1234 9th Street - Lorain Ohio - A small home for sale with a special history to this writer for more than one reason.

1234 9th Street in Lorain, Ohio is probably among the smallest homes for sale in the city.  In fact, it is probably among the smallest homes in Lorain period! This cozy cottage only has two bedrooms, a dining room, living room, a small kitchen; and its only bathroom is in the basement. 

My grandparents, Winfield Scott Limes and Essie Lillian (Lombard) Limes, moved into 1234 9th Street in 1946.  Sadly, my grandmother died at the end of 1948 on December 28th.  However, my grandfather lived at this address until his death on May 16, 1959.  His death came so tragically, however, due to an injury sustained in a fall going down the stairs to use the bathroom. 

But, before my grandmother died in 1948, she and my grandfather celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  The news of the event was published in the "Lorain Journal" Friday, June 7th, 1946 that it would be coming up on Sunday, June 9th.  The couple's actual date of marriage was on June 10th, 1896.  My grandmother was born on June 14, 1877 in Spirit Lake, Iowa. 

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Winfield Scott Limes spent his entire working years in the building trades, specifically doing lathing of commercial and residential structures in Ohio.  He was instrumental in getting the first local for the Wood Wire & Metal International Lathers Union - Local #1 in Columbus, Ohio in 1899. 

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From the "Lorain Journal", Lorain, Ohio - May 17, 1959:

 "'Scott' Limes, Pioneer Lathers' Union Member, Dies After Fall"

"LORAIN - Winfield Scott Limes, 84, vice president of the Lorain County Building Trades Council and well known in lathers union activities, died yesterday at 9:25p.m. in St. Joseph Hospital as a result of injuries suffered Friday in a fall in his home, 1234 Ninth Street. 

 A neighbor found Mr. Limes after the fall lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the basement stairs, police reported.  Mr. Limes suffered a skull fracture, broken arm and dislocated right shoulder.

 In 1899, Mr. Limes helped organize the international union of AFL-Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers and became the first president of its first local No. 1 in Columbus.

 Mr. Limes has been vice president of the Lorain County Building Trades Council for 17 years.  Ranking as probably the longest-active union member in the county, he was business agent of Lathers Union Local 171.

 From the beginning of his union membership 57 years ago Limes "always knew the labor movement would amount to something."  He had been a lather for 60 years, starting in Columbus at age 17 to assist his father, a plasterer. 

 In 1904 Limes moved to Lorain, attracted by extensive building under way, including Breakers Hotel at Cedar Point.  He was in the county four years and then went back to Columbus.  Another wave of building in 1920 brought him back to Lorain again, this time to stay.

 Mr. Limes' wife, Essie, died in 1948.  Survivors are two sons, Albert; Elyria, and Harry, Lorain; nine grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Warren and Thomas, Columbus, and a sister, Mrs. Mabel Thomas, Balboa, California.

 Friends will be received in the Reichlin-Cooley Funeral Home where services will be tomorrow at 2 p.m.  The Rev. Edward Spencer will officiate.  Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. 

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