Our first look at this town, with more next week. Sometimes that's just because I'm in a mood to find everything interesting. Sixty-four thousand souls, so it's going to have a lot.

Wikipedia: "Lorain is notable for its deindustrialized economy, formerly being home to the American Ship Building Company Lorain Yard, Ford Motor Company Lorain Assembly Plant, and United States Steel Corporation's steel mill on the City's south side."

Ouch.

I know it’s the Google camera, but it looks a bit unsteady. Who made it?

Why, the fan club for a famous California band! You do wonder why they didn’t come up with another name, given what the abbreviation is. How do you greet a fellow lodge member? “Hey, are you Friend or F. O. E?”

I wonder if it’s original.

A 1928 theater - commercial complex.

There were plans:

In 2008 a plan was made to connect the Lorain Palace Theatre with the adjacent Eagles Building via a glass arcade. The project would partly be funded by a $200,000 grant from the city of Lorain, most of which would be required to purchase the Eagles Building while the rest would go to construction costs to the facade and marquee of the theatre.

However, an additional $7.5 million would be needed to complete the project, which includes renovating the interior and exterior of the 37,000-square-foot Eagles building, as well as a section of the theater and the construction of the arcade.

And:

The Palace Theatre in Lorain continues to have funding issues but has thus far managed to hit fund-raising goals to keep its doors open. In October 2008, the theatre held a masquerade ball which helped bring in an additional $6,000.

Not exactly a Bruce-Wayne-hosted event.

Hmm. This is across the street.

The Gould building.

The ancient old details, a hundred years old, outdated for most of them.

looks like it should be a theater, but then again, it doesn’t.

The BRIAR got a nasty ground-floor rehab.

Actually, it’s the Bobel. It was a handsome bit of somber Moderne, once. Could be again.

Who’s on first?

The tall one really got worked over; that middle floor is just brutal, and it laps at the ankles of the third. Who’s turning in his grave?

I’m thinking this was a government building, but maybe it isn’t anymore.

If it is, FDR is turning in his grave along with Helfrich.

This was something else before it was a Modern Restaurant. If you couldn’t tell by the design - they did that in the 60s, probably through the 80s, and sometimes it worked - you can tell by the every-so-thin Buckaroo Revival on the bottom of the frame.

For God’s sake, why.

Not sure I’d take an office in the TORNADO building. Fate-tempting name aside, there’s the mystery of what the little people do in the space between the first and second floor.

So you think you have a feel for the town? This might be more illustrative. Look at that gorgeous piece of ersatz “Gothic” - you don’t know whether to shop or kneel.

More on the next page. There’s a lot more to this town.