SUN SETS ON HOLIDAY

Lorain celebrates last holiday of summer at Lakeview Park

“It’s important to get together and spend time with each other on happy occasions...”

— Adrianne Weaver, 35, of Cleveland

Residents of Lorain flocked to Lakeview Beach, 1800 W. Erie Ave., on Sept. 4 to celebrate the last holiday of the summer: Labor Day.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, the holiday was first recognized in the country through municipal ordinances passed in 1885 with the Oregon legislature passing the first state bill recognizing the holiday in February of 1887.

The holiday is commonly believed to be the brainchild of Peter J. McGuire, who was the general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and cofounder of the American Federation of Labor. He suggested a day honoring those “who

from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold,” according to the site.

The Tate family took the opportunity, and day off, to gather for a picnic at one of the pavilions to the west of the beach.

According to Marsharey Tate, 19, of Lorain, the family holds big parties every year to celebrate Labor Day and July 4.

The family’s festivities included prayer, food, games, walks on the beach and dancing.

“Ribs, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, macaroni, baked beans, potato salad, green and dressing,” Tate said, listing off the dishes that the family prepared and feasted upon.

Adrianne Weaver, 35, of Cleveland, also attended the festivities and said gatherings like these are important to families.

“It’s important to get together and spend time with each other on happy occasions, instead of just getting together on sad occasions,” she said.

A few hundred yards away on the beach, Marcia Walsh, 57, of Avon, and her 11-year-old granddaughter Faith Kowalczyk,

of Marion, were reading in beach chairs with their bare feet dug into the sand.

The pair had arrived at the park a bit late in the day and said they’d seen more seagulls on the beach than people.

Walsh said the two had spent the day together visiting Swings N’ Things, playing mini golf and having lunch. She said their family usually doesn’t have big gatherings for the holiday, but it’s important to celebrate it and recognize the freedoms Americans have.

“Being able to work and taking a day off to remember that and relax,” she said.

KEITH REYNOLDS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Lorain residents flocked to Lakeview Park on Sept. 4 to celebrate the last holiday of summer.

KEITH REYNOLDS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Members of the Tate family pose during their annual Labor Day celebration at Lakeview Park on Sept. 4.