Welcome to Lakewood Lore Online. These columns by Dan Chabek began as a series in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Lakewood's
founding. They appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post, a
Sun Newspaper, under the heading
of Lakewood Lore since 1988.
Dan Chabek was a reporter for the former Cleveland Press and a
public relations representative for the Ford Motor Company prior to
his retirement in 1980. He lives in Lakewood and has served as a
trustee of the Lakewood Historical Society.
See Mr. Chabek's newest series The Buckeye
Chronicles. Also, check out the Lakewood Files
feature on Mr. Chabek.
Table of Contents
Book remembers Kundtz as inventor and industrialist
Lakewood man was savior of the seals
Grace Avenue mansion lives on in Christmas wreath
Beauty of written word graced Lakewood Street
Sidewalk runners excel olden days' speed limit
Old-time ailments vanish as years pass
Music man had fans all over Cleveland
Lakewood man recalls morning of bedlam
Railroad no dummy at cheering up passengers
Shanty and owner bring back colorful memories
There's nothing long lost about this Dr. Livingstone
Dashing Elwell was true legend in and out of city
Gardner Oakes supplied music, color to community
Good old days were desirable for old settler
Road named Bunts by the luck of the draw
Nothing keeps postmen from completing rounds
If mansion could talk, it would tell of a brutal murder
Fun was name of game at the new Clifton Park
Nature delivered a knockout 40 years ago (1950)
Native son recalls days of 350-pound ice blocks
Homes of early settlers rest in quiet seclusion
Civil War soldier became the fourth mayor of city
Old-timer recalls when city was rural
For more than 70 years, Bob Hitz has seen it all
When longtime resident cuts the rug, look out!
Diary provides key to mystery for Lakewood woman
62-year hardware store survived many city storms
Cows once grazed where young men now are raised
Marbles were Mario of yesterday's youth
Weldon has wielded magic wand since his childhood
Local sports, music, news were offered by pioneer radio station
Is there faith in the city's future? You can bank on it
Barton seniors recollect highlights of good ole days
Old hair styles don't disappear, they just 'fade'
away
Vintage valley overpass linked exciting memories
Bunker Hill echoes along old Indian trail
Resident was in the stands as Wamby
made diamond history
Cream of the crop rises to the top
of recollections
Lois Welsch left her mark on education
in Lakewood
Diary of early resident tells of
babbling brook in city
Top mob-buster was once a Lakewoodite
Big stores once thrived in city
Stuff of romance novel found to
be true story
Death stood at shoulder of pioneer
family
Paint king's mansion kept elegant
by granddaughter
'Four Lads' ladle out hits to fans at Swingos'
eatery
From mountains to oceans, local grad has done
it all
Erie tale reveals demise of local Indians
McGorray Funeral Home continues family tradition
Oh chute! Milk's hole-in-the-wall angle is modernized
Lakewood Hospital 'birthplace' becomes ornamental
Long life is too busy to puzzle meaningless statistics
Old sayings bring back sweet memories of childhood
Daniels planted shovel here, to city's fortune
Local four-generation business celebrates 100 years
What's in a name? For streets,there's a bit of history
First settler wedding a gala occasion for all
Early settlers coped with crude health care
Color guard still stepping proud after all these years
Many little old ladies got a charge out of electric cars
Movies, radio drew them in during Great Depression
Mine-sweeping tale of high seas surfaces with trunk
Golf courses providing a 'link' with Lakewood's past
Memories galore fill Oldest Stone House
Car was fond memory for many
Life has its new priorities for well-known auto dealer
Historic mansion is being restored
Lifelong resident refuses to let illness get him down
Four brothers have been witness to changing times
He crafted 'necklace' that adorns Greater Cleveland
City's fine educators put heart into their jobs
Military oversight finally is rectified for Lakewood vet
Nineties are a fine decade for lively senior volunteer
In a doughnut business, some always go to waist
Local makeup king chose movie queen to move ads
Dinosaur discovery managed to keep museum Happy
St. Augustine nuns faced many hardships
Hard work still the keystone for monument business
Early mover, shaker lends name to busy thoroughfare
'Flight of the Bumble Bee' was music to Engel's ears
Classic axioms smooth troubled waters with a smile
What goes around, comes around in building the spirit
Lakewoodite is recognized as great Western writer
Putting in your two cents worth about penny candies
'The Group' of extroverts ready to spring into action
Realtor responsible for selling city on the idea of a home show
Fond memories of first cars are revved up
Stormy demise of dirigible shocked many Ohioans
City had top secret role in WWI's underwater doings
Rich stores of memories are treasured by resident
Pastor Balliet's proclivity for verse sure isn't a curse
Special words from days of yore
stir up excitement
Town really heated up when lumberyard
burned down
Oldtime party center had real country
atmosphere
Legendary letter writer seeks home
for yet another invention
Gorgeous film stars of old still
put stars in their eyes
If the shoe fits, it must be from
Cerny's
Top school staffers to be honored
with their own hall of fame
Memories bubble up from fountain
photo on new wall
Junior Board members keep city's
history alive
Wind storms wreak havoc on city
No watering holes barred in history
of our fair city
Today's prime land once laid an
egg
Letters from Guam were 'best present'
for publisher
Lakewood organization celebrates 75th
anniversary
Dentist works to help poor in El Salvador
Paint, wallpaper store renewed as Victory
Technical
Depression memories are anything but depressing
Lakewood loses a respected leader
in Mitch Darling
Teens provide Key to performance
Doggerel verse helps her recall,
for better or worse
Cinema's history recognized on
ornament
Five LHS graduates to be inducted
into Hall of Fame
Fond dance hall memories live on
in verses of song
Old sweet melodies stir memories
of days gone by
Life on Mars in 1908 was full of
love, nickel matinees
Hardship, tragedy a part of life
for the area's earliest pioneers
Stouffer family's prominent role
here is remembered
Newly published diary shows city
in its early years
Time stops for no man -- or city,
as the case may be
Travel back to the days of old
when knights were bold
Latest technology helps fulfill
longstanding dream
Key to piano queen's popularity
is a heart full of hits
Block parties showing friendly
side
They came from a land down under
to visit our city
Social swirl centered on the
elegant Cliff House
Bell cosmetics paid off in
promised land
Watching the world go by was
great porch pastime
Holiday wreaths to honor first
church in Lakewood
Friends make library resources
available to everyone
Store's closing leaves hole in this town
Gas boom brought fuel but touched off
problems in the city
Lakewood's Baker was king of electric
automobiles
Friendly neighbor makes waves while catching sun
Carrie can remember when orchards flourished here
A bit of reminiscing gives us a Freese frame of past
Check again for new entries!
Return to the Lakewood Public Library Home Page