This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Eyli ria Market Era Ends Tradition of Polish Family Store
The Chronicle revisits Elyria’s Middle Avenue shops, tracing the Gerdine Hales and Dobrowski families. From blue laws and coal heated counters to ham loaf fame and kielbasa secrets, the piece chronicles nearly 90 years of neighborhood commerce, memory, and community.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ohio
Fran Gerdine Zimmerman
Westlake
Phil
Ann Gerdine
St. Mary
Ann Polimene Gerdine
Francesca
Stefano
Ann
Phil Gerdine
Sharps
Ethel Hales
Hales’ Market
Mary
George “Bucky” Ross
West Avenue
Elyria
Fran
Herb
Sito
Gigi
Mitchell
Halliburton
Gerdines
Angelina
John DeTillio
Polimenes
East 15Th
Miami Avenue
Edith “Toadie
Frank Polimene
Frank's Market
Phil’s Market
Harve
Lake Avenue
Sam
15Th Street
Elyria Catholic High School
Henri Mae Ogle
Middle Avenue
Angie
Richard
Gary
John Hales
Ellsworth
Albert
Grandma Hales
Connie Davis
the Chronicle
Ells
John
Flossie
Ethel
England
Lawrence
Irene
Colonel Sanders
New Zealand
Hales
Sharron Vanek
Bessie Hales
Middle Ave
Josephine Dobrowski
Jack Golski
South End
Norma Conaway
The
Chronicle
Elyria United Polish Club
Holy Name Society
Cleveland Food Dealers Association
Josephine
Jack Jacoby
John Dobrowski
Cleveland
Creston
Oberlin
Conaway
Amherst
West
Dobrowski
Jack
Gorski
Holy Cross
West 15Th Street