Name/Title
Interview, Nilda ColonEntry/Object ID
R2021.38.06Scope and Content
Oral History Interview for Vine Avenue with Nilda Colon
Nilda was born in Puerto Rico in 1946. Her father was recruited to work at the steel mill and came to Lorain in 1948 and then later brought his wife and children, including Nilda. She describes her father initially living in barracks provided by US Steel and eventually a home they shared with a Mexican family. Later they rented another home with the Lozano family, and then later her father bought their home from their Hungarian neighbor on 29th Street. She described the neighborhood being mixed of Hungarians, Czechoslovakians, Mexicans, blacks, and Puerto Ricans and how the children all went together to Lincoln Elementary School; eventually Nilda attended St. Ladislaus for Catholic School and she recalled not being allowed to speak Spanish there and learning Hungarian traditions. She attended programs offered by Neighborhood House and went to Sacred Heart Church. Nilda worked for the Urban Renewal program and interviewed families along Vine Avenue as part of the program. She explained that Urban Renewal, “had also said that they would be rebuilding the area so that people could come back. Well that never happened. Actually, what they did is they put in public housing… where the homes were. So, it broke up the neighborhood…”Collection
Latino Lorain History ProjectAcquisition
Accession
2021.38Source or Donor
Tober, BethanyAcquisition Method
Collected by StaffCredit Line
Latino Lorain History ProjectOral History Details
Interview Date
Oct 26, 2021Oral History Notes
A full transcription is available at the Lorain Historical Society. Please contact us for research inquiries.