Recollections: Our Journey Through Cleveland

Reflecting On What We’ve Learned Together

 Student Project from the Course:twitter.com/treeofeastcleve

“Cleveland has so much potential, yet sometimes it looks like the perfect setting for a post-apocalyptic Hollywood Blockbuster. I hurriedly gulped down my lunch, worried that a group of zombies might jump out at me from a dark alley….Why would people come to Cleveland if the coffee shops are closed? Neither can one blame the businesses. I am sure they would like to open on Saturdays, but it must not be prosperous. Coffee shops are quite underrated in history. During the Enlightenment, the coffee shop served as an important part of cultural and intellectual debate. Aside from satisfying their taste for coffee, these locations often served as centers for critique and debate of the political and philosophical spheres. Thus, these places often gave birth to new ideas…Seeing Phoenix Coffee in the heart of downtown closed on a Saturday struck me symbolically as a foreboding sign of Cleveland’s decline as the center of culture and politics, which it once used to be, many years ago.” –G.G.

 

“On our way back to Tri-C, I could not help but look at the neighborhoods around me. The churches were that were closing, all of the abandoned buildings…it made me feel a sense of sadness that the city has become the way that it is. I wanted to fix it and make it beautiful again. I honestly think this class should be taught to all Clevelanders so they can also have an appreciation for this place instead of viewing it in a negative way […]This class is really starting to open my eyes to Cleveland and its potential. I really do believe that people need to start believing that Cleveland is great and it can be great again. There is too much negative attitude around this place. If we spent the time working together instead of complaining and giving up hope, I am positive that Cleveland could be what it used to be” –R.S.

 

“These tours were enlightening. Doing the African-American tour and the Maltz Museum tour on the same day allowed me to realize some of the similarities between the blacks and Jewish people in Cleveland. Both of their American histories include poverty and discrimination. Somehow, the majority of Jewish people seem to be flourishing, while many blacks still live in ghettos that were started more than 70 years ago. This tour exposed me to the cruel practices of discrimination and racism in Cleveland—the history of Cleveland includes the good, the bad, and the ugly.” –T.J.

 

“I have found that the greatest impact that these Saturday excursions have had on me are in the way I view “my Cleveland.” Now as I drive past landmarks, I no longer only see them as distinctive architectural structures, wondering what stories they have to tell. Now I know many of their stories, and I see these beautiful buildings as they were in their prime—a hundred or more years ago. They may be abandoned or dilapidated, there may even be an empty space where the structure once stood. But because of the stories, they no longer appear as they once were to me; the memories of them live on inside me and I will always see them as they once were. The things I have learned have put their stamp on me, and I am forever changed. The history of Cleveland has become a part of the history of me, and I am so much the better for it.” –L.H.

 

“Presently, the city is paying for mistakes made by a people who did not see the value in cooperation between its diverse ethnic groups. In the future, cooperation between all people with a common goal will be the only way the city will recover from the blight which now plagues the city.” –N.S.

 

“I liked the class…it opened my eyes to what Cleveland really is, its potential…All of the professors who helped out and our “guides” made the tours what they were. If they had not been so informational and experts on Cleveland, it would basically have been a car ride or walk through downtown. But because of the people who led the tours and knew everything there is to know about Cleveland, it opened my eyes as well as many others’ eyes to what Cleveland is. I would like to thank them for doing an incredible job and for taking time out of their weekends to come and teach us about Cleveland…People do not realize what is going on in Cleveland, and no one will unless they go through it and see it first-hand—it is really happening right below our noses.” –A.S.

 

“Because my husband serves in the U.S. Coast Guard, and I will be moving every three to four years, I plan to participate in similar experiences in each city that I move to. Moreover, I plan to take these precious memories and the knowledge that I received in this class of Cleveland with me wherever I move.” –T.J.

 

“With the walking tour being our last class, it was really sad to think that it was over. I learned so much during the last couple of weeks, and I was even discussing with my parents the importance of this class. I think it should be taught to everyone so that they can appreciate Cleveland for all it has to offer.” –R.S.

 

“I found this a fitting end to a truly extraordinary view of “my Cleveland.” Not being a native Clevelander, I came into this with perhaps a different perception than some. I already loved this city, and learning so much about Cleveland’s history has made me love it all the more. I will continue to travel through the area with my fresh new perspective, seeing this ground-breaking city and all it has to offer with eyes full of its innovative beginnings. And I will do all I can to help return Cleveland to its rightful place in the world; it deserves nothing less.” –L.H.

 

 

 

During the Tours

 

“Our first trip downtown was everything but boring and normal. I have lived in Cleveland all of my life, and I have never experienced downtown that much. Sure, I have been to a baseball game or the Agora for a concert, but I have never actually ridden through the neighborhoods or seen anything historical.”  –A.S.

 

 

During our visit to Lakeview Cemetery in Week 1:

 

“In death we are all equal, yet even in this consecrated place of commemoration skulks the shadows of our materialistic society. It seems even the dead are competing; trying their hardest to out due one another. Their grave sites seem to push and shove each other out of the way like spoiled children fighting for attention while obscuring those of meager means. When walking through a cemetery, I often become perplexed….every tombstone represents a unique story, a human being, a lifetime perhaps forever lost or forgotten.” –G.G.

 

“Every little gravestone is a geyser of history only spitting out a human name and the date of their death. Every single one of these stones represents an entire human life before me, adding up to maybe a few hundred thousand years altogether in this one botanical graveyard.” –D.S.

 

 

During our visit to the Western Reserve Historical Society in Week 1:

 

“Our last stop was the Western Reserve Historical Society. At first, I thought that this was just a regular library with lots of historical information. However, when the librarians said that we had to show our driver’s license and put our coats in lockers, I realized this library was unique. We were given a tour of the library that started with a copy of one of the pages of the 50th Census of the United States…including names, occupations, mother languages, places of birth, and even personal information about each resident. I was thrilled to find out that many people use this historical information to trace their genealogy.” –T.J.

 

“To an information junkie like myself, walking through the doors is a treat like no other. Seeing the card stacks, huge atlases, and three floors of bookshelves is awe-inspiring.”  --L.H.

 

“…houses a library and a museum..boasting rare, historical documents, like genealogy records. We saw portraits of Lincoln done by the fames photographer and portraitist Alexander Gardner. They also house a Cleveland Picture file, and Cuyahoga Photographic files.”  --S.T.

 

Cleveland’s Neighborhoods and Culture, Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens, The Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

 

“On Dr. Salem’s tour, one of the most shocking pieces of information I heard was that African Americans actually played a big role in Cleveland, even when African-Americans were being oppressed in the South. I had no idea that they were so influential at that time. I actually, and I never thought I would say this so soon, I felt pride beginning to grow in my heart for Cleveland.” –R.S.

 

“We drove through some of the richest and poorest parts of Cleveland. I was still in amazement at how many churches and cemeteries are in Cleveland. I swear there was a church about every minute or so, then shortly followed by a cemetery a few minutes later. But as we were driving, there were so many rundown and boarded up houses. It gave me a sad feeling in my stomach but made me grateful for the life and house I have. I felt badly for these people who live in these types of conditions, but it opened my eyes to what I take for granted. There are so many beautiful parts but so many bad parts to Cleveland and that is what makes Cleveland what it is. I wish I could fix all of these homes…but there is no cheap way to do anything.” –A.S.

 

“I was disappointed to learn that the elite Blacks did not want the newly immigrated, poor blacks to attend their churches. It was hard to imagine that blacks discriminated against other blacks….I was proud to learn about John Brown’s successful business as a barber; the fact that he helped to establish a school for blacks is impressive…While at the Maltz Museum, I was intrigued by the wall of Jewish movie stars, as many of them changed their Jewish names to American-sounding names. I’m not sure how I feel about this practice. Growing up, I was taught to be proud of who I am and where I came from—to change my name to make more money would be looked down on in my family” –T.J.

 

“The Cultural Gardens Foundation provided the land and each group paid for the memorial. Mostly created by 3rd or 4th generations, the gardens give the perception of each culture’s sense of memory or heroes. China, India, and the African-American culture have only been represented within the last 15 years; Russia is not included, although Cleveland does have a sizeable Russian community. Cleveland wants us to perceive it as inclusive, and it appears so, until we notice what is not there.” –L.H.

 

“The true problem I see with ethnic pride is rooted on a deep level, a level that few people want to acknowledge or are perhaps unaware of: there exists a very thin line between ethnic pride and racism. The question is as follows: is it possible to for an individual to have a strong sense of ethnic pride and at the same time experience not an ounce of ethnic superiority, a synonym for racism? It seems they both stem from the same thing. Could a world without ethnic pride be a world without racism? Or would people still hold racist attitudes without assigning any special attributes to their own race or ethnicity? ….I do not think that cultures and ethnicities should be disregarded; on the contrary, they should be studied and appreciated, but appreciated on the intrinsic value of their accomplishments and without personal bias from one’s own ethnic background. We should not forget…equal status as citizens of the world and as human beings, regardless of ethnicity.” –G.G.

 

“The key to Cleveland’s future is the cooperation of diverse groups with a common purpose, that being, the restoration of the city’s neighborhoods, education system, and belief that the city can be great once again….Living in blighted conditions certainly leaves people feeling helpless to change their circumstances. Falling into a life of crime and drug use would be easy when it’s the only life you’ve ever known. There is an obvious lack of role models within the failing communities.” –N.S.

 

“If the blighted areas of Cleveland are ever going to see any inkling of brighter skies, it will have to be on the backs of the community. Empowerment of community leaders and social motivation to support equity and community pride are the means; otherwise development corporations do the dirty work…” –C.S.

 

 

Industrial Cleveland Tour

           

“While not a die-hard Clevelander, I am very fond of the city. It is my home and has much to offer for anyone willing to look. I would like to do my part in helping the city but often feel helpless and under-informed. Logically, I do realize that these factors are subject to change, but nevertheless these feelings do add to a continuing source of stress, which is probably shared by my fellow Clevelanders.” –G.G.

 

“Cleveland’s main failure has been its inability to innovate and adapt to an ever-changing world. How is the city supposed to be competitive when it wastes money on dead-end projects and doesn’t tear down in order to rebuild? The city needs to modernize its facilities. It’s embarrassing that much of Cleveland’s industrial zones have buildings with water towers on top of them from an era before public water systems were efficient. Why has so much money been spent spreading the city outward, building in new areas instead of tearing down outdated structures and reusing the land it has already developed? I guess the short answer is industrial contamination. So, what’s the excuse for the city’s outdated residential structures? A different kind of contamination: poverty.” –N.S.

 

“There is no doubt that Cleveland’s history is a rich and varied one, and I am fascinated to learn as much as I can about my beloved city. There is also no doubt that it breaks my heart to hear and see accounts of discrimination, elitism, and neighborhoods in decline. One of my favorite things…was a poster on a boarded up storefront on Kinsman Road. It read:

Those who don’t know

Their history are bound to

Repeat

Repeat                        It

Repeat

Over and above everything else I heard and saw, this one thing has stayed with me, and it gives me hope. And I believe that with hope, all things are possible.”—LH    

 

“It is mind blowing to think about how on top of the world Cleveland was but now we are falling more and more into poverty each year, all because of industry. I never knew that industry was such an important part of Cleveland and that it was the reason for Cleveland’s downfall. I really enjoyed the tour but it was depressing to see all of the industries just broken down and shut off…” –A.S.

 

“This area which was so rich in the history of Cleveland is a shadow of its former self. The vendors are gone with the passing of the food trains that once traveled goods into the Northern Ohio Food Terminal. The railroad tracks are stacked or lain deep in the soil, rotted by rain and wind gusts, snow and sunburn, and they speak to a past that they once received appreciation from. Nothing is left but space from vacant buildings except for a few small places which still sell food.” –D.C.

 

“I felt a sense of sadness that Cleveland has been going through such a hard time. We went from being a major political superpower to nothing. Now, people just say negative things about Cleveland and think it will never amount to anything again. I do believe there is a lot that can be done to help this great city. We just need to have the right leadership and a positive attitude. We need to get companies into Cleveland and provide jobs for Clevelanders….Our generation is the future of Cleveland, and this class has shown us all of the potential Cleveland had and will always have.” –R.S.

“Overall, the current status of industrial Cleveland is gloomy. If the abundant idle land can be used to stimulate the economy, this dismal situation can be turned around. Hopefully, some innovative students that graduate from Tri-C will develop such a plan.” –T.J.

 

“Through the abandoned factories and warehouses and empty fields, I can see the promise of a future; what I did find depressing were the number of boarded up homes, specifically in Newburgh Heights, a result of the fairly recent unemployment crisis. Still a large number of the plywood sheets covering the doors and windows were brightly painted with interior scenes, curtains, window panes, and hands waving a welcoming, “Come in.” Optimism? Rose-colored glasses? Whatever the case, it eased my sadness just a little to as we drove through neighborhoods where the current state of economic downturn has clearly taken its toll.” –L.H.

 

 

 

 

Before the Experience

 

“I have to admit: I was never the type of person who thought of Cleveland in a positive way. I was always complaining about the weather or what horrible shape the city was in. I realized that not only was I blind to all that Cleveland had to offer, but also too lazy to find out anything about it. Hence, these are two reasons why I decided to take the Cleveland Landscapes course. Even after the first trip, I was already beginning to realize the important history behind Cleveland.” –R.S.