Where do I live?

[Dick Powis]

I'm a 20 year old line cook, trying to get back into school for anthropology. I have an infatuation with history. But just realized that after years of coming to Lakewood and 2.5 years of living here, I know nothing about this city. How did it come to be? What was this place like in the roaring 20's? Or the post-war 50's? During the cultural revolution of the 60's? I only know as far back as what Michele from the Phantasy has told me about the 80's.

Has this place always been so progressive? Has crime always been so low? Has Lakewood always been a hot-spot for bars and entertainment? Please, fill me in.

Dick

[Mike Deneen]

The library website has some fantastic links to information on local history.
Check it out.
Also, I suggest contacting the lakewood historical society, or checking out some of the many books about Lakewood history at the library.

http://www.lkwdpl.org/lfiles/

[Jim O'Bryan]

Has this place always been so progressive? Has crime always been so low? Has Lakewood always been a hot-spot for bars and entertainment? Please, fill me in.

Dick

Yes.

Welcome to Lakewood, stop by the next Observer meeting and say hi.

Tell Michelle I said hello.


.

[Rhonda loje]

There are also books to purchase at the Lakewood Historical Society that will give you a great history of Lakewood. Just call the Old Stone House at 221-7343 and talk to Mazie Adams.

[Dick Powis]

I will definitely check out the books, but I'm also curious as to if anyone on the Deck might have their own stories to share about Lakewood.

I'm a fan of oral history (even though so much is to its blame, haha).

[Stan Austin]

Dick-- Welcome, and, if you chip in for a 12 pack I'll give you a history of Lakewood that can be added to and embelished by all of us.

You've landed in a nifty little city where old hippy me just spent some time this morning telling a SWAT cop that we all were one with him and his teamates in doing what they had to do.

And, being uniquely US-------half of what ya get is the real, actual truth!

Stan Austin

[Kenneth Warren]

Dick:

Welcome to the Wood. Perhaps the best informant to take you back would be Vernon Bognar, The Walking Man, who you can find most every day walking Detroit and Madison, picking up litter. He's a very bright and articulate man, who should be able to take you back to the 30s to the present.

Dan Slife wrote about him for the LO:

http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/home.ph ... =327&col=8

There's a great picture of the man. This is one of the best pieces written in the LO so far.

Another good source would be Robert Buckeye, who writes for the LO. He's 68, grew up on Elbur, graduated from LHS. He can take you through the 40s and 50s.

He lives in Middlebury VT, but comes but to town twice a year generally to hang with the LO team and ponder the meaning of this place.

Get involved with our intrepid team of spud researches, and as an anthopologist especially you will discover we have launched something in Lakewood that is quite unique, given current states of "alien-nation" gripping most places.

Here's a tool I put together last year that might give you a psycho-social sense of the values and meme states in the city.

http://www.lkwdpl.org/futuretools/lft-u ... kewood.pdf

There are more typological tools at this site as well.

http://www.lkwdpl.org/focus/

Thanks for checking in and I hope we can rap about Lakewood as Triple City - past, present and future.

Kenneth Warren

[Dick Powis]

Kenneth, thanks for the tips. Stan, I'll chip in for some drinks only if we can agree on real beer (i.e. Great Lakes, Guinness, etc). Ha.

I can't wait to get started. Thank you guys.

[Joseph Milan]

A book that anyone with an interest in Lakewood's history should read was printed in 1989, the Centennial of Lakewoood. It's called "Lakewood, The First Hundred Years". By Jim & Susan Borchert.

I'm sure one of the links mentioned previously points to this book.
It is a must read for anyone who wants to know about Lakewood History.

The pictures alone are amazing; bond certificates of the Rocky River Railway Co., Fanny Farmer's on 117th, churches an public figures....

I could go on for a while, but it's much better to look at the book.

Joe

[Jim O'Bryan]

Dick

Now that we have learned a little more about you, maybe we should take you on the quick tour of Lakewood, and show you what you might need to become immersed in the culture.

Where the Dead Boys worked while Stiv tried to buy a PA System. Where they lived, and where they ate. Other early music pioneers in art/glam rock Electric Eels, Mirrors, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks, etc. I am sure Michele has already showed you the basement that was the practice area for a who's who of early punk, metal, goth, rock whoevers.

Three record studios in town, four great record stores, a bunch of bars where people really just don't care if you don't. Lakewood has always been a bedroom community for the working class and wealthy. A nice place to fall back to in the wee hours of the morning.

.

[Dick Powis]

Damn Jim; you just summed up the top reasons I love Lakewood. And that skatepark is pretty fun too.

Dick

[Jim O'Bryan]

Damn Jim; you just summed up the top reasons I love Lakewood. And that skatepark is pretty fun too.

Dick

Dick

You hit on a key for Lakewood with the skatepark. For years it was part of every political platform. "We will look into building a skatepark..." Then came the last election, a new Lakewood Family called Franz, and the building of a coalition to get it done. The mayor, Ryan Patrick Demro and the rest of council actively worked together with Vince Franz and the Lakewood Skaters and kept the word of politicians that had come before.

Pro-active citizens, working WITH city council and the city building a community together. Opening day was beautiful.

.

[Dick Powis]

Yeah, I saw pictures of opening day, and I was there a week later. You'll know me when you see me: I'm the only one that skates on aggressive inlines.

Anyway, aren't they supposed to build a bowl this summer, too?

Dick