Eastlake Celebrates Its Seniors--Harold Pacholke--September 2010

Harold Pacholke was born April 29, 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio. His parents were Howard and Ethel (Haylor) Pacholke. In the early 1920s he moved with his parents to Vine Street. The location of the homestead would later be called Stop 152, as this was a train stop for the interurban railroad that ran down Vine Street. The basement to their home had been dug out using a team of horses owned by his grandfather, Albert Pacholke. The current location of his lot is now occupied by the Mandarin Seafood Buffet. Ethel was Harold's sister and he also has a brother named Wayne Pacholke.

Harold and his wife graduated from the Willoughby Union High School in 1937. They were high school sweethearts. They were married June 7, 1940 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Willoughby, Ohio. They just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. To them were born five children: Jerry, Karen, Patti, Sandy and Vernon. Vernon also has lived in Eastlake his whole life. The couple located their home on a lot adjacent to and behind his parents.

For a while Harold worked as a tool and die maker for Ohio Rubber Company in Willoughby. In 1945, he along with his father established a business adjacent to his parents' home. It was H & H Cycle. Through the years the business sold many things to keep its doors open. Some of these included: motorcycles, lawnmowers, snow blowers, bicycles, boats, water heaters, portable heaters, Christmas trees, snowmobiles, go-karts and parts and service for all of the above.

For a time the store served as the place where one went to buy license tags. This was done for everyone in a period of a month. No matter what letter your last name started with or when you were born, this is when you had to buy your tags. And it all had to be done by hand. There were no computers back then to speed things up.

Behind the store was a clubhouse. The Silver Spokes Motorcycle Club held many socials there. They also sponsored motorcycle rides to places such as Devils Den, Niagara Falls and Allegheny National Forest. Harold has always been an avid motorcyclist. He has ridden to Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and many other locations. He has many good stories to tell about how riding and machinery have changed over the years.

In 1969 Harold relocated his family to Robin Drive in Eastlake. He retired in 1988. He attends Willo Hill Baptist Church and has taken a public stand against abortion. Harold is also a Republican. On voting days he can still be found working at the polls.

EASTLAKE CELEBRATES ITS SENIORS