Browse Interviews

Joe Calabrese, CEO and General Manager of the Greater Cleveland RTA, discusses the importance of public transportation. Most of the discussion focuses on the Euclid Corridor Project and its impact on urban renewal, both in the short term and the long term.

Richard Baznik, University Historian at Case Western Reserve University, provides a detailed history of the development of the university and describes how the school responded to various national and local events and movements. He notes CWRU's relationship with other cultural and educational institutions in the area.

Harvey Webster is the Director of Wildlife Resources at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH). Webster provides the history of CMNH and highlights the importance of the institution to northeast Ohio, nationally, and globally. From the experience he gained studying endangered animal species; specifically birds of prey, Webster provides vital information on the effects that repetitive human alterations to the natural landscape have on the environment. Webster contends that only once…

S. Sterling McMillan III came to Cleveland when he was ten years old. He lived on Magnolia Drive, 105th Street, and Euclid Avenue. He provides a brief historical sketch of his home on Magnolia Drive and its past occupants. He provides a substantial history of the Cleveland elites that lived on Euclid Avenue, including the Mathers, John Hay, Henry Adams, John D. Rockefeller, and George Gary. He describes these lives in the context of the rise and fall of Euclid Avenue and imparts some information…

Interview with Dr Edward Jackson who is a senior advisor to the CEO at University Hospitals--primarily involved in championing diversity efforts at the system. Jackson relates how growing up in the Central neighborhood inspired him to work towards addressing disparities in healthcare. He discusses the role Case Western Reserve University, has played in attempting to bring diversity to the medical field in the area, and the history of these efforts in Cleveland. He also talks about health…

Ann Sindelar, is the Reference Supervisor at the Western Reserve Historical Society and explains what the special collections library at WRHS can offer patrons. She emphasizes the amount of material WRHS has on the University Circle area, the Wade family and Wade Park. She expresses her love of history and the joy in connecting researchers to the WRHS collections. WRHS partners with many cultural institutions and schools in University Circle and has recently been helping with the Circle Walk…

Gene Roy was born in Alfred, New York and first moved to Cleveland in 1947. After moving away for some time she returned to the area in 1970. She taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music. During her tenure with CIM the school moved from Mather Mansion to University Circle. She and her husband were involved in the Cleveland music scene. Her husband worked at Severance Hall with the Cleveland Orchestra and was instrumental in starting the Cleveland Art Prize. She lived in Cleveland Heights…

George Havens was born in 1924 in Cleveland and grew up in East Cleveland. He graduated from Case College, served in World War II and eventually ended up in the advertising business. The University Circle area was integral to his life, which in the 1930s and 1940s was referred to as the 105th Street area. He frequently ate at Wade Park Manor, attended programs at Severance Hall, and even took a dip in Wade Lagoon. The 105th Street area was very active and Havens shares multiple stories of his…

Kathleen Shamp, originally from Wooster, came to Cleveland to work for the Cleveland Public Library. She lived off and on at the Evangelist Church that doubled as a Salvation Army sponsored women's home. Throughout her life Shamp has been involved in the Cleveland music scene. She sang in multiple church choirs, including the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Jewish Singing Society and took voice lessons at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She led a busy life by working at the Cleveland Public…

Robert Brooks was born in Cleveland. He spent much of his life in the University Circle area. More specifically, Brooks lived on the corner of East 105th Street and Chester Avenue. He vividly describes and shares some of the experiences he had in that neighborhood. He learned French at the Demonstration School for Foreign Languages and subsequently taught French in the Cleveland Public Schools. Later in life he dedicated his time to volunteering with the program Project Learn, as well as with…

When Oliver Seikel was five years old, his newly widowed mother moved to Cleveland for work. He occasionally went to the Cleveland Museum of Art and Severance Hall growing up, but he summered with his grandparents and attended boarding schools. However, Seikel does note the different businesses that came and went from places like the Elysium, mentions the art museum's lagoon, and going to breakfast at Wade Park Manor. He continued his education at a string of institutions including MIT. When he…

S. Jordan Perlman moved to Cleveland in 1936. Perlman describes his experiences, in the 1940s and 1950s, growing up in the 105th Street Area. He names the theaters, restaurants and other leisure venues that he frequented. After high school he served in the army and went to college, therefore, he became quite estranged from the University Circle Area. However today Perlman has reconnected with his roots by living at Judson and volunteering at the Cleveland Clinic.

Louise Carpenter was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Cleveland in 1939 to study voice and music at Case College. When she first moved to the area she lived in a women's boarding house on 114th Street and Mayfield. She remembers many of the places she used to go to in the 105th Street area including the Elysium, a variety of restaurants, the Cleveland Orchestra and the 105th Street Market. She notes where different Case College and Western Reserve buildings used to be and where they are located…

John Bourne states that his third occupation is being a genealogist. Due to his affinity for ancestral research he provides a lengthy sweep of the Bourne family history and how they came to Cleveland. At a young age he started to work at Central National Bank and he worked himself up through the ranks. He eventually transferred to Bank One. He soon left the banking world behind and got involved with commercial real estate. He has always been very involved in the University Circle area,…

Nicholas Mazzone talks about growing up in Cleveland's near west side and the clubs and tensions of the 1960s and 1970s.

Laura Gooch talks about the Hebrew Cultural Garden at Rockefeller Park. She also talks about Cleveland parks and what can be done to revitalize them, while also discussing how to remediate problems at Doan Brook.
Poor sound quality.
See also Laura Gooch Interview, 11 July 2006 (902010).

Stan Jaffe, a native of Queens New York, and former CFO at Judson Manor, recounts the history of Judson and the unique concentration of cultural institutions within University Circle. He briefly discusses some of the negative perceptions of University Circle that may affect patronage of the area. He describes some of the direct effects that the loss of manufacturing has had on the Cleveland area, such as the deterioration of commercial districts including; downtown, Shaker Square and East 105th…

Donna Pratt, raised in Shaker Heights, and property manager on Hessler Rd. since 1964, relates the importance of the cultural institutions in University Circle to the students in the Shaker Heights schools in the 1950's, in particular the Music School Settlement. Pratt describes how the creation of University Circle has improved the area, and allowed for cooperation between the institutions, although there has been some tension between them at times. Pratt views periods of tension as…

Dr. John Grabowski, professor of history at Case Western Reserve University, and historian at Western Reserve Historical Society, details the changes that have occurred in the University Circle since his undergraduate days in the late 1960's; the rise of the medical centers, new housing and the new immigration to the area. As a history major at Western Reserve University in 1969, he describes life as a commuter student during the late 1960's and early 1970's, including anti-war activities, and…

John Pavelich, Chief of University Circle Police Department, has worked for the department since the 1970's. He describes how private police departments are organized, and specifically talks about the history, funding, procedures, and concerns of the UCI police, as well as their working relationship with the Cleveland Police Department. UCI police, act as "ambassadors," to the public in the University Circle area, reducing crime by educating the public in safety issues. He describes the police…

S. Sterling McMillan III, whose grandfather was industrialist Samuel Livingston Mather, describes in this 2009 interview his memories of growing up in Cleveland during the 1940s and 1950s, focusing on the time he spent living on Magnolia Lane in University Circle, a street that was home to many of Cleveland's leading families during this time. McMillan also discusses what he sees as the Mather family's core business principles and concludes the interview with a brief description of the crucial…

John Goddard has worked as private contractor providing maintenance of University Circle property since 1963. He describes land acquisitions by UCI land bank, and changes to the portion of Euclid Avenue included in the University Circle area. Until the late 1960's Euclid Avenue was "mixed use," including retail, restaurants, bars and hotels. Goddard relates the history and purpose of the UCI land bank and the poor conditions of many properties obtained by UCI. He describes some of the buildings…

Pat Holland, resident of Hessler Street since the early 1970's, relates the history of Hessler Street. As a college student in the late 1960's Holland recalls the vibrant jazz and folk music scene in the University Circle area, and the night life in the area of Euclid and 105th Street. He describes some of the prominent musical acts that appeared at local venues, such as LaCave and Nighttown, the drug-scene, and late night parties. As a Hessler Street resident he became involved in the Hessler…

Bob Reeves discusses his involvement with the Cleveland Corporation and University Circle Inc. As Projects Director for the Cleveland Corporation he was involved in a Master Plan for Public Square, including a pedestrian mall which did not materialize. Reeves states several reasons for the eventual rejection of a pedestrian mall and the problems between the Cleveland Corporation and Mayor Dennis Kucinich. He describes the evolving role of UCI as a community development corporation, the decision…

Susan Predergast discusses being a teenager in University Circle and Coventry during the 1960s. She says that there was a general distrust and fear of youths on the eve and after the Glenville Riots. She says that this contributed to the shift from the University Circle area to Coventry Village.

Timothy Damon, University Circle Resident, describes his memories of Coventry. His first memories begin in the 1980s and center around the Arabica Coffeehouse. He mentions two other Arabicas in the area and the various stereotypes that went along with each one. He then talks about various restaurants and shops on Coventry. Damon speaks to the uniqueness of Coventry before comparing it to University Circle. He concludes by bringing up a story about the caring people who lived on Coventry.

Violet Frayne discusses the Hippie Era of Coventry Road. She shares that she and her husband moved into the neighborhood in 1966, and almost immediately she began working for Bill Jones selling dresses. She discusses many of the businesses there and how they came together to form the Coventry Merchants Association. They realized that they needed the help of the residents to be effective so they later created the Coventry Homeowners Association, which became Coventry Neighbors. Throughout the…

Director of University Circle Incorporated, Chris Ronayne discusses the City of Cleveland, urban planning, and his own life's path. He begins by talking about how he got into urban planning on the recommendation of a professor during his undergraduate years. He went to Cleveland State University (CSU) where he met a professor, mentor, and lifelong friend Norm Krumholz. Through his work with Krumholz and the Levin College, Ronayne was able to get jobs as the Cuyahoga County Planner and as a City…

Chris Ronayne, President of University Circle Incorporated, once served as Cleveland's Planning Commissioner. In this 2006 interview, he extensively discusses the Euclid Corridor Transportation Project, detailing how it came about, how it will function, the groups integral to its success, and what he hopes it will accomplish. Ronayne describes his wish that the project - which connects University Circle and Downtown - will revitalize the area, reconnecting the two parts of the city and diffusing…