Eric Barnes Heroes Walk:
The 2nd phase of the walkway is underway. Ariel Vazquez and his crew prepared another area for the Marine Corps monument which will hopefully find its new home along the walkway this spring/summer. We have been very fortunate with the donations of plants and trees and shrubs which have also found homes along the pathway. Although some summer storms caused some damage to trees we were lucky in the fact no hardscape was destroyed.
We were able to use donated funds to add a 5 ft. military concrete statue representing the armed services to the walkway in time for Memorial Day. The Veterans Council also has donated flags for the pathway and as the flags get damaged we are able to replace them. This project is ongoing and a great deal of our funding for the project has gone on perennials and trees to landscape the walkway.
logo Chris Ritchey
The Crime Watch Program
Participants, Block Captains continue to quietly look out for the neighborhood especially Veteran’s Park. We have had a number of issues with some noteworthy happenings both drugs and arson however I am pleased to say the Fire Dept. and the Lorain Police Dept. have handled the situations with professionalism and concern for this neighborhood.
Veterans Park
We are hoping to bring back the park once again. It has deteriorated sadly of late. We have met with the City of Lorain and Veterans Council in the hopes of finding a solution to the decay of Lorain’s oldest Park ( if not the county’s ) This historical green space needs , in our opinion, to be promoted not only as to its historical worth, the worth of a place of remembrance but also as place of reflection and an anchor to the business district.
Outreach and Promotions Committee:
Thanks to the members of this committee they promoted the organization at various events such as Lorain County Reads and Lorain County Preservation Exhibition and attended various meetings on behalf of CVSI.
I am pleased to say we now have a “guided tour available within the “village” and a booklet focusing on the “history of this area.
Frank and Carolyn Sipkovsky, Renee Dore, Diane Medina and Dave Cotton have been working very diligently in promoting not only the history but the organization. Thanks also has to go to the committee for researching and decorating the “Lilac City of Lorain” Christmas tree at the International Festival of Trees this past Christmas Season
Lorain 365
CHARLESTON VILLAGE SOC. End of year financial report 2013
CHARLESTON VILLAGE SOC. Accounting 2013
Main Account:
Starting Balance carry-over 2012 = $9.00
Donations 2013 =$129.59
Expenses 2013 = $37..49
Ending Balance= $101.10
Cemetery Fund
Starting balance carry-over from 2012=$104.27
Donations 2013 = 0
Expenses 2013= $88.30
ENDING BALANCE 2012 = $15.97
Raffle Account for sealers
Starting balance carry -over from 2012= $219.55
Donations 2013 = 0
Expenses 2013 = $176.20 (stabilizers and sealers for Captain)
Ending Balance 2013 = $43.35
Settlers’ Watch
Starting balance 2013 = $112.74
Donations 2013= $200.00
Expenses 2013= $292.98
Ending Balance 2013= $19.76
Admiral King Tribute Site
Starting Balance 2013= 43.56
Donations 2013= $25.00
Expenses 2013- 0
Ending Balance= $68.48
Eric Barnes Heroes-Walk-
Starting Balance 2013= $2,153.19
Donations= $25.00
Expenses 2013= $1,730.20
Ending Balance 2013= 447.99
As you can see donations of cash were very sparing in 2013 BUT we fulfilled all obligations and moved in a positive direction thanks to the many “IN KIND “ Donations and also the volunteers who worked so hard giving freely of their labor and expertise. It is obvious we are going to have to have a fundraising effort of some sort to continue with the maintenance and perpetuation of those projects
Respectfully submitted January 15 2014 by Co- Chair CVSI Loraine Ritchey
A Lesson in Lilacs- Lilacs Past- Crumbling Concrete- Lorain
We have all heard reasons and excuses for the decline of parks and beautification efforts in Lorain.
Oh! loss of industry , poor economic times.
The City of Lilacs – garden clubs and hoopla post World War One. Then the rebirth in the 30′s 40′s and so on and so forth bringing us to the 1980′s
http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/12/01/lilacs-of-lorain-and-now-roses-part-6/
Monies being thrown at Lorain’s oldest park – founding greenspace- that tore out the Lilacs to put in the concrete bunker amphitheater in the 1980′s and three years after spending the equivalent of 1.5 million in today’s money the recipients of that money threw up their arms and walked away.
The park has been left in shambles and decay- far from the beauty and ambiance envisioned by Lorain’s founding fathers as they platted this town from its corner
.http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/veterans-memorial-park-thanks-for-the-memories/
Well poor economic times etc etc. there are always the excuses and apparently when times are “good” that too was the problem in Lorain . June 10th -1960 an editorial from the Lorain Journal throws a different spin on WHY things have gone beautifully bad in Lorain-
I seems that in 1960, at least, LORAIN’S SUCCESS was the culprit
Whether the spin is lack of success , growth and poor economic times or the fact Lorain was too successful it seems there are always excuses as the why Lorain lacks the beauty so many had envisioned , fought for and “tried to bring” to her streets.
We are left with the fact that it is just not that important, apparently, to the citizens and various administrations throughout the over 200 year history of Lorain in times of bad or in times of good . It seems the lack thereof of beauty and pride has made good copy for editors through the years but that is about all that has come from their words, a rally round the ideas and then PHUTT!!!
Nothing but a place for deadbeats and bums!” “ It has outlived its purpose” There is nothing historical about that park!” The city can’t afford to keep it up” It is a “piss park!!Nobody uses it, it is worthless!
So said John Cole and his editorials
and yet another time another editor
Beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder.
And 54 years after the 1960 editorial? It seems to me the last thoughts of that editor back in 1960 still hold true today
and definitely one that outlasts administrations and editors.
You can see the whole editorial here ( click on jpg to enlarge) and once again thanks has to go to Dan Brady for the research
http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/
Lilacs of Lorain and now Roses- Part 6
Photo Lorain 365 Blog
Part One http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail/
Part Two http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-2/
Part Three http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-3/
Part Four http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-4/
Part Five http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/29/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-5/
(Click on jpgs to enlarge)
We go back to the time of the 1924 Tornado according to information and photos courtesy of Dennis Lamont
The 1924 aerial shows the same area as it looked in Sept after the tornado. The photos were made by a local photographer “Somogy” flying out of Lorain Airport
Whilst the above photo does not have a date a similar photo tracked down by Dan Brady had a handwritten notation “prior to 1924″ written on the back
It looks like the Rose Garden and “Rotary” Wheel was wiped out
.(ED NOTE: this is up in the air literally- anyone have any information of the shape etc of gardens at Lakeview prior to 1924- the photo from BRHS with the handwritten prior to 1924 may not be correct)
***** After much discussion and enhancing of photos it is the consensus of opinion, Dan, Dennis, Bryan and myself the photo with the hand written “prior to 1924″ has the incorrect information .. it is possibly mid 1930′s It was not the original bathhouse pictured from the Metro Parks website
I have enhanced and cropped the aerial shot from Sept 1924 after the Tornado that is dated correctly- we cannot see any of the “rose garden wheel” in the photo and I believe some of the hardscape should have remained since it was very intricate.
The rose garden owes its being to the Lilacs it seems 
And now we are back to the Lilacs- The first Lilac Festival May 21st, 1931 the Garden Club announced the plans for Lakeview with the “plan” :
The following is the newspaper account for that plan
courtesy of Dan Brady:
Reading the article one realizes the “fountain ” was part of the plan and further reading of articles found it was dedicated to the Veterans of World War One – after World War Two it was dedicated to “All Veterans”
Mark Teleha of Lorain County Photographers Blog ( whose daughter, friends now appear in the Metro Parks Lakeview commercial for the park- There Is a Park for That
http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=1874
has award-winning photos of THE Fountain today and yesterday http://www.locophotogblog.com/?cat=31 .
Lakeview Fountain Mark Teleha
Mark’s blog has the full history of how and when the fountain was built and it can be found here:
http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=347
On July 15th, 1935, monies were allotted from the War Chest Fund for the construction of a lighted fountain at Lakeview Park. Work began by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) on September 16th of that same year, at a cost of $12, 450. The following February, on the 14th, found the War Chest Committee denying funding for the fountain. Superintendent of Parks George Crehore obtained permission to purchase scrap stone from the Quarries in Amherst.
May31 1932The celebrations and dedications continued at Lakeview:
On MAY 31ST 1932 MAYOR CONLEY DEDICATED THE ‘LAKEVIEW MEMORIAL ROSE GARDEN – TO ALL OF LORAIN’S MILITARY ORDERS
We are here that our soldier dead should be honored and it is to this end and in honor of the living that I now preset , in behalf of the city this memorial garden to you “
The Lilacs eventually gave way to the Rose Festival and Queen-
As we saw in Part 5 the Lilacs made somewhat of a comeback in 1939 – but time , wars and history moved on, things , people places and visions became blurred and Lorain lost her title of the City of Lilacs – but there are remnants left and
Program back and front
Chris Ritchey
In August of 2007 Settlers’ Watch was dedicated
http://www.locophotogblog.com/?p=390
and the garden holds some special Lilacs
Photo Lisa Miller
one of which was planted by Bryan Goldthorpe – the Manager of Lorain County Metro Parks Lakeview Park ( caretaker extraordinaire of the very fountain and gardens ( and Lilacs???) the great-grandson of Mayor Paul Goldthorpe of the Lilac City who along with Bryan’s grandfather met the Lilac Train……….
The End of the Lilacs?????? - up to you – Lorain You can see the Trains and Trees display and the Charleston Village “Lilac” Tree here
Why Lorain- the Lilac City- the paper trail 5
Part One http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail/
Part Two http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-2/
Part Three http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-3/
Part Four http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-4/
The train was met and November 13, 1930 found the Lilac Big Dig commence:
And so it started – the next May 1931 -found the City of Lorain proclaimed City of Lilacs, contests were held for artwork, songs, competitions for the best lilacs , Queen of the Lilacs – both floral and in human kind, Lilac courts . In fact the Lorain Journal now ran the fact Lorain was the City of Lilacs across the front page of its paper
Eleanor Hill( 17) Lorain High School -1310 9th Street-winner
It was certainly Lilac Time in Lorain-as Mayor Paul Goldthorpe so proclaimed
That first year Mrs. C.E Kent of 1601 9th Street and her lilacs were proclaimed the finest in Lorain- Unfortunately I can no longer find the address 1601 9th street or for that matter 1310 the winner of the poster gone with the way of the Lilacs one would presume.
You see , what was at first the saving of Lorain by Lilacs, pronounced international and national recognition due to Lilacs, faded like the Lilacs of July.
What started with so much anticipation slowly died a death- by 1935 no longer was the Lorain Journal proclaiming Lorain the Lilac City on its banner, the event came to be “Bi-annual” – In 1939 The Pittsburgh Press announced :
and indeed there were some celebrations in the year of 1939
Possiby the winds of war or at least Lilac apathy may have paid a part in the loss of the Lilacs- at least the festival, if held, no longer made the Lorain Journal with the vim and vigour of past festivals . At one time roses substituted for the event. Once again Lorain reinvented herself or tried to. About the same time a town LOMBARD , ILLINOIS also decided upon the Lilacs as a theme
Since 1930, Lombard has hosted an annual Lilac Festival and parade in May. “Lilac Time in Lombard,” is a 16-day festival ending in mid-May. It starts with the Lilac Queen coronation and her court. Many lilac themed events take place, including concerts, a Mothers’ Day Brunch, an arts and crafts fair, and tours of the park. The grand finale is Lombard’s Lilac Festival Parade
Lombard succeeded where Lorain failed and crowned their queen for the 83rd year in 2013 http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130504/news/705049885/
However, due to the Lilacs, parks were “planned” and a parks department commissioned, renovations of Lake View Park were announced at the first Festival of the Lilacs ….. To be continued………
NOTE: I could only find the name of the 1993 Lilac Queen
Jean E. Wilms http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2008/03/30/jean-e-wilms/
NOTE Update:: I received the following jpgs from a reader
Lilac Queen 1933
returns as the Sesquicentennial Lilac Queen
Why Lorain- the Lilac City- the paper trail 4
Part One http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail/
Part Two http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-2/
Part Three http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/why-lorain-the-lilac-city-the-paper-trail-3/
Within two short months of the Journal editorial, the City of Lorain and all her organizations, were meeting the train to unload the first 5,000 Lilac on November 11th 1930. It had taken just a month to get the project up and running- and they did it without STUDIES or the internet for communication just the newspaper of the day and word of mouth.
Click on jpg to enlarge
Without all our “modern conveniences” flash drives, power point presentations , visual aids galore these “movers and shakers of Lorain in 1930 managed to move faster than we do today. The fact Lorain had a myriad of social service clubs at the time had to help and Lorain City schools came on board after the Chairman of the project Carl Robinson spoke to the 1,000 junior high children attending Hawthorne
Mayor Goldthorpe had the Parks department prepare all city parks to receive 700 of the 4 ft. high shrubs and trees. In fact St. Josephs Hospital, gas stations, businesses and private gardens were all going “lilac”.
Plans were made for the parks and in October an expert came to Lorain – Jean Henri Nicolas
Sourcehttp://allthingsplants.com/thread/view/1229/A-Rose-Odyssey-in-Three-Parts/
Jean Henri Nicolas was born in 1875 in Roubaix, France, permanently moved to the U.S. after meeting his wife here (and promising her father he would not take her back to France), and died in New York in 1937. Although his love affair with roses started as a hobby, he became a world-recognized expert and gave up a business career to make his living in rose horticulture. In addition to writing three books on roses, his accomplishments included serving as the first Director of Research for Jackson & Perkins Company (when it was among the largest rose growers in the world), and before that served as a researcher for Conrad-Pyle / Star Roses. He was a Trustee of the American Rose Society, Vice President of the National Rose Society of England, and was frequently honored by the Rose Society of France and the German Rose Society. He held a doctorate in natural science for his accomplishments in creative horticulture, was a Knight of the Merite Agricole, Officer of the Academy of France, and Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. And to top it all off, he was also a gourmet. As the French rosarian Francis Meilland once said of him, “He was everything all at once, a man of fine letters, a fine speaker, a good writer, a wonderful diplomat and a surprising geneticist
AND HERE IS THE LORRAINE FRANCE CONNECTION: IT WASN’T THE LILACS THAT WERE DONATED TO LORAIN AFTER THE TORNADO- THE LILAC, COINCIDENTALLY IS ALSO THE “NATIVE” FLOWER OF LORRAINE, FRANCE after which Herman Ely named the county and subsequently Postmaster Vorwerk re named Charleston Village after the county when she was incorporated in 1874 http://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2008/05/21/this-old-house-aint-got-or-has-it/
and from whence hailed THE EXPERT JEAN HENRI NICOLAS
IT WAS THE EXPERT WHO CAME – NOT THE LILACS
Click on jpgs to enlarge
You can read more of his thoughts in Lorain in the following article:
TO BE CONTINUED……….
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