Elyria

By William L. Bird, Robert R. Ebert and Lorain County Historical Society

Elyria is named for Heman Ely, who in 1817 settled in a strategically located area close to Lake Erie along the picturesque Black River. Historically, Elyria, which became the seat of Lorain County, has been a center of commerce and government while also serving as a market and source of supplies for the surrounding agricultural community. Industrial development has included steel mills, quarries, automobile-related firms, and a wide variety of other manufacturing facilities. Over the years, Broad Street has been an important center of retail and professional activity. For recreation, Elyria s citizens are able to enjoy beautiful parks and recreation facilities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Aug 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781439646854

William L. Bird

William L. Bird is a lifelong resident of the city and retired as a teacher in Elyria public schools. He currently serves as the executive director of the Lorain County Historical Society, which is based in Elyria. Robert R. Ebert is a volunteer and board member at the Lorain County Historical Society, is retired from a career as a college professor, and has lived in the area for about a decade. Many of the photographs used in this collection are from the archives of the Lorain County Historical Society.

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contributions.

INTRODUCTION

Approximately five square miles of densely forested land close to Lake Erie, stretching between and around two branches of the same river, provides prolific hunting grounds for Native American populations. Twin 40-foot waterfalls power grist and saw mills and other machinery. Significant government business is being conducted in and around the town center square. A large and varied commercial center draws customers from both in town and the surrounding countryside. A substantial and varied industrial base, aided first by railroads and later by highway systems, provides employment and wealth for a growing city. Development of the perimeter areas of the city is causing a shift of the commercial center, resulting in a declining center city. A large community college provides ever increasing educational opportunities at an affordable cost for thousands of local residents. All of the above describe Elyria, Ohio, and the land that became Elyria at some point during the past 250 years. How did we get from the virgin forests to a city with a population of over 55,000?

The first written record of a white man being in what is now Cascade Park was provided by James Smith, who was captured and brought to the site in 1755 by Native Americans on a hunting trip. Following the American Revolution, an area south of Lake Erie running about 120 miles west from the edge of Pennsylvania became known as the Connecticut Western Reserve. In 1795, a sizable group of investors purchased 3.2 million acres of this land for the princely sum of $1.2 million. As the Native American tribes ceded portions of this land to the United States, surveying was done and the area was divided into townships, each containing five square miles (which was approximately 16,000 acres). This occurred west of the Cuyahoga River in 1806. At that time, a small group of the investors—including Justin Ely of West Springfield, Massachusetts—drew Town No. 6 in Range 17, which was to eventually become Elyria. After buying more land from the other investors, Justin’s son Heman Ely wound up with a solid block of 12,500 acres between and around the two branches of the Black River, which included their confluence into a single river.

In February 1817, Heman Ely set out with a party of five others to settle the area we now know as Elyria. The nearly monthlong journey of these six pioneers included riding on a wagon pulled by a team of horses, traveling on the ice of Lake Erie, and just plain walking at various times. The original settlement in Elyria was in the area where East Bridge and Broad Streets now intersect. Men hired previously by Ely had built a log house in that area and a gristmill and sawmill along the East Branch of the river. The low point for fording the river was near the end of what is now Mound Street.

Early development of Elyria occurred in what is essentially a peninsula between the East and West Branches of the Black River, as shown in the map on page two. Access was limited according to the location of various bridges. A New England–style town square was created to provide both a common area and the site for the government of Lorain County, which first enacted business in 1824. A flourishing commercial district grew around this town center and was significant for over 150 years.

The two branches of the river, both rushing toward their high falls, provided the energy to power early milling and other manufacturing interests. As available power transitioned to steam and electrical energy, local industry grew even faster. The location of a major railroad through Elyria in the 1850s and the Ohio Turnpike in the 1950s provided the transportation connection to the rest of the nation (and the world) that made Elyria a manufacturing hub from the late 1800s until well past World War II. Never dependent on just one giant industrial employer, Elyria boasted a wealth and variety of different manufacturing interests that provided local capital for the many civic and cultural improvements that made it a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Over time, growth and expansion in a community produce changes that tremendously influence the overall environment and landscape. In Elyria, much of this occurred between 1950 and 1980. The mansions of Washington Avenue and many of the architecturally significant facades on Broad Street were razed to create newer, more modern structures. Local companies were bought and merged into larger outside corporations. In the mid-1960s, Midway Mall was built on the north edge of town to attract shoppers from both Elyria and Lorain. Downtown commerce slowly faded as businesses closed or moved to the mall. In many cases, the larger corporate entities reduced or closed their Elyria facilities.

Today, Elyria is an interesting city in transition. The downtown square is a jewel, and some very interesting historical buildings have survived, 28 of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Lorain County government still anchors the downtown area. Education has long been and continues to be a very strong asset for Elyria, and the phenomenal growth of Lorain County Community College over the past 50 years provides great hope for current and future generations to obtain the necessary skills to be successfully employed in the job market of the 21st century.

In producing this snapshot of Elyria’s history, the authors had to make numerous difficult choices to limit the selection of images, as it would be virtually impossible to show all of the industries, churches, stores, and so forth in a city of this size. However, through the photographs and captions that have been included, this text presents a cross section of life in Elyria from its earliest days until near the end of the 20th century. Enjoy as you travel down memory lane and learn anew about our interesting heritage!

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GOING DOWNTOWN

From the earliest days of its