Posts filed under ‘Lorain’s Magical History Tour’
A rusty old boat and tale of the Lighthouse.
Lorain Lighthouse – Lorain 365 ( L. Miller)
Taking a break from the series of “healthcare USA” to tell the tale of a rusty old metal boat, not really wanted anymore , not much use, holes in the bottom,two or three paint colors interspersed with the rust. BUT she has a tale to tell this old girl , she carried the volunteers out into the lake and to the Lorain Lighthouse on many a day.
Lorain Lighthouse , the history of the previous and current lighthouses can be found here https://lorainlighthouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Lorain-Lighthouse-History-1917-2017.pdf on the webpage of http://www.lorainlighthouse.com .
1965 the United States Coast Guard had no further use for the “Lorain Light “and she was slated for demolition . Fate intervened and people rallied to Save the Lighthouse. 1966 the Lorain Light was decommissioned and a five year lease was given. Unfortunately , things didn’t go as planned, the lease expired and the Coast Guard turned the property over to the General Services Administration .
1974 and bids were put out to purchase the Lorain Lighthouse. A community rallied around , politicians , businesses , historical societies, local and state government got behind the saving of what has now become the ICON of ALL THINGS LORAIN. Ironic when you think just a few decades ago she was scheduled to be demolished. Now of course every where you look she is used in advertising, promotions, fodder for the photographers, she is Lorain!
But what of those volunteers mentioned in the “history ” the ones that took on a huge project to rehab , maintain and make her beautiful once again, they had to make the journey from the shore to the light. The history tells one such operation in the many years of restoration and bring in the “light” was “Operation Lighthouse”
“Operation Lighthouse” took about 17 days to complete with multiple delays due to inclement weather that made trips out to the Lighthouse risky.
and there it is our segue from land to shore and back again – a rusty old blue battered boat that has sat in many places over the years , in wind and weather no-one particularly caring for her. And yet it was this boat that took those volunteers time and time again safely to and from the Lighthouse in order to save her .
This rusty old tub has a new home , delivered by volunteers on Lorain Pride Day to between 2nd and 1st streets on Oberlin Avenue.
photo Lisa Miller
The area just west of Eric Barnes Heroes Walk, south of Settlers’ Watch , where a replica carved from a tree stands in the children’s garden
, north of Lorain Utilities parking lot and positioned pointing to the Lorain Lighthouse, near the Lighthouse shed
and the Lorain Portside sign.
photo Tracy Isenberg
She has been beached , and soon will be landscaped and loved once again.
Her contribution to the Lorain Lighthouse recognized, a reminder of those volunteers. In weeks to come she will be tied to granite pylons, sea grasses and plants will adorn her area , white gravel and blue glass mulch , roping, a lick of paint here and there and new lettering and love will anchor this old lady of the lake . The volunteers and people who saved the Lighthouse deserve such admiration and recognition. I hope they will remember the old blue boat with a fondness and smile as she settles in her new home promoting and recognizing the Lighthouse .
I often think if everyone who used the likeness of the Lorain Lighthouse and actually make money from her likeness would donate a few dollars to the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation they would never have to ask for any money again.
Photo Mark Teleha
Such is the tale of a Lighthouse in Lorain and an old rusty blue boat, together again …..
Photo courtesy of http://www.lorainlighthouse.com
The Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, Inc is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1989 by a group of civic leaders wanting to preserve Lorain’s historic lighthouse. The foundation is a volunteer group looking to preserve a unique part of our local history – the Lorain Lighthouse.
Your donation can help the Lorain Lighthouse Foundation, Inc. to maintain “The Jewel of the Port” as one of Lorain’s most famous landmarks. All gifts to preserve and maintain the Lorain Lighthouse are fully tax-deductible.
Lorain Lighthouse
319 Black River Lane
Lorain, OH 44052
Not forgotten- a reminder- and a Victory -Lorain
Photo Dan Brady
The lines of communication were broken and entangled, opinions of just what is “historic” and what is not – were bogged down in who “remembered ” and who forgot, who said what and who did what.
A battle commenced in the hearts of those that not only have loved the “Dark Angel”, Miss Victory, Lorain’s Angel, whatever name she was known by. People rallied , historians, writers, council people who had voted NO to the sale of her place of honor, the possible movement to “monument row ” at nearby Lakeview park. Social media lit up with a resounding NO!!! Articles appeared in newspapers , on-line .
Photo Karen Ferraro
The consensus of the general population was the “Dark Angel” should remain in the place of honor in perpetuity . Lorain, in the past, has had a history of moving and get rid of its tangible history as if it is some “outdated décor” put away to be stored in pieces parts or demolished. But the latest ideas found a community saying not this time.
I am proud of those who stood up, researched, reached out to government, and wrote of their displeasure Matt Nahorn, Dan Brady , Diane Medina , Mary Springkowski , Jeff Sigsworth , and hundreds of people on face book pages.
I am glad to say that after not only was her “sentimental worth ” acknowledged but also her “historical” worth.
Thanks has to go to Mayor Ritenauer and Port Director Tom Brown because they came together ( as government should) to not only save that little park but to honor those that had kept her and this country free , through all the wars that followed the war to end all wars. It is a victory for common sense , historical worth and yes for sentiment.
Yesterday the Port of Lorain and The city of Lorain issued a joint statement saving the “lady”
Instead of angst and turmoil and he said ,she said, the coverage this morning is one of thanks , thanks to those with who served , are remembered and those whose passion fought for a Lady of Victory”
Thank YOU LORAIN!!!
.
Many faces of The Captain- Settlers’ Watch- Lorain 2017
Photo Mark Teleha
As I started to write this post with regard to the tree carvings at Settlers’ Watch and their journey
( yes you will see they have travelled over time) I realized we were coming up on the 10th anniversary of the first carvings. Time, bugs, road salt and weather have taken their toll.
But it is “The Captain” who has changed and was on life support for a year or more. We spent hundreds in chemicals and treatments and this is his story.
Born 2007 The Captain had a rough birth- CVSI had raised money to carve some of trees taken down by Ohio Edison – 19 of them along 2nd street making the street uglier and without any softness or much worth .
We had just started the carving – first up Lorain Portside Sign to coincide with the Lorain Bicentennial August 2007
when a change in the plan for the new sewers blindsided us. Originally these were going to bypass the area BUT as with all things plans change and trees marked for carving were taken down ( without warning) and piles of materials were stored on the site. We had already taken donations and the carvings were contracted.
This meant since they chopped down his tree and the one destined to be Eric Barnes Eagle we had to purchase other pieces of wood to be carved into the Captain and Eric Barnes Eagle off site.
The eagle when finished was safely stored at inside at the City of Lorain but the Captain went to Black River Landing.
He was supposed to be sealed and not stored on concrete due to the heat coming up from the concrete and in direct sunlight- this didn’t happen . Unfortunately, in the ensuing months of not being maintained , the toll taken by summer and winter the Captain started with issues.
2007-2008
Photo Mark Teleha
When we finally brought him back to the site 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 but he and the other carvings finally had a home
Photo Mark Teleha
There he stood spring , summer , fall and winter for the next 4 years
Lorain365
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 .In 4 years he went from this to this
And his issues continued:
It was one day (during Pride Day 3 years ago) as we went to give him a coat of sealer we noticed what looked like a bullet hole in his back. No! not a bullet hole BUT wood wasps had made their homes in him, and the Heron and Lighthouse.
The Heron and Lighthouse were a quick fix but the Captain had a attracted seagulls who delighted in sitting on his hat . Their guano had eaten through the sealer and the wood on the top of his head leaving a huge hole in his head – just brilliant for collecting water. .
Research was started as how to preserve him and his crumbling insides- Many hundreds of dollars later we tried with preservatives , bug deterrents – drilling holes in him filling him with the wood chemicals, stabilizing wood pieces and plugging him up. We reached out to professionals all over the country. We added a hat over his carved head until we could deal with the damage and the seagulls. We had to leave his head open to access his insides.
Photo Lorain 365
Try as we might, his rotted insides didn’t react well and the chemicals actually reacted with the sealer and the Captain turned a dark mahogany.
He was literally flaking to death – his ship’s wheel would find the stanchions falling to the ground, his arms where the wasps and insects had done the most damage were hollow and flaking off, shedding with every week. It looked like curtains for the Captain. Obviously none of the “professional fixes ” were working we had to
stabilize him whilst we experimented – otherwise the Captain was sunk.
His hat was retied onto his head ,back to front to protect his face , his cracks and holes filled with a special wood compound but
would it harden- would it stay- could we carve it -like the can said?
We worked on the top of his arms and shoulders , replaced the wheel stanchions . covered his top half with a black bag to keep out the water and painted his lower half with a white preservative- and there he sat for most of last summer, fall and winter.
Photo Lorain 365
The unveiling was done with much trepidation this June
The test areas seemed to be holding so the next step filling the insides- no more bugs but cavities were still a huge problem, experiments with special insulation foam and various fill products seemed to work- he was less hollow and stable. Where the foam etc leaked out we could carve it and it held the wood product alright and so we left him without his black bag and the water was shedding off him .
So there we were – what next? Obviously we couldn’t leave him looking like he was and we could no longer seal it with the varnish- The men in the know-( his surgeons) decided house paint.. but that would look awful I thought but something has to be done to cover and seal the patches etc. House paint it was – Tudor Brown ( can you guess where that came from)- well it looks good on my house) – the problem was he looked flat and semi glossed… a bit softening and highlighting, the Captains face changed again –
He is a little grayer ( more like driftwood than mahogany this time around) – but then who wouldn’t be grayer after all he has been through- I know I am! Fingers crossed and if you would like to donate to the Captain’s Hat
If you can see your way to helping to fill the Captains Hat – 100% percent of your donation goes to the project. We are a 501C3
Make checks payable to Charleston Village Society- ( Captain’s Hat in the memo line)
1127 West 4th Street, Lorain, Ohio 44052
There is still work to do at the very base and if this fix holds then hopefully he will remain at his helm for a few more years …Oh and his hat was put back on just incase a seagull alights!!!
A tale of two- the WHO, the How- Why?????
Original Image Scott Bakalar
Part One– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/05/11/a-tale-of-two-city-houses-downing-of-quality/
Part Two– https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/05/13/a-tale-of-two-continued-lorains-cast-offs/
Part Three – https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/a-tale-of-two-a-tale-of-woe-lorain/
We know these houses had to be enabled to end up in this deplorable condition – so just who enabled 3620- Clifton
The information requested on 3620 Clifton turned out to be very enlightening:
This property , according to then Councilman Edwards( January 2013) had been vacant for five years prior to the properties purchase by Nathaniel Johnson and Joseph Barbee for $200 ED NOTEno that is not a mistake two hundred dollars January 13/2011-
it was noted by Demolition Board member, 5th ward Councilman, and neighborhood resident Eddie Edwards that “Before the sale, the house sat empty for about five years, with its doors and windows open and generally falling apart…” and “The new owners also waited a year before taking action to repair it…”
Before this property ended up in “demolition mode “ a number of inspections were done and on September 4th 2012 a sworn affidavit before the bench of Judge Mark Mihok ( remember him)
You be the Judge???? Welcome to Lorain Judge Mihok and George Schneider
Ralph Cantu of the Lorain Building Dept signed the affidavit stating :
“The aforementioned premises presents conditions from the exterior that have become so dilapidated , decayed, unsafe, in-sanitary
(ED NOTE- ‘It is a disease of overcrowding, insanitary conditions and poor personal hygiene, and affects mostly children of developing countries.’ …”
or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation…. etc etc.
The search warrant was granted and inspections took place : Three departments inspected this property ( inside and out) on (9/4/12) All three , building, health and fire, declared this property a public nuisance at that January 4th meeting and Chief Brown the President of the Board and all members voted unanimously to declare the property 3620 a public nuisance.
In fact Chief Brown stated on that January 4th meeting over 4 years ago
“Unfortunately , there are some really good neighbors in that neighborhood and they have asked for help in this endeavor. They have lived with this for quite a bit of time . These properties( 3618, 3620, 3628) are deplorable…..
Poor Councilman Edwards would soon have to swallow more than his words as he stated to the Demolition Board of Appeals
” Thank you for your diligence . This has been a problem and a nuisance out there for the last few years . I am glad to see you taking action ….. It has been a real nuisance”Well the nuisance continued as will this tracking the “talk talk happy talk”
Remember this property had tied up Building, Health Fire Depts. with inspections, court hearings, back taxes , manpower for at least 7 years before this Demolition Board finding 1.4.13 – I wonder if anyone accounts for those costs? And YET May 2017 – it STILL STANDS “WHY???????
To be continued……….
A tale of two “city” houses – downing of quality
Durand Map 1834
Many, years ago in a place called Lorain the settlers, pioneers of their day, in those early 1800’s built a foundation for this city of hard work, diligence and pride.
Families followed to work in the ship yards and steel industry. How wonderful for the immigrants to this country , state and city to have a living wage and able to “own” a home , dreams coming true. Neighborhoods grew , log houses became wood sided houses with porches and designed not for shelter only but for home and hearth, curtains hung , window shades drawn to be even with the next window, grass planted , sidewalks made an appearance , and bricked roads replaced wooden planks. The homes loved and admired.
Captain Wilford Home -416 Washington ( take a drive by today )
Ladies proud of their part in the growth of the community , starched white blouses , the very ladies who kept the those homes shining with pride, the daughters of the founding fathers . 
2nd row no 7 – Mrs. Fannie Wilford – wife of Captain Wilford – Gillmore Civil War letters
There has been a plethora of history of those same homes on this blog and others . However, as you drive around these same streets today , you will notice missing windows instead of lace curtains or even window shades, you will see homes not kept with pride but hanging on to their last gasping breaths of “being”.
Did people and values change , that is up for debate, did the plethora of social service agencies located in a cluster in this area cause problems , again up for debate, administrations , city councils that came and went , did we suffer from party politics or lack of forward thinking and the consequences of one’s administrative actions?
One thing is not debatable is that in the 44052- and the old neighborhoods in what is called South Lorain something happened or ,in my opinion, didn’t and hasn’t happened – property accountability. So where does that leave us , those who are now stranded by economics and age who are still trying for a quality of life, homes built with love for “home” now home to heroin dealers and fences not surrounding gardens but “fencing the stolen goods”.
In this series I am going to look at what is, in my opinion, an issue that is one of the major concerns as to how we got this way. The tale of two homes – their paper trail – and conclusions………
As one official stated at a meeting ( paraphrasing) – There are people in the west side of Lorain complaining their neighbor’s fence is leaning on their property but in ( what is called old Lorain neighborhoods) we have people complaining the next door house is falling onto their property…
To be continued
Lorain Dudes- Maintenance-The Watch- The Walk -The Site
February– who knew there would be a window of weather where those who volunteer for the areas known as “Settlers’ Watch”,
Photo Lisa Miller
Admiral King Tribute Site
PHOTO Lisa Miller
Photo – Lisa Miller
could get out in the sunshine and do some maintenance.
This is a very large area- Three completely different “honorings” of Lorain’s heroes – military, pioneers and her history. It takes a great deal of work to maintain and if I am honest more than I thought it would take.
It is something the powers that be should remember when the come up with grandiose ideas of – this and that locally- all well and good to have the grand openings etc BUT maintenance is the key to all things – from streetscapes, potted palms, to housing and buildings.
If you haven’t walked the walk ( in more ways than one) you will see over the past few years there have been, so many rose beds, perennial flowers, shrubs, trees, and secret gardens added
May and June literally burst forth with fragrance and color. However, it takes a huge amount of love and effort to keep this area in the “oldest neighborhood” ticking over. 
The additions , the repurposed the plants and trees donated
ALL take maintenance, talk and more talk and meeting just doesn’t cut it. The little lighthouse shed lost some shingles over the winds in January. The flags put out to honor were looking forlorn . Seeing a break in the weather the littlest volunteers ( who take this job very seriously) and old ( er) granddads took on a task .
The morning’s work went well , although I did mention to Gavin he didn’t have to say the pledge of allegiance for every flag he took out and replaced. (PHOTOS Lisa Miller)
Braedyn took his “military policing” of trash pick just as seriously
And after all was done a sit down to reflect the job ahead this spring and summer-
whose truck is that anyway????
Meanwhile Gavin decided to check the work of the “big boys” – seems it passed muster.
–PHOTO- Lisa Miller
At the end of a couple of hours the policing of the areas, the flags changed out and a seagull back on its perch.
There is a great deal to do everyday when the weather gets warm- Will you consider spending a day “honoring” – weeding , raking ? CVSI is always looking to add to our volunteers to walk the walk not just talk the talk………
Call 440-246-6046 or Email cvsilor@yahoo.com http://www.loraincounty.com/charlestonlorai/
To be continued……….
Lorain -History Mystery- In conclusion – Clara
Part One https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara/
Part Two https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-2/
Part Three https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt3/
Part Four https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-4/
Part Five https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-5/
Part Six https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-6/
Part Seven https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-7/
Part Eight https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/25/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-8/
ED NOTE Please click on any of the photos to enlarge
The consensus of opinion is the pages found tucked away on top of the beam in the basement of 212 W. 18th Street are in all likelihood the writings pertaining to a “novel” or story. Clara, a character in a writer’s fertile imagination. The research turned up similarities of place names but nothing that could be traced either in Lorain or in Oklahoma. Just the intriguing Lorain Lumber letter head
However, we were able to track the history of the home – and the family that probably built it “The Greggs”. Renee Dore and I were fortunate to have spent a lovely afternoon on Thursday with Mrs. Margaret Gregg. This gracious lady allowed us to look through family photos and documents to see if we could unravel just who may have been the author of the pages.
Frederick S. Lamb’s painting of William Penn at the Brooklyn Museum
The Gregg family has a long history in these United States, one of the documents from the Gregg family was a completed family tree from the 1930’s. The family traced its roots from Ireland and eventually to arriving in the “colonies” along with the group accompanying William Penn. http://www.ushistory.org/penn/bio.htm
A quick search found
Thomas Coulson Gregg born in 1794 and deceased in 1878 in Belleville Ohio –
His son William Alan Gregg born 1823 -1873 also from Belleville
However it was his son Emmett Gregg who was born in 1860 in Belleville but eventually found his way to Lorain where he passed in 1938.
Emmett Gregg married Barbara (Reiff) Gregg 1857-1937from Maytown Pennsylvania
Photos scanned from the original tintypes
Why Emmett and Barbara ended up in Lorain is anyone’s guess but more than likely came for employment.
What is known is that the Sanborn Fire Maps for 1900 show what is now 212 W 18th as being 314 Forest and the dwelling footprint was very different on the 1900 Sanborn Fire Map
but that can be explained, as in amongst the Gregg family photos was a photo ( enhanced) of the Greggs home a small cottage – written on the reverse.
Was this the dwelling shown in 1900 Sandborn Fire Map? When we spoke to Margaret Gregg she remembers the home was added onto ( or possibly rebuilt??) early on .
In June 1905 according the Sanborn maps more changes had been made – it looks like the garage ( outbuilding) had been added.
1905 Sandborn Map
What we do know is that by 1910 the footprint had changed again
1910 Sandborn Map
The 1918 Sandborn Fire Map and 1926 through 1940 see minor changes
1912 Tax Map for the city we have Emmett and Barbara Gregg listed as the owners of the property.
Emmett and Barbara had a son George in 1882 he passed in 1947
George married Cora (Dyce) who was from Florida –
Cora followed her husband George back to Lorain and back to 212 18th Street. Cora was exquisite- the head and shoulders shot ( complete with Marcel Wave hairstyle) from the family album shows such. Unfortunately, we were scared to remove the photo from its folder due to the condition of the album fearing we might do damage . We do have a picture of her with her young son Donald ( Margaret’s eventual husband ) in 1932/3
George and Cora ( thanks to the research by Rick Kurish) listed themselves in the 1930 census as to their occupation as Lecturer in a Traveling Show.
Audience photo source River Time Players
http://www.rivertimeplayers.org/tent/tentshow.asp
These shows were extremely successful in the US and elsewhere .George and Cora it seems were quite the artistic couple – a life of audiences and stories . George seen here posing was quite the “dapper” gentleman 
The vocation of George and Clara also is confirmed by family history. George and Cora were heavily involved with the Circus and Traveling shows of the 20’s and thirties . Margaret told us that Cora would love to tell how she had visited all 48 states and the provinces in Canada.
Don’t I wish I could talk to Cora of those days?
However, back to the pages and the mystery as to the author. Margaret, Cora’s daughter -in- law, doesn’t remember anyone ever mentioning anything like the story or writing .
Renee and I sat on the couch and poured over old writings, photos and family papers hoping to find a similarity in the penmanship.
Cora’s hand was very different to the hand that wrote the pages. Just when we felt all was lost we came across another picture of Cora – The Florida girl and the snow circa 1927
It was with a great deal of excitement we found written on the back of the photo
“It took as great deal of coaxing to get the Florida Girl to sit right down in the snow for this picture but she did”
And there is was the same handwriting as the pages, comparing the style of the words to those of the delicate pages, the “d’s” the a’s the I”s the B’s the “she” and the girl with the capital G- there was no doubt the writer of the pages was the same person as the writer on the back of the photo.
The conclusion was reached by myself, Mrs. Margaret Gregg and Renee, after comparing writing styles , the writer was not Cora but Barbara Gregg. Cora’s mother – in- law.
Barbara Gregg passed away in 1937 – was that the reason we will never know who murdered Bob Sandford? What was the rest of Rose Flemming’s story? Who was Clara and what was her mother’s secret? . Why were the pages tucked away all those years ago? We will never know unless somewhere in that old house there are other pages.
Barbara Gregg’s pages have now been published , the story forever on the internet , her life and times documented and along with her writing has taken us all on a “history tour”
Many thanks to the Gregg family for their permission to continue the story, the photos and a special thank you to Margaret Gregg who was so charming and helpful.
And a thank you to Dennis Flores , who showed up at my door with a file of very, very special writings.
The End???????????????
Lorain- History Mystery- Her Name was Clara – Pt. 8
Part One https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara/
Part Two https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-2/
Part Three https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt3/
Part Four https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-4/
Part Five https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-5/
Part Six https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-6/
Part Seven https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-7/
And now the pages come to an end but not the mystery …..
Page 8 Clara Oklahoma
I said Bruce what is this talk about us defending this “Rose Flemming” Bruce was walking the floor and finally stopped and said “Judge” The Firm Hartwell and Barton are not defending this girl. But I “Bruce Barton is going to defend her” I sat down at my desk and tried to think ( torn missing)…. finally said Bruce I can’t understand why you want to get mixed … in the thing. I then received an answer from Barton I shall never forget . He said “Judge” ninety percent of the people in this world are always trying to figure out some one elses affairs and I have (always – crossed out) known you for twenty years and I have been a partner of yours for about 14 years
ED NOTE- going back to the original narrative in Part 4 the date of meeting Bruce was 1902 so that would put the time frame of 1922 for the “story”
and I find you are trying to figure out my affairs. I can’t tell you why I am defending this girl but the firm Hartwell and Barton ceases right now. ” I finally persuaded him to sit down and listen to me and told him that whatever he did that I was with him but he said that while he never wanted to lose my friendship he insisted that it be known that it was j(ust) Bruce Barton that was taking the case (torn)…… Hartwell and Barton . You see
Page 9 Clara- OK
When we left the club we went straight to Police Headquarters and talked with the girl and latter on when I saw the Chief he told me when he came from her cell he said “Chief I am defending Miss Flemming and don’t try to grill her anymore …………
And there we have it . I don’t suppose we will ever know the “rest of the story” because that is what I think this is . It was probably written by a Gregg family member all those decades ago . I am not alone in that thinking and one of the people looking to the mystery Rick Kurish ( also contributes to Dan Brady’s Blog http://danielebrady.blogspot.com/ had this to say yesterday and I agree
“After reading this far, I’m inclined to believe that the author was writing a novel loosely based on historical events. No doubt some of the events mentioned actually occurred, but the inability to tie any of the names to historical records is a red flag. An example of an event that may be based on the historical record is the Martha Barton Hospital. An internet search for first hospital in Oklahoma, turned up the following:
“In 1894 Dr. F.B. Fisk purchased a small one story cottage on South Main Street in Muskogee. He greatly enlarged the little house by adding a second story and building an addition to the front. The building sat on a busy thoroughfare where many liveries and wagon yards were located. Early Sanborn Insurance maps of Muskogee note that this hospital was first called St. Mary’s Sanitarium.
With his medical partner, Dr. J.L. Blakemore, Fike expanded the sanitarium to become the first hospital in the Twin Territories. It was briefly called the Fike-Blakemore Hospital after the two physicians. The doctors ran this hospital until 1906. After a donation of support from their good friend, Andrew Robb, the hospital was then called Martha Robb Hospital.
Andrew Robb
Martha Robb was Andrew Robb’s wife. A.W. Robb was an early day merchant in Muskogee. The Robb family was one of the first to settle in the new railroad town and was always involved in supporting the town and its early institutions.”
Interesting similarities to Clara’s story, with names and a few facts changed.
Also further research on the Lorain Lumber Co. letterhead, indicates that the story was written after 1930. In the 1920s, through at least 1929, Charles F. Friend, Carrie Moore’s father was listed as vice-president of the company. Also Conrad A. Horn was living in Columbus and working in various financial Depts. of state government from 1922 until 1929. He did not return to Lorain County until 1930.
Rick was also very helpful in tracking down the initial Lorain Lumber Company time lines
I think the key to the time frame the story was written may be contained in the Lumber Co. letterhead the first page of the story was written on. Richard J. Kutza while an employee of the Lumber Co. for many years, was not listed as the president until about 1925/1926. That would mean the story could not have written before that time. Also Mrs. C.C Moore would probably not have been involved in the business prior to the death of her husband Leonard, which I believe occurred circa 1920.
ED NOTE I have been able to talk with the Gregg family and in fact I will be meeting with Mrs. Gregg tomorrow – hopefully I will be able to flesh out some of the house history in the 1920-1930’s.
However I do so wish we could’ve read more of “Clara” – it seems we had a writer with a good story to tell-
Why was Bob Sandford murdered? Why was Bruce Barton defending Rose Flemming ? Was Rose the mother of Clara
My imagination is running away with itself but the truth is we will probably never know.
But I have to THANK whomever wrote these fragile pages so many decades ago, she ( and I believe it to be a she) took me on a journey of not only furthering the history of Lorain but I journeyed through oil fields, the life out west , the rough and tumble west, riots and woman outlaws. I learned a great deal from these forgotten pages and I hope to learn more Thank you whomever you are !
Lorain – History Mystery- Her Name was Clara-Pt.7
Part One https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara/
Part Two https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-2/
Part Three https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt3/
Part Four https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-4/
Part Five https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-5/
Part Six https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/16/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-6/
The continuing pages from Oklahoma- Since there are just the last three and one quarter pages left in the group of writings found above the beam I have decided to finish up this part of the mystery – as to the pages at least 🙂 in a two part post of today and tomorrow
PAGE 6 Oklahoma the story of Bruce Barton:
Page 6:
About a year lat(t)er the city was startled one night when it was learned that young Bob Sandford had been found dead in his automobile just two miles east of town in a lonely road known as Lovers Roost. He had been shot and a revolver was found on the seat of the car. The discovery was made about 11:30 ( ripped )
I heard about it while ( sitting) crossed out at the club. I did not see Bruce until the next morning at the office and I was reading the morning paper when he came in about 9:30. I spoke of the finding of young Sandford and Bruce said ” It is too bad and I feel mighty sorry for Tom and Bob’s mother.
I asked if he had seen the paper and he said he had not. I told him that two local young men had gone to Police Headquarters and told that they had seen a young woman get into Bob’s car about 8:30 (last ) crossed out that night just about three blocks east of the Bartmore Hotel and they drove on out that street. The police were working on that clue and had found that the girl had registered at the hotel I said her name is “Rose Flemming” and on the hotel register gives her address as D….( ripped) Ok. Delmar(?) is about the same size City torn Bartmore and is about 50 miles w(est) torn…….
Page 7
Bruce said “what did you say was the girl’s name? And I repeated “Rose Flemming”
That evening about 8:30 Bruce and I met at the Club and enjoying a game of Billiards when a member of the Club came in and said ” Well the police have that girl over at the Police Station and I guess they are giving her ( torn)…He said that the Chief had told him ( torn)…. admitted she knew young Sandford, but so far re( fused?) to talk. He said the Chief expected a confession before midnight. Bruce looked at his watch and said ” Judge you will have to excuse me for I just happened to remember I have some business to attend to” I thought nothing of it at the time and latter went home.
The next morning while at the breakfast table a reporter from “the Times’ phoned and asked if it was true that Hartwell and Barton would defend “Rose Flemming” I laughed and told him No. Why we never have taken any criminal cases of that kind. The reporter said well that is the report from Police Headquarters and we tried to get in touch with Mr. Barton but (torn..) not get him. I hung up at once and (torn)…the office and Bruce was waiting for me I could see at once something had (torn)……….
ED NOTE: The only Delmar OK I could find was an amusement park in Oklahoma City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delmar_Gardens ( and that might play a part later on)
However I did find a Rose Flemming of Oklahoma for that time period and beyond…..
Rose of the Cuimarron
http://www.truewestmagazine.com/who-is-rose-of-cimarron/
met and became involved romantically with George “Bittercreek” Newcomb around 1893. The gang that Newcomb ran with worshipped her due to her good looks and her calm and kind demeanor, and were fiercely defensive of her, spawning her loyalty to them.
She was completely infatuated with Newcomb and began supporting Newcomb’s outlaw life by venturing into town for supplies, as he was a wanted man and could not. Newcomb by that time was riding with the Wild Bunch gang led by famous outlaw Bill Doolin. Her brothers, however, had left the outlaw life and had become well-known Bounty Hunters, calling themselves the Dunn Brothers.
On September 1, 1893, the gang was cornered in Ingalls by a posse of U.S. Marshals, in what became known as the Battle of Ingalls, resulting in an intense shootout. A western legend has it that Newcomb was badly wounded, and while he lay in the street, Rose Dunn is alleged to have run from the “Pierce Hotel” to his location with two belts of ammunition and a Winchester rifle. She fired the rifle at the Marshals while Newcomb reloaded his revolvers, and Newcomb was able to escape. However, that account has never been verified, and was never mentioned by the US Marshal official report, which indicated that Newcomb at best fired two shots then fled.
Three Deputy Marshals were killed during the shootout. Newcomb and Charley Pierce were wounded but escaped. Gang member “Arkansas Tom” Jones was slightly wounded and captured by Deputy Marshal Jim Masterson. Together with Newcomb and other members of the gang, Rose Dunn hid out for at least two months nursing the remaining gang members back to health.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Dunn
and that Rose Flemming definitely makes interesting reading although it is doubtful that Rose (Dunn) Flemming was Clara’s mother imho …and so it continues
Lorain- History Mystery- Her Name Was Clara- Part 6
Part One https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/27/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara/
Part Two https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/28/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-2/
Part Three https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2016/12/29/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt3/
Part Four https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/05/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-part-4/
Part Five https://thatwoman.wordpress.com/2017/01/13/lorain-history-mystery-her-name-was-clara-pt-5/
We left the Oklahoma pages with some answers – yes there was an oil boom in 1904 the probable location of the “town of Bartmore” but very little else and the town of Bartlesville? But we are not any closer. I cannot find Hartwell and Barton- nor Bruce Barton – so back to the pages of Oklahoma
Page 4 Clara- Oklahoma
….. Martha Barton Hospital was built by and fu(lly) (torn) equipped and given to the City of Bartmore and (he) torn gave 50,00 each year for its upkeep.
Bartmore boats of two of the best surgeons in ( the ) stet and they were brought her by Bruce Ba(rton)torn. He established six public playgrounds and ( torn and missing) gave them to Bartmore.
The people wanted to put him into politics. He never would concent(sp) I know that Bruce Barton could have been Govenor of this state if he had wished to be.
The firm Hartwell and Barton had gone on for several years and while I had married and was the Daddy of two fine children, Bruce still remained a Bachelor. He had built a fine home just north of Bartmore about 2 miles from the city limits and had a fine old couple Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney look after his place. Mrs. Sweeney acting as housekeeper and Phil Sweeney overseeing the farm.
ED NOTE: Internet searches have not turned up any of these names so far
Bruce seemed to get a great deal of pleas(ure)torn out of his home. He had a wonderful ….. torn stock and spent thousands of dollars ..keeping(?) his grounds
Page 5 Clara OK
Bartmore boasts of having one of the finest ??????? ED Note- this next word has me stymied- I am literally going crossed eyed trying t decipher these pages. You decide…. I can get Aviations – Carnation -( yes there is such a thing as carnation fields ) Donations – I am thinking “aviation” you decide
fields in the United States and Bruce Barton gave every acre of land and saw that everything was built and arranged to make it one of the best and then gave it to the city.
ED NOTE – again if it was a early aviation field I can’t find anything given to Barton
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/OK/Airfields_OK_E.htm however there is a Bartlesville (city owned air strip) and it made history – no mention of a Bruce Barton though
http://www.examiner-enterprise.com/news/local-news/bartlesville-back-when-flying-history-made-locally photo the Examiner – Enterprise
I just tell you these things to give you an idea of what k(ind) of a man he was.
Tom Sandford ED NOTE could not an oilman Tom Sandford BUT there was a Sanford Oil in Bartlesville Nov 1921 ) was another man who had made lots of money in oil and his son Bob who was just returned home from Law School was one of those young fellows who had always had everything he every wanted and his father wanted Bruce and I to take him in our office for a couple of years. I was in favor of it but Bruce said No and frankly told Tom very plainly just why he objected and he said ” Tom I like Bob and want to see him succeed but just as long as you furnish your son with all the money he wants and buy him high powered cars he never will work and never will amount to a …… ( word unreadable)Well the result was that Tom Sandford was very much offended and said as much. But Bruce was firm and said “Tom just cut off ( missing) allowance and compel him to dig for him ( self) and in latter years Bob will thank you (…….. missing)
And there we have it more of the story and yet we know so very little that checks out . One thing I have found in trying to tie names to places I have found some very interesting reading about the oil fields and also since this is being written on MLK Day the riots in Tulsa in 1921
Tulsa’s darkest hour came on June 1, 1921, when racial tensions erupted in violence against African-Americans living in an area north of downtown. Thirty-five blocks of black businesses and residences were burned down including Greenwood Ave., known as “The Black Wall Street”. Both blacks and whites were killed, although the numbers are still debated today.
http://tulsahistory.org/learn/online-exhibits/early-tulsa-history/oil-and-riches/
and “on the rarely-mentioned 1921 onslaught, aerial bombing, and incineration of the “Black Wall Street” business district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, by white mobs, including the KKK and government forces.”
To be continued ……….
Pages 4 and 5 Black and White enhanced
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