Uncle Vic's demo reveals Troxel sign

ELYRIA — Mid-demolition of the former Uncle Vic's building, a sharp eye caught a faded sign facing Washington Avenue. Now visible is a sign that reads "THE TROXEL MFG CO." Some letters, like part of the word "THE," are missing, while others are so faded that they can barely be made out. Jeff Sigsworth, a board member of the Lorain County Historical Society and an Elyria history buff, said the sign would have been visible over the top of the shorter Metropolitan Hotel, which stood from about the late 1870s until 1916. The Troxel Co. is the largest bicycle seat manufacturer in the U.S., according to the company's website. Troxel operated out of Elyria from about 1915 until the early 1960s, when it diversified into steel tubing and relocated to Moscow, Tennessee — though for years, bicycle seats, including the first banana-style saddles, included a branding in the leather noting its home in Elyria. Troxel also made other leather goods and bike parts. It existed in the Washington Avenue building until sometime around the 1940s. It later moved to a new facility on Oberlin-Elyria Road where the current Rural King is located. The sign would have remained visible until it was covered up by the Washington Towers building, which remained for the next 105 years. The hotel was a smaller building, and Washington Towers ended up with six stories. Sigsworth said that means this is the first time the sign has been visible for over a century. He didn't catch the words himself, until someone sent him a picture asking what it said. It didn't take him long to put the pieces together. It's possible the sign is actually two or three different signs painted on top of each other. Given the age, Sigsworth said it's hard to tell. The building, which later became home to Uncle Vic's and Mardi Gras before ending up vacant, was destroyed in a fire earlier this year. Two juveniles were arrested for setting the fire. Demolition stalled after asbestos was found around the Uncle Vic's side. That requires an abatement and 14-day notification to the Environmental Protection Agency. It was scheduled to resume sometime after Memorial Day. Additional fencing was put up for the parade celebration for safety. Demolition has stretched out for about four months since the building caught fire in February. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com.