Businessmen, Homebuilders Credited For Desirability Of Lakewood

The March 7, 1918 edition of the Lakewood Press saluted several enterprising men and Realty companies who were largely responsible for Lakewood’s significant growth. A.B. Smythe Realty Company, Fowler-Worman & Kelly, the Mars Wagar Realty Company, the Cleveland Trust Company, L.H. Heister, Jr., Oscar Kroehle, and Phil Marquard were named as those who were not just in business to make money on real estate investments, but who actually resided in Lakewood and were largely responsible for making Lakewood a beautiful city. Lakewood not only had paved streets and well-kept lawns, but “character homes” that “kept one guessing as to the type of home they like best”. The Press predicted that Lakewood would grow to a city of 100,000 because of “the energetic, wide-awake, patriotic men” in the business community and the “class of citizenship found here”.

Val Mechenbier is a licensed Realtor.