Eastlake Historical Society

A bout with cancer that began in 2007 has not kept Vincent A. Swansegar from living his life. He is a currently in remission and sharing his home with his wife of 59 years. She is quite active and keeps him going. She still exercises at the YMCA and keeps Vincent walking around the community.

Vincent was born December 23, 1927 in Pardee, Clearfield County, Pennysylvania. He is the oldest of eight children born to Andrew and Anna (Barovac) Swansegar. He graduated from Morristownship High School in 1946 and immediately found himself serving in the Air Force. His time was spent mostly in the Pacific on Johnston Island and Hawaii. He was a staff sergeant involved in Air Way and Air Communications. This group transported messages around the world.

When he returned home, a girl he had know from working in the clothing factory before the service caught his eye. Her name was Lydia McKofka. Vincent asked if he could see her that evening. She said that would be fine and left giggling to herself. She had moved a few cities over since Vincent was in the service, and knew that he would be going to the wrong address. Boy was she surprised to find him on her doorstep that evening. The man had done his homework and discovered her new location. This impressed her.

Vincent then followed a relative to Cleveland and got a job in the clothing industry. He knew how to run a buttonhole machine. Lydia came to Cleveland also to work in the clothing industry. The business in PA had shut down. She was able to stay at the YMCA for $5 a week. Back then the organization was known to be a place to rent a room. The couple returned to Winburne, PA in 1950 to be wed. Lydia came from a family of 15 children and wanted them to share in her celebration.

In 1953, the couple came to live in their present home on Jakse Drive. When they first moved in, the street was a dead end. Vincent remembers the neighbors each chipping in $6 so they could buy gravel to help make the street passable. North High School had not yet been built and much of the properties were just empty fields. Mrs. Swansegar enjoyed picking berries there. Once the pool was built, their street became busy with the foot traffic of children. The family would have liked to see sidewalks built to help keep the kids safe. But now other entrances to the park have lessened the traffic. In fact, with the pool closed, there is no traffic at all. Lydia enjoyed teaching exercises classes in the pool.

Mr. and Mrs. Swansegar had three sons: James, Kenneth and David. James was killed in a train accident while working for Conrail. The couple has fond memories of watching their boys play sports. They were all involved in Little League. This is when the organization met off of Erie Rd., down by CEI. Ken and Dave were both wrestlers. David went on to wrestle at Kent State.

Vincent went on to retire from being a tool and die maker at Bennett Machine Stamping Co., located in North Madison. His wife is an avid knitter and crotchetier. She even graced this reporter with a pair of slippers she had made. “Thanks again, Lydia.”

Vincent still enjoys the old fashion ways of communicating: face to face. Nowadays people email, twitter, text and leave voice messages. He likes to look into someone’s eyes when he is speaking. Families visiting families was a way to spend free time in days gone by. Now you have to call and make an appointment to be sure that they are at home.

They remember when the 4th of July fireworks used to be held at North High School, and wonder why they can’t come back there. That place had a real sense of community, unlike what they have felt at the Captain’s Stadium celebration.

Mr. Swansegar’s advice to young people is to stay in school and get a good education, and hope that it helps to make your life easier to live.

This article is brought to you by the Eastlake Historical Society. If you are , or know of someone who is 80 years of age or older, and has lived in the city of Eastlake for 50 or more years, please contact us at Eastlake City Hall, 15150 Lakeshore Blvd., Eastlake, OH.

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