*The museum is located at 5405 Turney Road in Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125. (Close to the intersection of Granger and Turney Roads, next to St. John Lutheran Cemetery and near the Garfield Heights Civic Center, Library, and Recreation Center) The museum is open every Saturday of the month except Christmas and Easter weekends, 1 to 4 pm, or by appointment. The telephone number is 216-475-3050. We now have a web site, check us out at: http://www.ghhist.org/.
A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT EILEEN LONGO
Welcome back all members and friends to the Garfield Heights Historical Society from a very cool summer. It will be interesting to see what type of weather autumn brings (autumn starts September 22). Our roses and herb gardens are beautiful thanks to Loria Lenarduzzi. The next meeting will be held Saturday, September 12, at 10 am at the Garfield Heights Historical Museum at 5405 Turney Road in the lower rear meeting room. We welcome old and prospective new members alike. Members are encouraged to bring a friend to a meeting.
Summer Event a Success:
The Garfield Heights Historical Society sponsored an Ice Cream Social and Classic Car Show on Sunday, July 26. Over 100 people enjoyed the ice cream; we also had a good crowd viewing nearly 30 automobiles in the back parking lot. A special “thank you” to Ann Marie Parker’s Girl Scout Troop who scooped all that ice cream. We would like to thank the following members who helped with this event:
Mary Lou Kieta Loria Lenarduzzi Karen Niemczura John Moravcik Gene Niess
Joyce Darabant Barb While Vicki Kunka Dave Nemec Bob Rauch
Thanks to Handel’s and the Big Dipper for their help. Sorry if I left anyone out. Everyone enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at the Museum.
Presentation to Local Library:
On August 3 Norm Braun, Bea Zelasko and Eileen Longo donated a copy of “Not Home for Christmas” written by John Meurs to the Garfield Heights Branch of the Cuyahoga County Library. The book featured over 300 men who participated in a dangerous mission during World War II. One of the participants was lst Lieutenant William Reese of Garfield Heights who was killed in action on the mission. His nephew, Al Butterfield, presented his uncle’s story last year at the Museum. The book will be available for loan at the Garfield Heights Branch very soon. It’s a very exciting and informative story about events during the war and the heroes we should never forget.
The Historian – Fall ‘09 G. H. Historical Society Page 2
A meeting was held in August to plan for our next Tea. The event will be held Sunday, November 8, at 1 pm at the Garfield Heights Civic Center at 5407 Turney Road in the main dining room. Ed Haney and Debbie Weinkamer will present an accurate portrayal of President James A. Garfield and Lucretia Garfield. They will recount a portrait of a 19th century marriage—how the Garfields met, married and their early family life. Politics also get interwoven into the story. Ed will bring into his talk the close connection of President Garfield and his Uncle Thomas Garfield who lived in our area. Tickets will be available in October, but you can reserve a seat by calling the Museum at 216-475-3050 or by contacting one of our members. Tables will be set for 8 people and the price of a ticket is $15. Our members will be serving a delicious lunch and tea at the event as well. Please mark your calendars.
The Garfield Heights Historical Society and Museum’s web site is up and running. It can be found on Google, MSN and Yahoo so far. We are able to share information about our organization, news on upcoming events, and highlight museum artifacts and Garfield Heights history. There are several historic and current photos for viewing as well as a genealogy page with input from Norm Braun. It’s still a work in progress, but we are very excited about the hits (over 1000) generated so far.
To assist visitors, there’s a self-guided tour pamphlet as well as member tour guides trained in the displays we have on the Museum’s three floors; questions are welcomed. All items have been donated over the past decades and new items continue to be accepted. Visitors are guaranteed to find something of interest. The Basement Floor has an array of tools, cameras, office and other equipment and our VHS Library collection. These contain interviews of prominent Garfield Heights residents and are available for viewing on our television. The First Floor has a really neat 1920’s kitchen that will bring back many fond memories. There’s also a war room with items from WWI and WWII. This floor has an area dedicated to President James A. Garfield with many first edition books about our city’s namesake. The Mayors’ Room has interesting historic documents and maps. The Second Floor is well worth the climb up the steps. In one room we recreated a bedroom containing: historic wedding gowns and formal wear, children’s clothing, toys and dolls, quilts and hats, to name a few. In the other room are copies of The Garfield Heights Leader newspaper, Garfield Heights High School yearbooks, Garfield Park memorabilia and more. Future newsletter issues and our website will feature a variety of the Museum’s collection in more detail.
Tours can be scheduled by calling the Museum at 216-475-3050 or Vice President Loria Lenarduzzi at 216-587-3369. Teachers and community organizations are encouraged to schedule tours during the week. Home-schooled students and parents are invited to come to our Museum for an educational experience.
The Historian – Fall ‘09 G. H. Historical Society Page 3
JUST A SAD NOTE:
On Thursday, September 3, the City of Garfield Heights lost an active, long-time resident--Anne Matousek, widow of C. Anthony (Tony) Matousek. For many years she was a member of the Garfield Heights School Board, School PTA and PTU. Anne was a founding member and trustee of Garfield Heights Little Theatre. She wrote and directed plays seen at St. Therese Church. She will also be remembered as one of the original Welcome Wagon ladies. Sympathy goes out to her large family from her friends and neighbors.
are on Saturday, at 10 am, September 12th and October 10th, 2009, at the Museum’s lower back meeting room.
Garfield Heights Historical Society Officers and Committees
President………………..…….Eileen Longo
First Vice President…...…Loria Lenarduzzi
Second Vice President……....Diane Crosby
Treasurer……………….....................Vacant
Recording Secretary.………Evelyn Hubert
Corresponding Secretary and Membership: ..…...Bea Zelasko
Historian and Curator…….….Norm Braun
Sunshine…………………………Mary Sika
Restoration and Custodial…......Gene Niess
Telephone……..Bea Zelasko, Barb While
Publicity……….…...…….Karen Niemczura
Programs and Tours………..Joyce Darabant
Education…………...….. ……...Barb While
Gardens………...................Loria Lenarduzzi
Historian Newsletter Editor..…..Bob Rauch
As already mentioned, we have an excellent collection of Garfield Heights High School yearbooks. The books are a great help to alumni who are planning reunions. We have several copies of older issues that can be purchased. We are in need of yearbooks published from 1995 to the present. If you would like to donate a yearbook (any year will be welcomed) please call the Museum 216-475-3050.
Upcoming questions, “inquiring minds want to know”
Enter through the main front door of the Garfield Heights Historical Society Museum to discover an answer to questions and more.
Watch this space for information about new Historical Society members and possibly you will be featured. Join today; dues are still only $10 per year.
* You are welcome to visit our Museum, do research, or just sit and share memories. *
*The museum is located at 5405 Turney Road in Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125. (Close to the intersection of Granger and Turney Roads, next to St. John Lutheran Cemetery and near the Garfield Heights Civic Center, Library, and Recreation Center) *The museum is open every Saturday of the month except Christmas and Easter weekends, 1 to 4 pm, or by appointment. Its telephone number is 216-475-3050. We now have a web site, check us out at: www.ghhist.org.
Life is fuller now with the joys of springtime. Everything in the yard and garden has come alive again thanks to green-thumbed Loria Lenarduzzi. There are plans for our annual Historical Society Plant Sale on Saturday, May 9, 2009 -- the day before Mother’s Day-- here at the Museum. The Plant Sale has taken on a life of its own. If anyone has some perennials they would like to divide and donate, let us know by calling the Museum. We will come and do the work. The deadline is Monday, May 4.
We experienced sadness in February losing two members of our Historical Society. Long-time member Alfred Vapenik died at aged 96 on February 8. In the last newsletter, Bob wrote about Marie Antenucci and her heroic father. We lost Maria after a long illness February 20. We send condolences to both families; Al & Maria will be greatly missed. In addition, former Mayor Ted Holtz passed March 17.
Thanks to member Gail Meyer for introducing us to William Williams of BC Website Design of Ohio who created a website for our Garfield Heights Historical Society and Museum. The site can be found on Google, MSN and Yahoo so far. We are able to share information about our organization, news on upcoming events, and highlight museum artifacts and Garfield Heights history. There are several historical and current photos for viewing as well as a genealogy page with input from Norm Braun. It’s still a work in progress, but we are very excited about the hits (over 500 at present) generated so far. We received an e- mail from Australia asking for information about President James A. Garfield recently.
There’s a self-guided tour pamphlet as well as member tour guides trained in the display items we have on the Museum’s three floors, although questions are welcomed. All items have been donated over the past decades and continue to be accepted. Visitors will find something of interest. The basement floor has an array of tools, cameras, office and other equipment and our VHS Library collection. The tapes contain interviews of prominent Garfield Heights residents and are available for viewing on our television. The first floor has a really neat 1920’s kitchen that will bring back many fond memories and a war room with items from WWI and WWII. There’s an area dedicated to President James A. Garfield with many first edition books about our city’s namesake, and the Mayor’s Room has interesting historic documents and maps. The second floor is well worth the climb up the steps. In one room we recreated a bedroom containing: historic wedding gowns and formal wear, children’s clothing, toys and dolls, quilts and hats, to name a few. In the other room are copies of The Garfield Heights Leader newspaper, Garfield Heights High School yearbooks, Garfield Park memorabilia and more. Future newsletter issues and our website will feature a variety of the Museum’s collection in more detail.
Special tours can be arranged by calling Loria Lenarduzzi at 216-587-3369. Teachers and students are encouraged to come during the week. If you or any classroom teacher or community group leader are interested in touring the Museum, you may call or visit our website or in person at the Museum.
The next Garfield Heights Historical Society meetings are on Saturdays, April 4 and May 2, 2009, at 10 am at the Museum.
On Thursday, April 23, at 9:30 am, interested members will meet to visit Lake View Cemetery, Wade Chapel and Garfield Monument. Lunch will be at Sterle’s or elsewhere nearby. Come, join us, and experience something different. Please telephone the Museum to register.
Upcoming questions, “inquiring minds want to know”
Enter through the main front doors of the Garfield Heights Historical Society Museum to discover an answer to questions and more.
Garfield Heights Historical Society Officers and committee heads
President………………..…….Eileen Longo First
Vice President………Loria Lenarduzzi
Second Vice President…….....Diane Crosby
Treasurer………………... Florence Tunison
Recording Secretary.……… Evelyn Hubert
Corresponding Secretary and Membership: …..………………….………….Bea Zelasko
Historian and Curator……..….Norm Braun
Sunshine…………………………Mary Sika
Restoration and Custodial……....Gene Niess
Telephoning……...Bea Zelasko, Barb While
Publicity …………...…….Karen Niemczura
Programs and Tours………..Joyce Darabant
Education…………...…...Florence Tunison
Gardens…………………..Loria Lenarduzzi
Historian Newsletter Editor....…Bob Rauch
Do you live in a residence or know of or work in a business that should be recognized as an historical Garfield Heights building? A century plaque is available for this home or structure.
Do you know someone special who should be remembered, then why not purchase a commemorative brick for the Museum’s memory path in the front garden area. Ask within the Museum for more details.
Please help us if you can. As already mentioned, we have an excellent collection of Garfield Heights High School yearbooks. The books are a great help to graduates who are planning reunions. We have several copies of older issues that can be purchased. We are in need of yearbooks published from 1995 to the present. If you would like to donate a yearbook (any year will be welcomed) please call the Museum.
Watch this space for information about new Historical Society members and possibly you will be featured. Join today; dues are still only $10 per year.
Do you know where McCracken Road and McCracken Blvd. are? If traveling from Turney Road (Garfield Heights’ main street) with Fire Station #2 on one corner, heading east toward Marymount Hospital /Cleveland Clinic, you are on McCracken Road, but if traveling in the opposite direction west from Turney Road, you are then on McCracken Blvd. Both McCrackens are primarily tree-lined, residential areas. Take a walk or drive into the area and see for yourself.
Do you know where East 104th Street is? HINT: there are two and neither is near the other. One is a side street of Granger Road across from Jennings Center for Older Adults complex and the other is a side street of Broadway Avenue with the Eagle’s Hall on the corner. Enter the Museum to see pictures of other area road developments of early Garfield Heights. It is highly encouraged and free to ask any questions and/or do research there. Come in!
* You are welcome to visit our Museum, do research, or just sit and share memories. *
*The museum is located at 5405 Turney Road in Garfield Heights, Ohio 44125. (Close to the intersection of Granger and Turney Roads, next to St. John Lutheran Cemetery and near the Garfield Heights Civic Center, Library, and Recreation Center) *The museum is open every Saturday of the month except Christmas and Easter weekends, 1 to 4 pm, or by appointment. Its telephone number is 216-475-3050.
Thank you to Bob Rauch for writing our fall of 2008 newsletter. I hope you will enjoy the Garfield Heights historical tidbits Bob has developed. We invite you to attend one of our monthly meetings; we are looking for new members. The 2008 meeting dates are as follows: November 8 and December 13. Meetings are held at the Historical Museum at 10 am on the second Saturday of the month. We are in the process of creating a web site and that information will be available soon. Anyone who enjoys history would really enjoy our museum. Please consider attending a meeting or coming to visit on a Saturday afternoon.
As part of their curriculum, third graders in the Garfield Heights School System study local community. In September, over 100 third-grade students from William Foster School, their teachers and escorts toured the Garfield Heights Historical Museum. These students learned about Garfield Heights history, including its early residents and leaders and places of interest. Over one week, Florence Tunison and other Garfield Heights Historical Society members led the students and adults through the museum’s three floors, full of original pictures and items of interest. The theme was: “What it is now is what it was then.” Any classroom teacher or community group leader interested in touring the Museum may call 216-475-3050 or visit on any Saturday, 1 to 4 pm, for information. Self-tours are available, although questions are welcomed.
If you were not one of the six people who recently toured Dunham Tavern Museum and walked through its floral grounds full of various herbs and flowers you missed a very enjoyable and educational trip. What an aroma! The museum is on Euclid Avenue near East 67th Street, opened Wednesdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 pm or by appointment. There is an admission charge to tour.
Upcoming questions, “inquiring minds want to know”
What was the house originally before it became the Garfield Heights Historical Society Museum? Where was it originally and who lived in it? Hint: a nearby home of men. Likewise, was Garfield Heights named after a person, place, or thing? Enter through the main front doors of the Garfield Heights Historical Society Museum to find out the answers.
My name is Bob Rauch (born 10/14/52, GHHS graduate 1970) I consider myself a ”second generation” Garfield Heights resident. My mother, Jeanette (nee Olsen, remembered for her dimples, born 2/1/28, died 2/16/06, GHHS graduate June 1946 with Honors,) grew up on Bradwell Avenue, in one of then only two houses near the top of the hill. During her school years, she and her parents, August and Ethel Olsen, moved into a home on Wadsworth Avenue. Coincidentally, my father who would be her future husband, Rudolph Rauch (born 5/4/25, died 8/24/90,) was living a couple of houses up that street with his aunt and uncle, John and Minnie Lukat, after my father returned from World War II. My parents met, dated, married, (7/23/49 – 41+ years together) and moved one street away onto Vernon Avenue. About three-and-a-half years later I was born, then my sister, Becky (born 10/13/56, died 5/28/70, attended Garfield Heights schools until her death.) My mother attended the old Garfield Heights school as a high school, I attended it as a junior high and my sister attended it as a middle school. We three also attended the old Garfield Park Elementary School. Both buildings were torn down to make way for the present high school campus. By the way, my father was born in Garfield Heights in a house on Grand Division Avenue with a midwife/nurse and grew up in an apartment in the Buckeye Road area of Cleveland with his German-born parents. My mother and father were active at Garfield Heights United Methodist Church (as were my sister and I) in multiple positions, e.g. church secretary (one of the first three, using an old mimeograph machine, adding machine and manual typewriter) and trustee and maintenance/custodian, respectively, as well as the PTA and various community activities. My mother was one of the two typists at the local newspaper, the old Garfield Heights Leader, working with its original editor/founder, Augie Kleinschmidt, who was one of the founders of the Garfield Heights Historical Society. It is a small world!
Do you know where North and South Granger Roads are?
Do you know that there is a North and South Granger Road, not only Granger Road? Loria Lenarduzzi does. She is another long-time Garfield Heights resident. She is a life-long resident of North Granger Road. It is near the Midwest industrial complex to the right of Granger Road (heading toward Valley View-Canal Road area.) On Granger Road’s left side used to be residential South Granger Road (about a block from Transportation Blvd.) Loria is the vice president of the Garfield Heights Historical Society. Take a walk around the outside of the Museum to appreciate her continued work in the herb and flower gardens. Enter the Museum to see pictures of the development of the Granger Road hill area. You may ask questions and/or do research.
* Here you are welcome to visit, do research or just sit and share memories. *