29 YEARS OF SERVING THE COMMUNITY OldOld BrooklynBrooklyn NewsNews A Publication of the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio www.oldbrooklyn.com July 2007, Volume 29 Number 4 Three hundred people attend last month’s Riverside Cemetery tour by Denise Donaldson Anne Eastman; Bill Krejci was grocer- entertain or and Lynette Filips turned-banker Hannes Tiedemann; Marge inform the atten- . Sunday, June 10th was sunny, breezy Pauls was family matriarch Sophie Russell dees. A virtual and warm — perfect for the Brooklyn Rhodes; Rudy Hauret was farmer Titus scavenger hunt, Centre Community Association’s (BCCA) Brainard, who owned the land where the cemetery rub- third annual garden event, “Magic, Mystery cemetery is located; John Kirk was sail- bings and mask and Millionaires”. Over three hundred peo- maker William Astrup; and Denise crafting engaged younger guests. Visitors strolled leisurely through the grounds, enjoy- ing the plantings and the variety in architectural details found on monuments and statues. A lecture by local expert Photo by Karen Kirk Paul Kirk point- William Astrup, portrayed by direct descendant John Kirk. ed out common Victorian symbolism and style elements née Meinberg — Astrup was also John’s used in the early days of Riverside’s history. great-aunt. (Lucy was Walter Astrup’s Roving guitarist Darren Hamm stopped for wife.) impromptu performances along the ceme- Rudy Hauret as Titus Brainard met two tery’s lanes. Meyer family members, each of whom told The Plain Dealer ran an extensive arti- him that as far as they knew, they were the cle about the tour in the Metro section on last of the family. One was a very elderly Saturday, June 9, and as a result, some lady who has photos and other items from descendants of people buried in Riverside the family which she may donate to attended it. For instance, according to John Riverside. Photo by Pat Schmidt Kirk (William Astrup), “A 103-year-old Another story that came out on the tour Titus Brainard, portrayed by Rudy Hauret. woman, named Hazel App, came to the was that the Meyer and Brainard families event and introduced herself to me. She was had adjoining farms and were close friends ple attended the event, the second one Donaldson was Maggie Taylor, the first bur- Walter Astrup’s secretary in the 1920s. in real life. So when Titus Brainard chose the BCCA has held in partnership with ial at Riverside. These characterizations — (Walter was William J. O. Astrup’s youngest location for his family’s burial grounds in Riverside Cemetery. This year, though, conceived and directed by Brooklyn Centre son. He ran the business from 1916-1970. Riverside Cemetery in 1876, the Meyer fam- rather than staging its usual tours of neigh- resident Sharon Martyn — were the undis- He was the president and later, the chairman ily purchased the set of plots next to them so borhood gardens, BCCA chose to spotlight puted highlight of the event. of the board.) that the families could be close in the after- the cemetery itself. Booths for local organizations and Another “Astrup moment” happened life as well. Titus chose a spot so that he Nine costumed volunteers portrayed refreshment tables under the majestic old when a young man named Scott Hutcherson, could overlook his farm to the north, and Mr. some of the notable “residents” of Riverside: trees near the cemetery gates were also part Vice President of the Cleveland Grays Meyer chose a spot that overlooked his farm Tim Ferris was playwright Avery Hopwood; of the day. The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Armory Museum, introduced himself to which was south of the Brainard’s farm. David Boyce was magician Karl Germain; the Brooklyn Animal Shelter, the Cleveland John. Although they had never met before, Rick Nicholson was Mayor Frederick Public Library, the Friends of Big Creek, it turned out that Scott’s great-aunt Lucy — See Riverside Cemetery Tour page 4 Pelton; Amanda Langley was librarian Linda and Art House all sent representatives to Southwest Citizens Area Council hosts Mayor Jackson by Dane Reich, President, The Mayor admitted that he does not The Southwest Citizens Area Council have all the answers, and that is why he has surrounded himself with a solid cabinet. He The Southwest Citizens Area Council believes that with the help of Cleveland City (SWCAC) hosted Mayor Frank Jackson at Council, he has his finger on the pulse of its monthly meeting on June 7th. Over the everything that is happening in the city. years SWCAC has had many special guest Mayor Jackson explained his reasoning speakers, but to have the Mayor speak at one behind tightening the curfew laws, backing of their meetings, field their questions and the police department more, and readjusting listen to their concerns was very special for City services. (As tight as the City’s budget them. is, it’s still about getting more bang for our About sixty tough and knowledgeable buck!) He said that the reopening of the residents greeted Mayor Jackson, who first Police Academy will be “a major plus” for spoke for about twenty-five minutes. The Cleveland residents. He assured the group Mayor then answered question for well over that the thirty police officers who were Photo by George Shuba recently installed were additional officers, an hour. To his credit, he did not shy away Ward 16 Councilman Kevin Kelley (fifth from left), his four daughters, and Cleveland from any of the difficult questions with not replacements for those who will be retir- Mayor Frank Jackson (standing to the right of Kevin) were at the opening of Lowe Pool on which he was confronted. Those in atten- ing or leaving the police force. aturday, June 16th. Here five of the children in attendance have scissors and are part of dance may not have always heard the According to Mayor Jackson, the two ceremonially “cutting the ribbon” to officially mark the beginning of the pool’s season. answers they wanted to hear, but they per- main reasons for increases in crime are a ceived the Mayor as being honest and open lack of proper education and boarded to their views. up/abandoned houses (often the result of Opening the session Mayor Jackson predatory lending). explained that he would live and die by what Addressing the issue of predatory lend- he has said in the past and during his cam- ing, Mayor Jackson said that our leaders What’What’ss InsideInside paign. He explained that he is not one for know that they must hold lending institu- “quick fixes”. He analyzes every situation, tions more accountable to resolve a major formulates a plan of attack, and then sets his part of the problem. They are working on Community Spotlight; From the Desk Re$tore Cleveland . 6 plan in motion. His reasoning is that if a corrective measures to fix this situation. of the Executive Director . 2 Community Toolbox . 7 problem occurs, there is a reason for that This is not going to be accomplished easily News & Events; Community Meetings ; Independence Day History . 8 problem. The Mayor wants to get to the root or quickly, because the problem has been Theatre Notes . 3 Family Fun . 9 of the problem, and not waste time and festering for years. Old Brooklyn News Drop Off Locations . 4 Church Notes; Senior Notes . 10 money on quick fixes. See Southwest Citizens page 2 Town Crier; Wild Animals . 5 Classifed & Service Directory . 11 PAGE 2 OLD BROOKLYN NEWS JULY 2007 From the desk of the executive director by Robyn Sandys It takes a village to raise a village… This Ralph Thompson has owned Brown’s variation on a common phrase — It takes a vil- by Donnald Heckelmoser for a little over a year and during that time he lage to raise a child — is one way to describe [email protected] has begun many improvement and renovation what a community needs to do in terms of options regarding how we communicate with pulling together and building positive momen- Brown’s Grill & Bowling Lanes, 3857 projects. The first to be completed was a full- one another through a publication like the Old tum. Pearl Rd., has been in the Brooklyn Centre service kitchen. Patrons can enjoy daily food Brooklyn News. Part and parcel to that is how Before taking this job, I was familiar with specials in a cozy and unique atmosphere. we position and think of ourselves and how we neighborhood for a long time, so long, in fact, the Old Brooklyn/Brooklyn Centre neighbor- that some people claim it’s the oldest bowling There’s a full service bar any night of the communicate that to one another and the rest of hoods from taking my boys to the Zoo and the Cleveland area. alley in the country. The new owner, Ralph week, and on Friday and Saturday nights, from driving down Pearl Rd. everyday to Thompson, estimates that the building was patrons can enjoy a night of karaoke, while Therefore, it makes sense to form a WVIZ (where I worked when I first moved to “Communications Advisory Committee” that constructed in the late 1860s or early 1870s watching favorite sporting and television the area over twelve years ago). I always felt will work on what our publication/communica- and that bowling was added in 1912. events on an eight-foot projection screen. that the intersection and surrounding area at tions vehicles (print and/or web-based) will be, Mr. Thompson doesn’t think, though, Brown’s Grill and Lanes offers six lanes Pearl and Broadview was pleasant because of as well as our overall marketing/promotion that it’s the oldest lanes in the country, just for bowling and also rents out some of the the quaint older buildings and shops.