web.ulib.csuohio.eduThe Cleveland Memory Project: Cleveland History in Photos, Video, and More

The Cleveland Memory Project Jump to page contents browse topics advanced image search ebooks reproductions about local history contact Search Black History at Cleveland Memory: Celebrating our local trailblazers January 9, 1938: Wings Over Jordan makes broadcast history, beginning a daily national broadcast on WGAR that would make them an international sensation. February 1875: City Hall was located in the "Case Block" on the corner of Superior and Wood (now east 3rd) Street. c. 1911: The Lake Erie ice harvesting industry flourished until electric refrigeration replaced blocks of ice. February 15th, 1861: Abraham Lincoln spoke from this balcony at Superior & Bank (now east 6th) Street January 28th, 1960: Ringing in the lunar new year. Wishing you joy, prosperity and good health in this year of the Dragon.May 2, 1933: Brewery operations at the Pilsener Brewing Co. in Cleveland resume after a long, dry, break during Prohibition. Workers here are packing "Pilsner of Cleveland".Cleveland has come a long way , as this 1980 photo of the Clark Avenue Bridge shows. Air Quality Awareness Week 2023 is May 1-5.August 1954: Two boys grooming a cow at the Cuyahoga County Fair.".April 1945: The Cleveland Browns is founded by Cleveland taxi cab king, Arthur Mickey” McBride - shown here with the Browns’ majorettes.April 5th, 2023: Happy 90th Birthday, Roldo! Visit our newly-expanded and searchable Roldo Bartimole page.October 1981: Artist’s rendering of the soon-to-be-built Cleveland Playhouse Theatre Complex at E. 83rd and E. 86th between Euclid and Carnegie.December 2nd, 1932: The Lorain-Carnegie (now Hope Memorial) Bridge is opened under the watch of the Guardians of Traffic.March 1954: Children from St. Patrick’s Parish School with "St. Patrick".December 18, 2022: Broadcasting pioneer Lawrence Travagliante, better known as Kid Leo, joined radio station WMMS in 1973. He will address Cleveland State graduates at our winter commencement ceremony, where he will also be awarded an honorary doctorate.December 20, 1979: The Cleveland Ballet begins a beloved Cleveland holiday tradition with its production of The Nutcracker , choregraphed by artistic director Dennis Nahat.August 28th, 2022: The 76th Annual One World Day celebration in the Cleveland Cultural GardensJune 29th, 1930: Official Dedication of The Cleveland Union Terminal GroupJuly 22nd, 1796: Moses Cleaveland and a small party of surveyors arrived at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River.40th Anniversary: Commemorating the demise of the Cleveland Press after a 104-year run, 1878-June 1982.May 29, 1937: The Great Lakes Exposition opens its 2nd season with a new attraction: Billy Rose’s Aquacade.March is Women’s History Month: Aviatrices of Cleveland’s 1929 air races: L to R: Ruth Nichols, Thea Rasche, Gladys O’Donnell, Blanche Noyes, Amelia Earhart, and Phoebe OmlieJanuary 28th, 1960: Ringing in the lunar new year. Wishing you joy, prosperity and good health in this year of the Tiger."Frosted Roof Tops" , undated linocut by award-winning Black Cleveland artist Fred C. Carlo. From our Russell & Rowena Jelliffe Collection.July 1967: Dr. Martin Luther King speaks in Cleveland’s Rockefeller Park, East Blvd and Superior Ave.January 8th, 1945: Things haven’t changed much in 77 years! An editorial cartoon from our Willard Combes Collection.77 years ago, Friday, October 20, 1944: Commemorating the East Ohio Gas Company explosion, one of the worst disasters in Cleveland history, which occurred when a a tank of natural gas exploded on Cleveland’s east side, setting off a devastating fire that killed 130 people and left nearly 700 homeless.225 years ago: "Original plan of the town and village of Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 1st, 1796" - the first rough sketch of the city - made by Amos Spafford.September 3rd, 1929: Aviatrices of Cleveland’s 1929 air races: L to R: Ruth Nichols, Thea Rasche, Gladys O’Donnell, Blanche Noyes, Amelia Earhart, and Phoebe OmlieJuly 23rd, 2021: Did someone say "Guardians"?86 years ago: Children watching the 1935 Cleveland National Air Races, September 4, 193539 years ago: June 17th, 1982, the Cleveland Press publishes its last issue. The last of Cleveland’s afternoon dailies, the Press was published from 1878 until 1982.46 years ago: April 8, 1975, in his debut as player-manager for the Cleveland Indians, Frank Robinson hits a home run at his very first at-bat at the home opener at Municipal Stadium.101 years ago: April 11, 1920, the Cleveland Interurban Railroad begins service from Shaker Heights to the Terminal Tower.20 years ago: Cleveland Memory’s First E-Book! First published in 2000 and still free to read online.1921-2021: Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Cleveland Clinic100 years ago: Opening of the Ohio Theater on Cleveland’s Playhouse Square, February 14th, 1921110 years ago: Cleveland Mayor Tom L. Johnson’s home on Millionaire’s RowNews & Features Huletts in the news: The Hulett Ore Unloaders , highly efficient materials-handling machines unique to the Great Lakes, have been iconic symbols in these parts since before the turn of the *last* century. So we’re happy to see that the Cleveland Landmarks Commission has unanimously supported plans for a park honoring the massive machines. Details here from IdeaStream . You can learn all about the Huletts at our Great Lakes Industrial History Center (Posted 09/03/19).Cleveland native and rock icon Eric Carmen has died at age 74 . Carmen sang and played bass, piano, and guitar for various Cleveland bands in the 1960s and 1970s. His 1972 song Go All The Way” was a hit for the Raspberries, and has been revered by generations as a power pop” classic. He later had a successful career as a solo artist. (Posted 03/12/24). 116 Years Ago on March 4th... The tragic Collinwood School Fire at Lakeview Elementary School in 1908 took the lives of 172 students and 2 teachers, who were trapped inside the rear first-floor exit. Two years after the fire, a memorial garden was built on the site of the old Collinwood School in memory of those who perished. Read about the fire at Cleveland Historical . (Posted 03/04/24). February, 2024: Happy Lunar New Year Wishing you joy, prosperity and good health in this year of the Dragon. We have a handful of historical photos of past celebrations in Cleveland - like Tom Boun here , lighting firecrackers at Shanghai Restaurant back in 1941. Visit the Cleveland Chapter of Asian Pacific American Advocates or AsiaTown Cleveland for extensive listings of local events and programs. (Updated 1/31/24). Farewell, Dan Ruminski : We’re saddened to hear of the passing of author, history teacher, and master storyteller Dan Ruminsky on July 25th. Winner of the 2018 Herrick Memorial Award for Civic Achievement, Dan was well-known to cleveland audiences for his talks on Cleveland history. (Posted 07/26/23). It’s Larry Doby Day : On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby made his debut with the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Black player in the American League three months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League. More about Larry Doby from the National Baseball Hall of Fame (Posted 07/5/23). Remembering Jim Brown : So sorry to hear that Jim Brown has died. He played as an NFL fullback for the Cleveland Browns from 1957 through 1965. Considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, as well as one of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown was a Pro Bowl invitee every season he was in the league, was recognized as the AP NFL Most Valuable Player three times, and won an NFL championship with the Browns in 1964. (Posted 05/18/23). April is National Poetry Month : Celebrate National Poetry Month by browsing through our d.a. levy Collection . As a poet, artist and publisher, d.a. levy was an important literary and underground figure in Cleveland’s emerging poetry and small/alternative press scene in the early 1960s. The collection includes levy’s artwork and poetry as well as video and audio of him reading...