Historical Society

The Lakewood Historical Society was first suggested by Hon. J.C. Bethel and organized January, 1924, with the following officers: George C. Hansen, president; James Dunn, Jr., vice-president; E. George Lindstrom, Secretary; E.H. Fishman, Treasurer; Board of directors, C.R. Cross, J.W. White, G.W. Grill, R.G. Curren, Miss Roena Ingham.

The purpose of the society is to chronicle and perpetuate all the general history of Lakewood, ancient and modern, The secretary has compiled practically the entire history and it is its purpose to print a volume that will be within the reach of all at a very near date.

38:2 HISTORICAL COMMITTEE

June 7, 1939

Mr. Longo (sp?) is also helping Mrs. Poulson in historical project.

Editorial worker- Capable of going through newspapers to select material. Could probably collate same time (Press at least).

Exhibition - Day Nursery

Mrs. Greenland (?) telephoned June 5 (?). She is writing a history of the day nursery and will prepare some exhibit of its history, letting me know later how much aspace is to be needed. Mrs. Donaldson told her I'd want one.

38:3 LAKEWOOD SEEKING HISTORICAL PHOTOS

CLEVELAND PRESS 6/28/39

Pictures of early Lakewood residents, streets and homes were called for today my Miss Mary Parsons, librarian of the Lakewood Public Library, who is assembling an exhibit for the celebration of Lakewood’s semi-centennial.

Miss Parsons will be at the library Saturday and Monday to receive this material and to interview members of old families.

Mayor Amos I. Kauffman and E. George Lindstrom have been assisting by making collections of early Lakewood documents and pictures. Early letters, deeds, maps, manuscripts and account books will be included in the exhibit.

38:4 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE MEETING OF OLD RESIDENTS OF LAKEWOOD AT THE LAKEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY FRIDAY EVENING. JULY 21, 1939

Allen, Angelin

1356 Lakeland Avenue

Allen, Mrs. John C.

1356 Lakeland Avenue

Allen, Mary

1356 Lakeland Avenue

Andrews, Mrs. E.R.

1217 French Avenue

Andrews, Mrs. Jay C.

1315 Summit Avenue

Andrews, Mrs. Myrtle Rodgers

1260 French Avenue

Barr, Mollie Tyler

15514 Detroit Avenue

Benes, Alice Maile

1372 Bunts Road

Bleil, Mr. R.F.

1448 Larchmont

Caldwell, Lillian Preslan

1502 Wayne Avenue

Cavell, Mrs. George (May Mitchell)

1210 West Clifton Boulevard

Colahan, Mr. and Mrs. Harry

22517 Detroit Avenue

Colahan, Solon

2301 Wooster Road, Rocky River

Cotabish, Mr. and Mrs. J.R.

21811 West Lake Road, Rocky River

Deericks, Eda Cook

1633 Cordova Avenue

Deubel, Mrs. Mae

15706 Detroit Avenue

Ewald, I.J.

1712 East 9th Street Cleveland

Fahrenbach, W.H.

1378 Summit Avenue

Fitzgerald, Mrs. Loretta

1422 Orchard Grove

Fobes, Lula M.

1331 Brockley Avenue

Fraunfelder, Mrs. A.H.

18631 River Cliff Drive, Fairview Village

Friedl, Mrs. Tillie King

8512 Detroit Avenue

Gerstacker, Mrs. Zara Colahan

1430 Wayne Avenue

Good, John

1464 West 116th Street

Goodell, Elizabeth

13315 Detroit Avenue

Gregory, Mina Tinnerman

1386 Kenilworth Avenue

Greenley, Mr. and Mrs. A.B.

1477 Westwood Avenue

Greenwell, R.H.

2107 Olive Avenue

Haessley, Maude Millaly

1626 Wagar Avenue

Hennie, Coral F.

1469 Roycroft Avenue

Horn, Mr. H.F. and Mrs. Bertah Schupp

19277 Eastbrook Rocky River

Jukes, Mrs. Fannie

1369 Kenilworth Avenue

Kerver, Mrs. Stella

1281 Brockley Avenue

King, Ernest

1488 Spring Garden

King, Gertrude Preslan

1488 Spring Garden

Klein, Mr. and Mrs. E.

1501 Basset Road Rocky River

Knoblock, Edith

1295 Beach Avenue

Loomis, Mr. E.G.

1319 West 111th Street

McNally, Gertrude

15700 Hilliard Road

Maile, Mrs. C.R.

1372 Bunts Road

Meckel, Elsa M.

1504 Clarence Avenue

Meckel, Mrs. Frank

1504 Clarence Avenue

Mitchell, Mrs. and Mr. F.W.

1455 Lauderdale Avenue

Monahan, A.E.

346 Cornwall Rd. Rocky River

Monahan, George

2725 Hampshire Road, Cleveland

Monahan, W.J.

1435 W81st Street

Morrison, Mrs. Clara Rock

19985 Westover Avenue Rocky River

Morrison, Mr. and Mrs. H.B.

1331 Brockley Avenue

Nielson, Mrs. Irma Mullaly

1420 Orchard Grove

Norton, Josephine Mullaly

4310 Rocky River Drive

Robinson, F.H.

1232 Edward Avenue

Russe, D.J.

Olmstead Falls

Schupp, C.A.

1369 Park Row

Smith, Mrs. H.M.

Southern, E.L.

St. Petersburg Florida

Thompson, Mrs. Helen M.

1458 Wayne Avenue

Wagar, Bertha

Sandusky, Ohio

Wagar, Mr. and Mrs. Mars E.

11327 Bellflower Road, Cleveland

Wagar, Robert L.J.

Sandusky, Ohio

Walsh, W.C.

2196 Briarwood Road, Cleveland

Warner, John

1199 Ethel Avenue

Webb, Mrs. and Mr. C.A.

2122 Warren Road

Webb, Mrs. and Mr. R.D.

2123 Warren Road

Weirban, S.W.

20112 Center Ridge Rocky River

Williams, Mrs.

15706 Detroit Avenue

Young, Angie Hall

1543 Prospect Avenue, Rocky River

Young, G.E.

1543 Prospect Avenue, Rocky River

Welfare, Mr. and Mrs. Harry G.

1368 Lakeland Avenue

38:5 1. HISTORY OF LAKEWOOD OLD SETTLERS' GROUP

June 25, 1940

The first Lakewood Old Settlers' Reunion was arranged by Mrs. Angie Hall Young and held at the Lakewood Public Library on July 21, 1939, during the week of the Lakewood Semi-Centennial celebration. At this meeting Mr. H.C. Cotabish announced that he would give to Lakewood the lot on the corner of Detroit and Grace provided some way could be found of establishing upon it a museum of Lakewood history and art in a building comparable to that of the Lakewood Public Library.

A great many of Lakewood’s early settlers gave talks or reminisced delightfully about early days in Lakewood. More than eighty people were present and signed a list which has now become an important document in the collection of original source materials on Lakewood history and has been filed in the Lakewood Public Library. These signatures are, in fact, on exhibit in the library at the present time in honor on the second Old Settlers Reunion which we are holding this evening. People who attended the first reunion in 1939 also visited a large exhibit of Lakewood history which was on view at the Lakewood Public Library. This exhibit was made up of original photographs, documents, and manuscripts, many of which had been lent for the exhibit by the very people who attended the first reunion. Many of them on seeing the exhibit realized the importance to our community of having such things preserved in some one safe and publicly accessible place and were so public spirited and gracious as to give them to the Lakewood history collection which is now housed in the public library.

Among the significant gifts were the first time table of the dummy railroad, presented by Mars Wagar; an original photograph of the first football team, given by Clayton W. Tyler, as well as other early photographs from his collection; photographs of early land marks in Lakewood, given my Mayor Amos I. Kauffman; a series of photographs taken by Dr. Ballard in order to preserve land mars that are now passing; and collections of manuscript notes which supplemented published histories of Lakewood, given by the Lakewood Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and by Mr. E. George Lindstrom. These are only a few of the very interesting gifts received from Lakewood people for the use of future historians.

Other materials of historic value which could not at this time be given to the collection were lent to the library for a time and copies were made for permanent records. Among these are photostatic records of parts of the first minute book of the Hamlet of Lakewood, transcripts of Mrs. Townsend's Scrap books of D.A.R. material and of manuscript church histories and minute books of civic and social organizations.

The library has had and still has the help of research workers, indexers, and typists from the Work Projects Administration, who have carried on the work, of collecting Lakewood historical material, which was begun during the Lakewood Semi-Centennial celebration. This it has been possible to index biographies of many early settlers and facts about Lakewood organizations in such a way that they can be found quickly for people who wish to consult them.

The information already collected is important and useful but there must be a great deal of other information which has not yet come to light. It may happen that things of no apparent value which are found at house cleaning time may be photographs, letters, or documents which can have great historic value to our community if they can be given to the Lakewood history collection which the library is preserving for future generations.

2. Organization of an Old Setters' and Citizens' Committee to provide for acceptance of Mr. Cotabish's gift.

38:6 MEETING OF THE LAKEWOOD OLD SETTLERS' ON JUNE 28, 1940

The meeting was opened with the singing by the group of "Should Old Acquaintance be Forgot". This was lead by Mrs.

Mrs. Angie Hall Young then spoke a few words. "A lot of your are here tonight that were at the library.......A great deal of the credit for organizing the first meeting should be given to Miss Parsons.......'Aren't you going to have meeting of the old settlers?'.......Why don't you do it?.......give you my secretary, phone the newspapers, cooperate all we can.......see what you can do in four days.......80 people.......grand time.......get together again.......didn't set a day for the old settlers' meeting.......Earl Klien.......Same kind tonight.......During the meeting Nelson Cotabish said that he would give the land for a museum.......Something in your attic.......call Lakewood Public Library.......room down stairs.......didn't know it.......we have in the making nice cabinets.......room all ready.......Keep the history of all Lakewood and all the books and the minutes of this meeting will be kept at the library.

About 40 to 45 years ago, no about 42 years ago, there came to Lakewood an old couple.......little freckled face boy.......always on football team.......always liked the girls and teachers.......here tonight.......Later on three thousand dollars left in the bank in a trust fund.......no one ever get it.......long story.......said can get it.......in a short time did have money.......gave it to Earnst six months before he died.......same boy in council.......Will Fahrenbach.

Didn't guess who the build-up was for.......Reverend Blackburn.......

Our heavenly Father: We thank you for all the memories of the days that are gone. Thank you for those who in the early years came to this place and built their homes and tilled the soil and laid the foundation.......character of the people that were here in Lakewood in those early years.......for our high ideals of morals and religion.......and here they founded schools and built the churches and set in motion all the machinery that makes a good community.......clean wholesome and good.......We thank thee for those years that are gone and for the foundations that were laid and for what has come out of them and for this beautiful city that we love and our homes.......place for those who are old in years.......May thy blessings abide with those sons and daughters.......We thank thee God that we can live here in peace and quiet.......Grateful for.......that we live in the kind of a world.......war, destruction, suffering and death. Such a.......place across the sea.......prosperity and peace we may not forget. Thank you tonight that we are not in this terrible hell of suffering and .......So hear us in this place and may thy blessing abide this us. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Over 35 years ago that he first.......what success he thought he had........back in the old church when it had the wooden front to it.......lot of religion to be a minister in those days.......

No set program here.......and I see that they have a speaker's name who is not here.......I was not present at the meeting of this group last year.......any regular way of conducting meeting.......Alumni meeting three or four weeks ago.......second meeting of that character in the month.......Good times.......talk mostly about one another.......pretty soon I will be liking the Democrats.......

Nelson Cotabish has offered his lost for a museum.......I think we will need one in about six months.......I suppose no one could come to meeting without mind going back to old friends and associates.......old times before 1900, back in the time of the plank road.......Time when ? Tyler just finished up.......Lakewood ever have 10,000 people.......Harry.......have paper routes.......owe for some papers. But really these meetings do mean something. Times like these we realize it is what is in the heart and not in the pocketbook. Only at times like these that we do realize that. Now we have some people who I think you would like to hear from.......Every speaker 45 minutes.......longer won't stop him.......Call upon Nelson Cotabish.......usually the mayors.......left the last.......We were down in a little town in Ohio and got in traffic difficulties.......knew mayor.......asked where the mayor lived.......so he told us where he lived.......found the house and rang the bell.......does the mayor live here?.......Yes, bring him in.......

(Mr. Cotabish) Gentlemen, Old Timers, Young Timers: The program says each speaker three minutes.......I have lost the art of making a speech ever since out of politics.......for the benefit of younger people, especially those connected with Lakewood.......came to Lakewood April 1, 1892.......hamlet at that time.......less then 300 voters.......the town hall was F ? house.......board of trustees.......chairman of the board.......Huskes.......Burkhold.......the second set of trustees.......voted Mr. Tyler.......location of National Carbon Co.......I knew that when it began.......real estate.......bought up all the property.......that is one reason I wanted to donate the plot of ground next to his home.......1903 began a village, choice of having the village form of government.......5,000 people at last.......1910 we began a city.......have over 10,000 people and since that time most of you know how Lakewood has grown.......this offer that I made.......covering the lot.......confine it to some other.......I feel that benefitted.......that is all right.......some what similar to the library.......set back about 40 feet.......trees on north side.......the most difficulty is how to build the building.......no delinquent taxes.......so that it is necessary to do something to find a way to put up building.......which is the first key to the first jail that Lakewood ever had....... ? Penny had jail in his barn.......cage would hold about four people.......so it is worthwhile to preserve.......over 50 years ago.......that is about all I have to say.

I don't recall that particular jail.....one time I can remember I would have been interested in that key if it would have fitted.....Joe Cotabish.....build Joe up pretty well.....he started out as an awful good tomato thrower at noon time.....took dinners to school.....right in the middle of the meal he looked in and.....would like a tomato so Joe tossed him one.The tomato got softer.....just as he succeeded in hitting Fred in the face in walked the teacher.....dove right through the window, pane and all.....Started in bank a long time ago.....vice president of the bank.....secret.....so many know about that.....Joe knows a lot about old Lakewood.

I have so little to say that I am not coming up front. Some of the things that Bill tells.....don't take serious.....not any worse.....Of course as a boy I grew up, and so Lakewood grew. Too young to realize what was happening.....big city growing up from a little village.....progress made.....things happened.....great deal of credit belongs to the city fathers that brought our town along through the administrations.....Proud of the city in which we live.

Will Monaghan.....So much supper that I have to sit right down. That is the kind.....never get in trouble.

Fred Mitchel.....I am not much of a speaker.....stay right here.....Mr. F came in to Lakewood in 96.. We came to Lakewood, family of ten in 1887. We located on Summit Avenue on a farm.....42 acres. My father and children worked it.....on for eight years.....sold to real estate company.....allotted it.....one of the first allotments in Lakewood.....beginning of the leaving of the farms and going into the city.....put in street.....Lakeland Avenue folks that lived on the street remember.....later on we saw the progress of Lakewood and grew right along with it.....very proud of it..the people of Lakewood and what it is today.

Frances Mallaley.....Very happe to be here at the Old Settlers' Reunion. Born in 1885. That is a good many years ago.....38 acre farm.....third oldest .....40 years ago a school.....very happy.....wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Bed. Wagor Gadel.....I remember the last meeting.....asked 84 to get up.....oldest person in Lakewood who attended meetings.....any man that age or not.....meet with you so seldom.....to see these little children all grown up.....some of them grandmothers.....short time in New York, five years.....In own home for 80 years.....give way for civilization.....give up old homes.....thinks Lakewood a pretty fine city to live in.....not used to speaking public and getting pretty late in life to begin.

Hutchins.....surprised.....in fall of 1879.....proud of Lakewood.....home ever since.....very glad and very happy to see every one tonight.

Phelps.....had not expected to be called upon.....met with some very pleasant surprises in attending this meeting.....meeting of old schoolmates attended school with over 60 years ago in Lakewood.....some time back. Nothing like meetings of this kind to renew old acquaintances and friendships and I think you are on the right track.....more power to you in undertaking to promote meetings of that kinds.

Greenley.....not one of the real old.....came in 1901.....in the post office, station of the Cleveland post office.....in charge for many years.....connected with city of Lakewood.....quite an interest in Lakewood.

John Mallaley.....I am just one of the old timers that remember back longer than I am old.....freckled face boy.....regular Peck's bad boy.....played in woods back of Wagar home.....Hilliard Road.....fun going up there.....chase boys up the street.

Mike Koosey.....oldest grocery store in Lakewood.....Johnson's.....post office in the store.....every one got their mail there then.....when you think of our "super stores" today it is a far cry.....barrels.....every one reached in.....every one took a great joy in that.....look through the holds for the mail.....turn boys up-side down.....stand around waiting for mail.....it was quite different from the stores of today.....deliveries once a week, each direction.....not too particular in those days.....remember woman ordering a ham one day 'try to pick me out a ham without any worms".....everything so cheap.....5¢ a pound.....when we took out orders we carried a can of gas and oil in the back of the wagon.....one day took orders and the next day deliver.....delivered once a week.....quite a job delivering in those days.....at a haouse about nine o'clock.....how I got lessons.....Granger Avenue.....quite different from today.

Bob Webb.....Born in 1883.....remember when built the car line.....6 or 8 years old.....when built the first street car line.....

Earl.....Since 1881.....remember when the horse car came from 100 to 117 Street.....Driver came back the other way.....Live on Winchester.....just building the carbon works.....Seen lot of things in Lakewood in his time.

Scenic Park.....Wagar barn burned down.....Szotman's store.

Harry Welfare.....Interesting part is seeing so many of the people you have not seen.....not seen in 40 years.....knew each other.....seem kind of funny when you think back.....remember every bit of it.....crime to admit it.....took school census.....just about two weeks to cover all of Lakewood.....knew all the families.....wonder no none mentioned the wonderful fruit got from the farms in Lakewood.....grapes.

(Note: might either be Welfare going on & Talking about Andrews vineyard or Andrews talking) Ed Andrews.....vineyard.....hunting.....time does fly.....compare Lakewood today with it in 1900.....Lakeland.....second house on the street.....old times on the street.....only one high school.....8th grade and high school in one room.....7 the biggest class up to that time.....planted a big tree.....planted a big tree.....every time I go by it I remember.....one thing that I would like to bring up.....Last year at the meeting we had a very good attendance. We talked at that time of a permanent organization.....too late to do anything then.....in the room upstairs.....tonight is the night to start something of that sort. The two meeting that we had certainly justify the continuance of the meetings.....wise to make a motion that we organize tonight into some kind of a permanent club and appoint a permanent chairman and see that it is carried out.....meet with approval here.

All those in favor say aye. What kind of an organization.....just an organization without dues but with a chairman and the power of the chairman to take care of meetings.....at the same time it might be an organization to develop the idea of N.C. to see if something could not be done to start a building program for his lot. I think with a lot in a position to be given to the organization that something can be done to start a campaign to develop it.....make a start.....building that we can be proud of.

Cotabish.....In your official capacity.....attached to the school board like the library.....get the city to help build a building of some kind.....wouldn't cost too much.....I invited the mayor to come.....

As public official give you anything you want.....as a friend.....

Call for nominations or appoint.

Mrs. Young for the coming two years.....Lillian Preston, Secretary.....next tine a collection.....attach some small amount as dues.....pass the basket.

Probably friends of a good many here would he here is the chairman of the committee had more of the addresses.....everyone turn in names and addresses if possible of friends.....more complete record.

Clarence Shupp.....Born in Lakewood.....more work than any other man in his line of business.....Summit Avenue.....57 years ago.....Lived there before the Mitchells came to Lakewood.....some of the first streets.....Granger the first paved street and first allotment.....Father graded Lakeland Avenue.....labor cost on Lakeland one dollar a day.

Kain.....Sitting and wondering how many went to school with me.....three school buildings at that time.....at East school 50 pupils at start than 60 so.....made two small rooms from cloak rooms.....Ellen Wagar.....Lakewood began to grow.....tore down rooms and started 4 room building at Garfield.....next McKinley.....Harry Pressian remembers all about it.

Name ?.....It has been a wonderful place to live in.....couldn't hold head up off pillow.....wonderful place for me.

Arthur Barber.....1898.....no place in the state where I would rather live.....remember the toll gate.

Read two letters.

George Smith.....lived on Ontario Avenue.....attenend Old Stone Church.....used to get out to Kentucky Street.....go out to park on the Dummy.

Would we meet next year?.....Would Saturday be best?.....On Saturday in the month of June, 1941.....Passed.....Anything further?.....

Started the collection which is in the library.....are going to pass on to future generations.

Song.

Mrs. Angie Hall Young - Chairman

Mrs. Lillian Preslan Caldwell - Secretary

Mrs. Bertha Shupp Horn - Treasurer

38:7 MEETING OF THE OLD SETTLER'S OF LAKEWOOD June 28, 1941

Mrs. Young - Chairman

Took picture of the group (Plain Dealer). The meeting started with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". Mr. Morrison and Mr. Alan lead the singing. Mrs. Young welcomed all the old settlers. She said she was sick and thought she would never be able to be there. She called up Mr. Linchten and he said he would be glad to help her.

Last year they got sixteen dollars at the collection take up. This year she had been given enough to have cards printed. About 300 were expected tonight and she was a bit disappointed. There were about 75-100 present.

"Lakewood merchants help out a great deal. A basket of groceries is to given to the oldest couple, and flowers were given to the oldest folks."

One of the first settlers was Mr. S. Callihan. Mr. Callihan spoke then: "I'll be 80 on the 12th of July." Mrs. Callihan: "I'll be 78 on the 3rd of May. A basket of groceries went to this couple.

Mrs. Young then went on to say - "One of the most loved in all Lakewood is," she decided, "Mary Maile. Mary Maile was given a corsage of pink and white carnations. She "didn't have very much to say. I don't know anyone here I know. I think they have all passed away."

Miss Emily Kane was presented a large bouquet of flowers. Her time for bouquets was over, she said and she stated that she has taught so many of the people present in school. Mrs. Young said that she certainly deserved a bouquet.

Mr. Mushrush didn't want to come up, but Mrs. Young insisted. So he finally came up. (They liked him quite well and he patted Mrs. Young's head.) "Of course, I knew all of you once," he said, "but it's hard to find something to say at times like this. I'm glad to be here and to see so many of you. I've worked with some of you in years gone by and it brings back the old days--35 or 40 years ago. I'll say it will be 43 years (here some pictures of him were taken) I'm not used to flash lights -- 43 years ago next October when I came to Lakewood -- an October morning. I have pleasant recollections as I go over the days. Made some wonderfully fine friends. Quite a few still here with us -- Mr. Champion, Mr. Fredericks, a teacher who made good. I'm please to hear that Mrs. Elliot on Grace Avenue is back in Lakewood once more on a visit and is now 80 years old. I think I have said enough. Thank you."

Mrs. Young saw two members of the first graduating classes in Lakewood--Maude Malaly and Bob Wagar. These two came up arm in arm. "It isn't the first time we've done this either," said Bob Wagar.

Mrs. Maude Malaly was presented a bouquet and Bob, "who was still young enough to look beautiful" was presented?

Bob Wagar: "I've been gone from Lakewood a long time. The best time was when I met all the old timers at the library. I met a lot of people I had forgotten. Maude and I used to have dates when we went to schoo."

Maude Malaly: "I'm very glad Bob remembers that!"

The bouquets were given by Mr. Winterich, Hylamen and Wilsons.

Mrs. Young: "When I was a little girl I remembered a lady who is one among us tonight and all these years I've sort of looked up to her. She is to come up now, and to receive this bouquet because she raised her family here in Lakewood."

Mrs. Morrison: "I've nothing to say and I'm very much surprised that I am up here today."

Mrs. Young: "Mrs. Morrison sees, hears, - in fact, she has all her faculties."

Secretary's report: "I don't have very much of a report. The meeting of the Old Settlers was held at Lakewood Park and was called to order. Everybody joined the singing of "Auld Lang Syne". The invocation was by Rev. Blackburn. Motion was made and carried that this picnic be an annual affair. An offering was taken up for expenses of the meeting of the coming year. The meeting was closed by singing. The motion was moved and accepted. Flossie Dundreen was elected as new treasurer." Her report was: "Last year, there was sixteen dollars and eighty-two cents in the treasury. $1.50 went for post card expenses: this year the cards and printing amounted to $3.00, including the registration book, totaling $6.30. That left $9.03 in the treasury." Someone moved that the report be accepted. Mrs. Young turned the meeting over to Mr. Joe Cotabish. Mrs. Young wondered whom she would get to the new postmaster and finally decided on Joe Cotabish:- "You know folks, this kind of a task is something I'm somewhat unused to and I have been asked to take over something that is entirely out of my line. I'm rather at a loss to understand. It wasn't that I wanted to help Angie but she is such a good pleader I just couldn't say no. I presume we would all like to hear from one of our old-timers now. I'm an old timer which is a very good compliment. Mrs. Young received a telephone call and it was Charlie Beasley. He came over an went over the names with me and told a story of Lakewood. It happened about 50 years ago. I now am going to ask Charlie to tell it tonight."

Charlie Beasley: (picture was taken) "I don't know what I can tell here. When I carried papers out here in the winter time, I would throw the paper into a small square in the storm door in one of the houses. One day the man of this house came out laughing. 'You know what you've done?' he asked me. 'You threw that paper through the hole in the door, through the living room, right into a dish of gravy and just drowned Nellie'.

I lived on Summit Avenue and the street car men had done something to make us mad. So, when the time came for the men to pick up the crowd at the point, the boys and I got down and took a bar of soap and greased the tracks. Franz Wagar was the engineer. When he struck that grade the wheels just turned around and stood still. All the sand didn't do any good. The boys stood in the barn windows and watched the proceedings and certainly had a good laugh."

Mr. Cotabish: "It was the life - we are all interested in the stories and some remember and yet some don't remember. We would like to hear another old timer and that is John Sullivan."

John Sullivan: "well, it hasn't all been said yet.... One story - I remember G. Mulken was conductor on the car line. One day when they were carrying quite a number of women and two ladies had their girls with them. One girl had a pair of new shoes and the other was barefooted. (the story goes on and somehow or other the two ladies started fighting over the shoes) George Mulken took a hand and tried to stop them, but they picked him up and carried him in to the car with them.

You all remember the Clit house and the railroad that was running out to the Clit house... One man was shut up in the police station and he kicked a hole in the door and got out and so I'm going to get out too."

Mr. Cotabish: "There's one old timer her we all remember - Roy Danvers."

Roy Danvers: "I don't know why I'm called an old timer - I'm one of the young boys. I didn't get my education in Lakewood, but I came here as a boy of 18 and fortunately have been treated very wonderfully in Lakewood. Lakewood has been very kind to me in lots of ways. I was president of the Chamber of Commerce at one time and of the Elks Club. I feel it is a real honor to receive these honors. I'm very happy to be here and know about 100 per cent of everybody here. I have been in Lakewood close to 40 years."

Mr. Cotabish: "They used to have a lady down by the "Carbone shop" and a lot of other good citizens from the east end of Lakewood. Miss O'Connor had charge of the teaching down at the "Carbone shop"."

Miss O'Connor: "I'm deeply honored. I didn't start my teaching here in Lakewood, but I warn you right now that if anyone says anything about the 'Carbone shop' he will have answer to me. I will never forget any boy or girl in my classes. One letter from a boy I had in the first grade, 41 years ago, came today. I love Lakewood and am happy here and I had the opportunity to speak at the Methodist Church and have been there so many times at banquets. This particular evening they started saying some wonderful things and I soon began to wonder whom they were talking about. I was very surprised to hear my own name and I want to clear it now."

Next the toastmaster, Mr. Cotabish picked out a person "from middle, east, west and all over Lakewood pretty soon".

Ike Kusick: "...I was a grocery boy in Lakewood. I delivered groceries for the horses and corn for the chickens all over Lakewood and had even stolen pickles. I sure am glad to be here and I have always enjoyed being here in Lakewood. I was in business here for 16 years."

Mr. Cotabish: "Among Ikea's other accomplishments, he was assistant around the school house and some who walked carried their lunches. It was quite a hard job to go home for lunch then. They used to play a little "peanut" in the school buildings." ....The toastmaster then called on a lady "we all have know for a long time."

Mrs. Mackel: (Wanted to stay by her seat, but Mrs. Young insisted that she come up to have her voice recorded.) "39 years ago since I came to Lakewood and have always lived by Grace and Clarence Avenues. I have enjoyed living in Lakewood very very much. We came when the Elliot farm was on Alameda Avenue. When the orchards were in bloom, it was a wonderful sight and so Lakewood grew. I raised my family here and hope to spend the rest of my life here."

Mr. Cotabish: "About 1901 along Riverside Drive a merchant was in business for many many years and his son is here tonight."

Archie Tompkins: "I've lived in Lakewood 50 years. I can remember the old plank road. All folks lived on Berea road, but of course half lived in Lakewood 50 years ago and I was also in business in groceries about 25 years."

Mr. Cotabish: "Others would like to tell us about the old times and of folks we used to know."

Earl Kline: "I've lived in Lakewood 50 years. I built the Lakewood Methodist Church. I can even remember when the carbon works were built. The horse cars ran from 117th Street and we used to hitch on at night....I remember skipping school. Ike Cussy's brother also was there. We got in the old cemetery back of St. Charles and were told on. I've enjoyed it very much and I look forward to a free meal."

Mr. S. Colahan: "I might mention something that Carl didn't. When the old Cliff house burned down it was 58 years ago. I crossed the river to see my girl and then went down that evening. I passed the old Cliff house about eleven o'clock and about one o'clock in the morning my father opened the stair door and asked me to watch the Cliff house burn. Sparks were flying everywhere in the wind and I got out of bed and went over to the fire. That's all I wanted to tell the lads. I'm 80 years old and on occasion I still get out and plow - such light work!"

Mr. Lindstrom: "Ladies and Gentlemen: I'm sure glad I didn't attend school in Lakewood. Now I know all about you and you might find it in history someday. I'm glad to have had some small part in the arrangement of this program. I compliment you all on being brave enough to come out in the heat and then freezing to death tonight in the rain. A word about the proposition put up by Nelson Cotabish. ...is getting old and Lakewood has beautiful churches a library and a jail, which is always with us. I do suggest that the president appoint a committee of five now to cooperate with the city council and the Mayor in taking over this land that Mr. Cotabish has so generously donated. Giving to this committee, that they or the citizens of Lakewood would provide for the building of the house of valuable relics owned by the descendants of Lakewood pioneers. There might be some chance of Lakewood’s floating a bond issue and it will be known as the Cotabish Building of some kind. We should provide a place for these relics.

.... a very valuable collection of relics was found. The people said they would give them to the museum, but they would have to store them somewhere. These relics are lost and there are hundreds of other valuable things around Lakewood to be placed in a building of this type. It could be self-sustaining. Lakewood has very few facilities of holding meetings. The second story could be devoted to a hall where societies could meet. It requires some consideration and will, I hope, be met with favor.

I move that a committee of five be appointed tonight with a view of getting a bond issue floated and making use of the wonderful gift of Mr. Cotabish."

The committee of five appointed were:

1. Earl Kline

2. Roy Danvers

3. Frank ?

4. Charlie Beasley

5. Tompkins

They will get together with the authorities of Lakewood. Mr. Cotabish called on Alice Cotabish:

"This note has been handed to me and I'd like to move that the official name of society be known as "The Lakewood Pioneer Historical Society".

The motion was moved and seconded to change the name to Lakewood Pioneer Historical Society. The motion was passed unanimously.

Mr. Lindstrom announced that he expected to have a story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and that all should look for them.

The meeting ended at nine thirty o'clock

August 23, 1941

Just before the meeting, Mr. Lindstrom showed Miss Malling and me the beginning of a historical scrap book of Lakewood. He stated that perhaps he will sometime make a gift of this book to the Lakewood Public Library.

38:8 Letter to Miss Parsons

November 13, 1941

Miss Parsons:

Here is a list of donors to our historical collection, some of whom may not be members of the Historical Society. Those items underlined I consider of most historical value.

E. George Lindstrom - Who if not a member has been by far the most prodigal.

Histories of Lakewood

Bound copies of Lakewood Press - 1918-19

Photographs - Old residents, houses and points of historical interest. (Photo Dr.Kirtland)

Mayor Kauffman - Photographs, copy of minutes and RockyRiverTimetable.

Clayton W. Tyler - Photographs of old Lakewood schools, old books and original manuscripts.

Dr. Ballard - Many beautiful photographs of interesting Lakewood scenes.

Mars Wagar - Old books belonging to the first Mars Wagar.

Mrs. M.G. Tielke - Photograph Eels Point. (Framed)

John Warner - Diploma, Lakewood Special School and photograph 1893 school.

H.A. Hubbel - Booklet, Lakewood Electric Light Plant.

Charles Zettlemeyer - Large picture Lakewood house.

L.S. Mills - Blank form of old land grant.

William C. Edwards - Photograph Number 3 Fire House.

D.A.R. - Copies of their old records.

If you require more detail I will gladly furnish it to you.

38:9 LAKEWOOD PIONEER HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING - November 1941

Group Singing:

"The More We Get Together the Happier We'll Be".

"Old Lang Syne".

Solo:

"Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life" with piano and guitar accompaniment. (Clapping for solo)

Encore:

Just a little short one of "Smiling". (Clapping)

Miss Parsons' Talk

...But that was the first meeting, and I like to think about that. I'm becoming a person who's reminiscing now about Lakewood history. I like to think about that meeting because I have never in my life seen a crowd of people have such a good time as everybody had at that meeting and I have never in my life had such a good time at any meeting as I did at that one. You will remember that that's the meeting at which the first public announcement, I believe I'm right on that, of Mr. Cotabash's gift was made. You will remember probably, too, that before going upstairs to that meeting a good many of you looked at the historical exhibit that was shown in the library. The reason you could have that exhibit is because a great many of you were so generous and lent things for the exhibit. You saw in that exhibit some old gregarious parts, and some old family pictures, photographs; you saw a photograph of the first football team of Lakewood High School; you saw one of the earliest class pins; you saw some of the programs of the early commencement exercises of Lakewood High School; you saw photographs of the early fire department; you saw an original time table of the W. Railroad that ran out from Cleveland; you saw all sorts of golf tournaments; you saw photographs of the first minute book of Lakewood which Mayor Kauffman very generously let us have photographed; you saw pictures of early housed in Lakewood; you saw pictures of different localities which have changed since the pictures were taken. I think you saw Dr. Graber's first automobile and (laughter from audience) anyway, there are all those things. And after the first meeting and after the exhibit, a good many people gave things to the library. Now, I don't know whether these things will stay in the library or go down to the museum when this museum is built. The best thing will be done, I know, by the Library Trustees about that. In the meantime, we are keeping at the library every sort of printed and photographic information - everything that we have space to get into the library. We do not have space for a big collection of spinning wheels and things of that sort because every time we buy a new book we wonder where we shall put and we have to get somebody to take it home in order to have some place to keep the books; but we are able to keep original manuscripts and photographs and all those things. There have been ever so many different kinds of gifts made to that Lakewood History Collection which began in 1939. Some people have been moving or have been housecleaning their attic and they're things they might have thrown away but somehow it gets around that after all some of those things may not have money value but they may have lots of historic value. You see, if somebody puts out an idea into the world he wants to see, he'll see what he wants to see, he'll see what he wants to see; but if somebody just writes a letter and has no idea it's going to be used for history later on, it's one of the very best historical sources you can imagine. If you get a letter written way back in the early days that tells how people were thinking and what the town looked like and all that, that just automatically becomes wonderful historical evidence. So a lot of people are giving the library things that they are realizing out not to be thrown away but ought to be kept for future generations to us. Then, there have been a lot of people who have known the value of their things and who have wanted to keep them but they've been awfully generous about giving them where everybody in Lakewood could use them - everybody who's living now and everybody who in the future could use them. Then there've been a lot of people, and I am thinking among them particularly of Mr. Lindstorm, Mr. Baden Powell, and a great many other people, who have not only given things but who've been scouting around and trying to dig up other things to go into the collection and I ...........

...1858 and we thought this is the original document. Then we found out when the typewriter was invented, it was written on the typewriter. The typewriters were not used like this until 1870; therefore, this must be copy but nevertheless it doesn't matter, it's a valuable thing. Well then, it had the name Henry Alger on it. I imagine a lot of you know the first president of the golf course up to 1821 was Henry Alger. It's mentioned in Mr. Rankin's books. I asked Mr. Griffiths, who has been working in the library historical collection since 1939 except for about nine months, what he could find about the actual history of this text that had been published. Within five minutes he was back and said that he had an indication in an index that that was published in a reader in 1858 and we have a clipping from the Cleveland Press that was published in 1926. Well, you may think what's the use of ... if it's been published twice but then next thing we did was to compare. We compared this copy with one of the published works in one of the newspapers. I wasn't able to get hold of both the newspapers but the one we compared it with shoed that there were a great many changes and this copy of Mr. Barber's was better than the thing that was published in the newspaper because the newspaper left out quite a lot of things and then at the period when that newspaper was issued it was the custom for editors to work things over a little bit and to include some other things and so to cut out some of the very most colorful and delightful things. Well, at the beginning this said that if the editor of the paper wanted to use it he might; it said if the Cuyahoga County Historical Society wants to make any use of-it, it might so we called up the Western Reserve Historical Society and said 'have you the original manuscript of Henry Alger Fisher?'

They said, 'yes, we have but it isn't by Henry Alger; it's by Sarah Hall.'

Well, then the plot began to thicken for us by our discovering something about that and then the librarian inspected these newspaper articles and informed me she was mistaken. I think that Sarah Hall just meant that she made a copy of that. Maybe she copied it from the newspaper, so that is not the original manuscript. Then we called up the Press and the Press Company just had a facsimile of the manuscript at the beginning. The Historical Society compared it with their manuscript. It was not the same. We called up the Press twice to try to find out where the Press got that manuscript. It has been unable so far to tell us where the manuscript came from. It was such a long time ago that they published it.

Now, do all know Miss Crissey? I'd like to read her several things because it shows what wonderful pioneer people they were in Rockport. It begins by telling of the first white settlers who came and then it tells the names of a great many families, a great many ancestors of some of your families that came in from 1807 up to 1821, and then it tells about the different professions. There was a cobbler and the different kinds of people who came in.

And then there's a very interesting chapter about one family that had such a struggle and this is the way they lived. It is, of course, Henry Alger's own family. When he and his wife arrived here in 1812, all his personal property was an old French watch, an axe, part of a kit of shoemaker's tools and seven cents in cash. Everything else had been stored in the basement. (Laughter) No household stuff except a bed. And then he tells about when they built a cabin 13 x 15 feet; and when they put in their possessions there was lots of room. Then he tells about a catamount bed. He says that to describe a catamount bedstead take four poles and sharpen the ends and put in the rails and fasten it with a strip of elm bark and you have a fair sample of the ben in those days. Then he tells of the different hardships and the difficulty of getting food. You may be inclined to ask why he did not state the fact he is not hunter. At one time the family lived five weeks without one mouthful of bread, meat, butter, milk in that house and two weeks of that time they had no salt...Perhaps you may ask what they lived on. The answer is potatoes and beans. And then he went out and tried to get work in order to get salt and flour for his family and he tells in the summer of 1814 he went to old Captain Tobin in Columbia who promised to give one hundred pounds of flour for chopping an acre of .........

Mrs. Young-

...I say so many times I'd love to be there to greet you. I had a letter from Katherine Curtz Perkins and she is so busy with her writing. She thought possibly she'd come for Thanksgiving but she couldn't make it. She has just finished a very remarkable book on - I'll have to ask Mrs. Cowl to tell me the name of that book, the one that she wrote, no the one before - the what? The BOOK OF GREAT MINDS and that was the last book. She also has written two others and has gone over with big success. A.. She regretted that she couldn't be with us but her mother is going to help take her place and tell us something about Katherine, and I'll ask a question when it comes to Katherine's turn on the program. Her mother's 85 years old and she's here with us tonight.

A letter from Elsa Michel and her mother. A letter from Ada Pallette. I wonder how many of remember Ada P...? He wrote a card to me and he said,

'Dear old pal,

How I'd love to see you again and how I'd love to be with the boys and girls, but (he said) I am a Cleveland cop now and I have to work from three to eleven and I can't make it.'

I had a letter from Mrs. J. Preston Irwin, now Josephine ...... and she had planned 'till the last, but a meeting took her away and she asked that her mother in Painesville and she be sent notices and not ever be slighted because she wanted to be one of us.

And many other that came in that I just didn't get a chance to put down. I am now going to turn the meeting over to Harry, who is my program chairman and I think you'll enjoy it and be worthwhile coming. (Applause)

Program Chairman

I'm sure it gives me great pleasure to be here and see everybody but not to be up here, but it sort of reminds me of a story. A fella went down and registered desertion and non-support and he pleads guilty and the only excuse he gave was that his wife talked too much so the judge said, 'Well, that's not an excuse. The constitution of the United States grants every oman the right of free speech.'

He said, 'Well, judge, she just talks day in, day in, day in, and, oh, she just drove me crazy.'

Well, the mournful prophetic expression on his face kind of softened the judge a little bit and he said, 'Oh, is that so? Well, what was she talking about?'

'I don't know, judge, she don't say. (Laughter) So if you don't know what I don't say why that'll be all right too. Have we a loud speaker her? ...... No, it's all right. Just go ahead.

Well, I get back a little to the serious side of it. When I think back to our entrance into Lakewood a long time ago, one of the first things that I recall is the fact that I had a man teacher in school. I'd never had that before and it was quite a novelty. I started in the 8th grade and went up through the four grades of high school and each year this teacher endeared himself more to me and to everybody else. Not only in teaching but in building character, not only in boys and girls but in everybody that came in contact with him. And I'll say this, that he was responsible for putting Lakewood schools on the standard that they are today. In other words, even then the Lakewood graduate was accepted without any entrance examination at a college. At that time ...... and I know that without saying anything further you'll know of whom I'm speaking and it is with a great deal of pleasure that I introduce Mr. J.M.H. Frederick. (Applause)

Mr. Frederick-

Mr. Chairman, boys and girls of some years ago, teachers and old Lakewood friends: Tonight my heart is fuller than the tongue can tell. I was reminded a few days ago by the chairman of this association that some were disappointed because I didn't attend the two preceding meetings. My only excuse is that it rained that night.. and I find the Excerpts from the meeting recorded on the Soundscriber.

And here comes a fish story. The fish were very plentiful in Rocky River. When the township was first settled and number of years after......so much so that one man could catch with a spear 25 to 50, perhaps 60 big pike and sometimes even 100. In one night people would come from all over to fish. They used to have great times on the fishing grounds. One night they all gathered together and found in their names that there was a Painter from Medina, a Bear and Coon from Wooster, and a Wolf from Dover, a Lion from Rockport. They would all go to the river and fish until their fishnets were played out and then come out and sing songs and stand by the fire for an hour or so. They would drink and sing some more songs and have all matter of fun going on and on but at the word from..........they would all be quiet for a moment or two and then with a spear in one hand and a lighted torch in the other they would rush into the river. Sometimes there would be 50 or 60 torches in the river at one time. Isn't that a picture? Then there was a bear hunt. The way they used to hunt bears was that all the men would surround the animal and one would push in and gradually get the bear. There was but one bear killed and that was killed by one of the Rockport boys who claimed the bear for his services and went home and got his sled, returning to camp just after dark he loaded the bear for home. One of the boys thought he ought not have the bear so he went out with him as though he lived out his way. He went on with him and kept him busy in conversation about the hunt and the company fixed the bear so that it slid off the sled while the men went on for a half mile or so until it was finally missed. All hands returned to the camp to search for the bear but there was no bear to be found and no one knew anything about the bear.

I am going to read you just two of the very short passages. This next one I am going to read is one that is a great deal more colorful in Mr. Barber's manuscript than it is from the printed newspaper account which I have seen. I hope you won't think it is too colorful. 'In 1821 the first bridge across Rocky River was built on the Lake Road. It was built mostly by subscription...' The last think I wanted to read you here is the contrast of then and now. Well here's the contrast but it ends good. There was one bridge across the river, but now there are four. Then it was almost unbroken wilderness and timber was of no account and now timber is worth 50¢ to 75¢ a cord." He goes on about how few schools there were and how many churches. I had a letter from Katherine Curtz and she is so busy with her writing she though possible she could come tonight, but she just couldn't make it.

This is Mrs. Katherine Curtz Burton's mother. Katherine married a literary man in New York and Shirley has gone places. How does it feel, Mrs. Curtz, to have daughter in the literary world? as honored as Katherine? You don't think much of it? (Laughter) She always was that way and of course I am proud of her. And Katherine has three children, a daughter Pamilla, whom they call Pam, Pamilla has a little son and two other grandsons, Harry Burton, Jr. and Rollin Burton. Rollin is going to Columbia University and Harry is going to Yale. Katherine's third book was one which she did for a big concern in New York that urged her to do it. She went up to Canada to Montreal to get the material. For her new book that she is going to write she took an airplane trip to New York. That was just the 2nd of this last October and she is 85 years old and Marie gave this trip for her to enjoy. Katherine gave a big party for her which Mrs. Curtz never will forget. Mrs. Curtz was asked if she could tell anything about the party. She answered, "Well not much. I brought all the candles home. There were quite a few, 85." I thought it would be nice to have this information if Katherine comes to Lakewood about her mother.........

"In the Garden of Tomorrow" sung by a soprano.

Mr. Frederick

Lakewood fills a great place in my memory. I sometimes say that memory is a score of the living reality of the past. You boys and girls have changed the color of your hair, but your identity has not changed. You remember J.O. Gordon was in the Lakewood Schools as teacher of penmanship when I came here in 1895. He had taught thousands of pupils before I talked to him a few years ago and I asked him how many of the boys and girls that he taught had the same characteristics as they had when he taught them. He said every one of them. Now I have no doubt that you have added something in the way of mental furniture. Some perhaps have changed their ideals and I dare say that if you examined yourself you will go back to your earliest consciousness when you said I am I and you are still the same that you were then. Author of the Revolutionary order they way I look at it., We add to but we do not change the I whatever we may have acquired.

Lakewood has meant a great deal to me and I don't dare to go into remembrance very much or I would never stop, but remember this that if I don't meet you and recognize you, I will welcome the fact that you will come and say I am so and so and at any time. I have had many thousands of you at a time and whereas I had in Lakewood Schools when I worked here about 2500, when I went into the Cleveland Schools I have over 3500 teachers, so I could remember most of the boys and girls in the Lakewood Schools, but couldn't remember all the teachers in the Cleveland Schools. Meeting the multitude of people that I met was never disastrous to my memory.

The great thing in this life is not how much we know, the great things in schools is not how much we teach them in the way of intelligence, but the heart. I said to someone from Lakewood that Rome was intellect itself, but Rome died of heart failure. You are talking tonight of certain societies that have started over this country and over other countries, the so-called Communistic societies. The Shakers over here, they are a Communistic society. The Commonites of Pennsylvania, the Zorites of Ohio, the Romanites of Iowa and many many more. Those were indeed Communists. Now lest you misunderstand me I want to say that those people were selected. They selected people that were communistic in heart and spirit, souls if these not.......and hearts....... The great master of every society, the church at the beginning but they had to pass muster in order to belong to those....He was brought in as a person. Those people lived very high lives. This so-called economic communism was only an incident to the religion that those people have. If the mass of people today were to have an absolute assurance of safety......I think I talked myself into that....ceased to grow. I never skated so fast, exercised my limbs so thoroughly as I did when I was on thin ice and if there is no thin ice for you to skate on, you aren't going to move very fast. We have all been working for a cause. We all wanted security for ourselves and for our families. Just as soon as we come into consciousness of absolute security we stop..........

There was a motion which was seconded and carried to change the name to Lakewood Pioneer Historical Society. The motion was passed unanimously. Mr. Lindstrom announced that he expectedto have the story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and all should look for it.

That leaves a lot of work for me. This little story that I am going to tell you now repays me for all the work I have done. Twenty-eight years ago Edna died. The day of her funeral she left a baby that was one year old. That baby is here tonight, Dudley Martin. He also has with him Edna's little granddaughter, Edna, too. Dudley, will you stand up and hold the baby up? (Applause) We think that he looks a little bit like Edna......Well I had quite a number of people who sent in regrets. Among them Forest Henry, Alice Fetter and she sent in $1.20. She said she couldn't be here, but wanted to do her share with the rest of us and to be remembered. Also Lizzie Bonnet Blanchard. I don't know whether you remember the Bonnets, but Lizzie worked for my mother when I was a little girl and she sent me over $1.00 one morning. Those things just pretty near floored me. Folks I wasn't expecting anything like that. Everywhere I went that is just what I got--somebody wanting to do something. I knew when I took this dinner that it would have to be all reservations and when I called the church she said well how many can you guarantee me, Mrs. Young? I said "Well, I can't guarantee. There will have to be reservations and how many will come out I can't tell you. I think, well 75 to 100, I hope." But somehow or other she took me. She had another dinner where she would have 100 reservations but whether they came or not they would have to be paid for. Somehow or other Mrs. Lindstrom happened to be on her circle and made arrangements, and I knew that as long as she took us we should treat her right, so I phoned John Hoke one day and I said, "Mr. Hoke, we are having a dinner in Lakewood and you have a nice greenhouse and you have some celery and lettur. I think we could use it. How about it? " He said, "All right, I will sent up a couple of baskets." Hazel Caldwell Hoag whom you knew in the library many years donated us a basket of radishes. Well, that is why you didn't pay 75¢. You paid only 60¢ because of all these donations. I bought 95 pounds of turkey wholesale. (Applause) As you heard in the minutes Earl Cline was appointed chairman of the committee. Now Earl came to me and said "Angie, I am awfully busy. You know I don't like to appear before the public." I don't know why, because Earl is one of our oldest members and built this lovely church, but he is just a little bit bashful. He asked me if I wouldn't release him from the committee. Knowing Earl from a little boy I thought I had better do that. So I am going to appoint a new committee. I had better do that. It is with Earl's desire and I know it will be all right with you that I should do this. I am going to appoint Mr. Lindstrom, who made the motion, chairman, and a committee of five. Mr. Lindstrom would you mind getting up and telling them what your proposition was and about your committee?

Tonight the sales tax for the dinner will come out of our collections and I will ask--where is my husband (Laughter) Come here.

And this winter they have Lucy Stewart's son with them and she couldn't possibly make it here.........

We have had several carriages of every description accounted by Henry. Then our sons and daughters situated two hours and four miles from us visited us in the afternoon and some of them at night. In those days our wives and daughters would spin and weave, milk cows, make butter, cook our dinners, wash the dishes, work in the garden, and if the occasion required it, rake hay. Nowadays some of them can at least play the piano or melodian, do a little fine needlework and all of them can read novels, dress fine and ride out pleasure.........

Regarding a manuscript one reason that I wanted to tell you about this manuscript is that it will show you just a little bit how we are trying at the library to identify things and to preserve them, and for another thing, I know that all of you would know a great deal more about this manuscript than I do and I should not wonder if there is someone here who could give us the clues as to the whereabouts of this original manuscript. I believe firmly that that manuscript was.......in 1920 and that the value of it was recognized then and so I don't think that it could be lost. It would be a wonderful thing and we wouldn't want to take it away from anyone who wants to keep it, but possible they would let us get a photostat of it so that the library would have the authentic thing and that the patrons could at least see an exact copy from the best original that exists. There is one more thing that we are trying to do to preserve Lakewood history and that is to have a record made......

I believe this is Miss Parsons' talk.

38:10 LAKEWOOD PIONEER HISTORICAL SOCIETY

November 11, 1941

Sent to:

Lakewood Post

Suburban News

The Lakewood Pioneer Historical Society, popularly known as the "Old Timers Club" will hold its third annual meeting, a dinner and entertainment, in the M.E. Church, Summit and Detroit Avenue, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 18. Speakers on the program will include J.M.H. Frederick, former superintendent of schools, Mary P. Parsons, librarian of the Lakewood Public Library, and Katherine Kurz Burton, a former resident of Lakewood, author of "Paradise Planters" and "His Dear Persuasion." Nadine Calahan Walker, daughter of an old Lakewood family, will sing, Harry Welfare will be master of ceremonies, and Frances Welfare will lead the group singing.

This society originated three years ago when Mrs. Angie Hall Young, a leader in the organization and now its president, and Miss Parsons invited early settlers and residents of Lakewood to an informal gathering at the library on July 21, 1939. Eighty-two of the first settlers with their children and grandchildren attended, old friendships were renewed and memories of the early days when "Alameda was an orchard and the boys used to hitch onto the horse cars that ran to 117th Street" were revived. At this and succeeding meetings, documents, stenographic reports and disc recordings of the recollections of early settlers, which constitutes a priceless contribution to the local history collection, were obtained and preserved by the Lakewood Public Library.

At the last meeting, June 28, 1941, the organization was formally named the Lakewood Pioneer Historical Society. Its officers are Mrs. Angie Hall Young, president, Mrs. Lillian Preslan Caldwell, secretary, Mrs. Bertha Shupp Horn, treasurer, and in the absence of Mrs. Horn, Mrs. Florence Dunn Bream, acting treasurer.

All who are interested are invited to attend the annual meeting. Reservations for the dinner may be made before November 16, by calling Mrs. Young, La. 5155.

38:11 LAKEWOOD PIONEER HISTORICAL SOCIETY November 25,1941

The third annual meeting of the Lakewood Pioneer Historical Society was marked by a record attendance, approximately 140 persons, and gave them a new impetus to the project for a museum. The plans for this project originated in one of the first meetings of the society when Mr. Nelson Cotabish, one of its members, offered to give the city of Lakewood or its citizens the site for a museum at the corner of Grace and Detroit Avenue, provided a building suitable for the housing of valuable relics of pioneer life in Lakewood be constructed. Mr. Cotabish's offer was originally made at the time of the Lakewood semi-centennial in 1939 and the offer has been renewed every year since then.

A step toward concerted action by civic groups and organizations was taken at the Pioneer Historical Society meeting when a committee of five was appointed to contact city officials and heads of organizations in the interest of the museum and Mr. Cotabish's offer. The committee consists of E. George Lindstrom, chairman, Morris Phillips, Arthur Phelps, Mark G. Snow and Roy Daniels.

The opportunity the dinner and meeting of the society offered for family and friendly reunions seemed to be one of the features most appreciated by those attending. Eight of the Mullaly sisters, all of them married and residing in or near Lakewood, were entertained at one table. Another was filled with physicians and doctors who had hung up their first shingles in Lakewood many years ago. And most of those present had gone to school to Mr. Frederick, who was one of the speakers.

The new officers elected by the current year are Harry Welfare, president, Angie Hall Young, vice-president, Katherine Mullaly, secretary, and Fred Mitchell, treasurer.

38:12 LAKEWOOD - HISTORY

Lakewood Post 8/1/52

Another possibility of Lakewood’s getting a repository for articles used by early settlers of the area was seen this week when Stephen Babin, Jr., Lakewood furrier who holds title to the city' second oldest house offered it to the Lakewood Historical society if the organization could find means and a place to move it to before Oct. 15

The house, located at St. Charles and Detroit, is small and made entirely of stone. Sometime ago the Lakewood DAR placed a plaque on the building which served to hold up wrecking operations on the edifice.

Mr. Babin, Jr. made the offer of the house to Mrs. Clyde H. Butler, author of "The Lakewood Story" and president of the newly formed Historical society who has long fought for the preservation of Lakewood landmarks and for the establishment of a museum to house pioneer artifacts. Her attempts over the years to get Lakewood to purchase and renovate the old Nicholson home on Detroit avenue were scuttled after Board of Education declared ot could not establish a precedence by maintaining a museum outside of school property.

In a letter to Council advising it of the house offer, and requesting that the legislative body vote funds for the moving of the house to Lakewood park where it can have routine park maintenance, Mrs. Butler wrote: Mr Babin is willing to give up the house at a sacrifice of at least $2000 as his pledge of faith in our community because he believes with many of us that some of our old landmarks should be preserved."

Mrs. Butler also announced that sometimes this month the Lakewood Historical society, which has already applied for a State charter, will launch an intensive campaign for 1,000 members paying a dollar each for membership cards.

"Funds and gifts realized would help set up the old homestead where the Society could display some of our historical records and furnishings used by pioneers of this area," Mrs. Butler said.

Need for early and decisive action was stressed by the Lakewood woman when she said the stone house would have to be moved by Oct. 15 at which time a foundation for a storage vault will be layed on the site.

38:13 MUSEUM IS LAKEWOOD HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S GOAL

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER 8/25/52

Drive On to Preserve Little Stone House

By Elizabeth Birkley

Exciting things are happening in Lakewood these days. The Lakewood Historical Society has been formed with Margaret Manor Butler (Mrs. Clyde H.) as its first president and then within three days of its founding the society fell heir to an expected legacy, the little stone house, second oldest in Lakewood, now located at St. Charles and Detroit Avenues. It was the gift of Stephen Babin, Lakewood furrier whose only stipulation was the removal of the house by Oct. 15.

Now, instead of the leisurely membership campaign originally scheduled, the officers are faced with the urgency of preserving a valuable landmark in a comparatively short time. An appeal has already been made to Lakewood City Council to vote funds to move the house to Lakewood Park, where it could have routine park supervision and where the historical society could maintain the interior and use it for antique displays.

2,000 on Mailing List

Two hundred letters went out immediately to key people asking them to recommend friends or acquaintances who might be interested in membership. The response has been heartwarming to Mrs. Butler and the original band of loyal Lakewoodites who want so desperately to preserve the old landmarks.

The mailing list now numbers 2,000 Lakewood residents or former ones and others interested in maintaining the links with the past. This week the city will be flooded with membership application blanks.

It is appropriate that Mrs. Butler should be the first president of the new society. Long a champion of the preservation of few remaining landmarks, Mrs. Butler is also the author os "The Lakewood Story," a history of the suburb.

It was her original interest in the stone house on St. Charles that focused the attention of the Lakewood chapter of the D.A.R. on it and resulted in their placing a plaque on the building as a marker.

The house was built in 1838 by John Honam, a Scottish weaver.

38:14 SESQUI EVENT

DEDICATE OLD STONE HOUSE ON SATURDAY

Dedication of the historic 115-year-old Honam stone house which will be used to preserve hand-wrought articles of Lakewood pioneers is scheduled directly following the Sesqui parade on Saturday afternoon in Lakewood Park.

The small stone house which has found its last resting place on the same land purchased by its builder, John Honam, a Scottish weaver, will be preserved for many generations as an example of how pioneers in this area lived in 1838. Here it will be restored and furnished authentically by the Lakewood Historical society.

Chairman of the Dedication committee, Judge Donald Lybarger and his committee members, Mrs. H.R. Campbell, Judge Alpheus Stephens, Mrs. Donald Harbaugh and William H. Fahrenbach have outlined the following program to start about 6 p.m. Saturday.

The ceremony will begin with old fashioned tunes by ninety members of the Lakewood High Junior a Capella choir directed by Miss Ulah Gilmore. Judge Lybarger will preside and will call upon the Mayor for a few words and upon Margaret Manor Butler, president of the Lakewood Historical society, who was chiefly responsible for saving the old landmark. The dedication talk will be given by the honorary chairman of the Sesquicentennial celebration, Chief Justice Carl V. Weygandt, who recently completed thirty years of service on the bench.

Now that the mover has completed his contract, the City and the Historical Society are joining forces to beautify the house and its surroundings. Park Commissioner Russell Southack has already started grading and planting of the lawn. Mrs. Edwin Schwartz is working with members of the Western Reserve Herb Society on plans for the herb garden to be at the west entrance. The Lakewood Garden Club will install an old fashioned garden. Mrs. Loren Weddell, house committee chairman, and her corps of workers, Mrs. John Anderson, Mrs. Ted Stockslager, Mrs. B.G. Neavill, Mrs. E.F. Carran and Mr. Arnold Cigahn are busy on interior plants. Outside painting will be under the direction of Montgomery Will, principal of Lincoln School and Vice President of the Society.

"It is singularly appropriate that the small stone house in Lakewood Park should be dedicated during Lakewood’s celebration of Ohio's Sesquicentennial." Mrs. Butler told The Post Wednesday. "The whole purpose of the Sesquicentennial is to evaluate and preserve a former way of life, to compare it with ever-changing conditions and then to build for a better future. It is not idle sentimentality to preserve for our children a tangible record of the past. The past is what we build on and what we learn from," Mrs. Butler concluded.

38:15 NEW VIEW OF OLD STONE HOUSE

LAKEWOOD POST April 24, 1953

Dedication of the Old Stone House in Lakewood Park tomorrow brings forth the following poetical tribute from Sara Dussault, 1484 Marlowe.

The old Stone House in Lakewood Park

Is more than stones and beams.

A century of living filled

Its' walls with hopes and dreams.

The present journeys to the past

So that posterity

Can find the question answered,

How Lakewood came to be?

The history of Lakewood all

Its early pioneers,

Its souvenirs and relics too

Will be preserved for years.

Here, records will be salvaged

In picture and in book,

Traditions, legends, customs

For all who care to look.

This House will be a hallowed shrine

Where tangibles take root,

Where trust and faith and truth

will be

A voice to things now mute.

The old Stone House in Lakewood

Park

Is somehow now a part,

Of each and every one of us.

For it is Lakewood's heart.

38:16 DONATIONS INCREASE FOR RESTORATION OF OLD STONE HOUSE

LAKEWOOD POST August 28, 1953

Margaret M. Butler, president of the Lakewood Historical society announces that the list of volunteers and donations for the restoration of the Stone House in Lakewood is increasing daily. More and more interested citizens peek in the windows or walk in when workers are there. The shutters which once adorned the Kirtland house are up and three rooms are ready for antique furnishings.

Helpers range from teen agers to business executives. The Thayer Wallpaper Company, 17813 Detroit, has donated attractive old fashioned patterns of paper for three rooms and John T. Borgerman 1413 Rosewood has painted the center hall. Chief carpenter volunteering his services several days each week is Roger Smith, 1090 Erie Cliff.

On call for moving furniture to the Stone House is W.E. Cleverdon. Already in place is a four poster bed complete with rope springs and cornhusk mattress, the gift of Luther Barker, 1353 Edanola. A doll corner with toys which delighted children more than 100 years ago is the gift of Grover C. Franck, 1275 Lakeland. A substantial gift from the Land Title and Trust Company will pay for authentic hand-wrought locks and latches for the outside doors.

Curtain materials have been donated by Halles, Mays and Mrs. John Anderson, 18127 West Clifton, Mrs. Albina Kozelka, 1551 Marlowe is making the curtains for the entire house. Window repairs have been made by Francis Long, 1418 Wyandotte. New assistant painters include Mrs. Ruth Buckstaff, Mrs. Ford McQuilkin, Mrs. John Albright and her son Dick.

38:17 RESCUER OF LANDMARK IS HONORED

CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER December 29, 1961

Mrs. Clyde H. Butler and the Lakewood Historical Society have received the second annual award of the Cleveland chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The AIA committee on preservation of historic buildings honored the Lakewood group for its work in saving the John Honam house, oldest stone house in Lakewood.

The house, dating back to 1838, was at Detroit and St. Charles Avenues.

Due almost entirely to Mrs. Butler's efforts, it was moved to Lakewood Park, where it remains as a good example of a significant architectural phase in development of Greater Cleveland.

Robert C. Gaede, architect, presided over a luncheon yesterday at Hotel Sheraton-Cleveland at which the award was made.

Last year the AIA committee honored the Ashtabula Historical Society for its restoration of Christ Church Episcopal at Windsor Mills.

Destruction Increasing

Gaede said valuable old Cleveland buildings were being torn down at a faster rate each year, and added that soon there would be no more left worth preserving and restoring.

The AIA is interested more in the architectural significance of a building than in its connection with historical events. Among other things, it studies old structures to determine the materials and methods of construction used, the craftsmanship and the design that would indicate how the family lived.

The committee believes it is essential to preserve enough old buildings to keep the public aware of how architecture has changed and to keep esthetic values in what Gaede calls the "townscape."

38:18 ARCHITECTS HONOR HISTORICAL GROUP FOR RESTORATION

CLEVELAND PRESS December 28, 1961

Restoration of the 123-year-old Honam House won official recognition for the Lakewood Historical Society today from the Cleveland Chapter, American Institute of Architecture.

A certificate was presented to Mrs. Clyde H. Butler, society curator, by the architects' Preservation of Historic Buildings Committee at a luncheon in the Sheraton-Cleveland Hotel. Robert Gaede is chairman of the committee.

The Honam House, a 1 1/2-story sandstone house measuring 27 feet by 37 feet, was built by John Honam in 1838 at the intersection of Detroit and St. Charles Aves. It was moved to the southwest corner of Lakewood Park several years ago.

"We've destroyed almost everything else that was built before 1850," Gaede said. "The Lakewood Historical Society and Mrs. Butler deserve a lot of credit for preserving this house. It has both dignity and charm."

38:19 SEEK FUNDS TO RESTORE OLD STONE HOUSE

LAKEWOOD POST November 29, 1952

By MRS. MARGARET BUTLER

Through faith and funds of Lakewood Historical society members and through co-operation of Lakewood City council and Mayor Amos I. Kauffman, a small stone house built about 1838 is now being restored in Lakewood Park. With a minimum amount of care and the continued interest of a group of citizens it should stand as a memorial for generations.

School children for years to come will be able to observe first hand how our early settlers lived. They will learn how a sturdy pioneer of Scottish lineage, weaver by trade, built his own house out of native stone found in a quarry which is no Cook avenue; how the sound stones, the 12 by 12 beams, the two inch thick plaster walls of this house withstood the ravages of time and ill care of many occupants for 114 years and yet was moved successfully from Detroit Avenue to the park.

The Lakewood Historical society intends to restore the house as authentically as possible, but even the restoration of a small stone house costs money. The $10,000 furnished by the city was not sufficient to move the house, therefore the Society has paid for part of the moving and has agreed to reimburse Mr. Mural for the remainder of the original bid within the next year. The Historical Society has also agreed to relieve the City of maintenance expenses such as light, repairs, heat, cleaning etc. all this besides restoration of the interior, and the expense of landscaping. Much of course will be done with volunteer help, but right now money is needed to bring this unusual venture to a happy conclusion.

Thus far there has been no pressure campaign for funds or members and yet 510 people have joined the Lakewood Historical Society voluntarily. As long as possible we should like to keep it a voluntary project.

This is my invitation to all citizens to become members of our Historical Society if you a merchant, a city or school employee, a worker of any kind, a member of a service club or an organization, will you contribute what you can and ask your associates to do likewise? If you are already a member try to bring in another member or increase your previous contribution if you can. Membership is open to any man, woman or child. Send contributions to The Lakewood Historical society, Attention: Mrs. C.H. Butler, 15123 Edgewater, Lakewood, O.

38:20 MISS PARSONS:

November 13, 1941

Miss Parsons:

Here is a list of donors to our historical collection, some of who may not be members of the Historical Society. Those items underlines I consider of most historical value.

E. George Lindstrom - Who if not a member has been by far the most prodigal.

Histories of Lakewood

Bound copies of Lakewood Press - 1918-19

Photographs - Old residents, houses and points of historical interest. (Photo Dr.Kirtland)

Mayor Kauffman - Photographs, copy of minutes and RockyRiverTimetable.

Clayton W. Tyler- Photographs of old Lakewood schools, old books and original manuscripts.

Dr. Ballard - Many beautiful photographs of interesting Lakewood scenes.

Mars Wagar - Old books belonging to the first Mars Wagar.

Mrs. M.G. Tielke - Photograph Eels Point. (Framed)

John Warner - Diploma, Lakewood Special School and photograph 1893 school.

H.A. Hubbel - Booklet, Lakewood Electric Light Plant.

Charles Zettlemeyer - Large picture Lakewood house.

L.S. Mills - Blank form of old land grant.

William C. Edwards - Photograph Number 3 Fire House.

D.A.R. - Copies of their old records.

If you require more detail I will gladly furnish it to you.