#TBT – Scenes from Cleveland

Murray Hill Rd...my birthplace
Murray Hill Rd…my birthplace
The old house in Murray Hill...my first residence
The old house in Murray Hill…my first residence

A few years ago I made a couple of visits to Cleveland, Ohio.  I was born in the Little Italy section of Cleveland in 1956 and have sisters and brothers there.  The old house I was born in is still there as well. For my Throwback Thursday, I thought I would add a few Cleveland photos for fun.

The Old House around 2009.
The Old House around 2009.
The old house is now a storefront for the Murray hill Market
The old house is now a storefront for the Murray Hill Market. This is the reflection of the address on the old tile floor

Little Italy is a wonderful part of town…great eateries, old churches, brick roads (including Murray Hill Rd.) and even a Random road.

Old Mayfield Theater on Mayfield in Little Italy
Old Mayfield Theater on Mayfield in Little Italy

The Old Mayfield Theater is a national historic site.

Brick road - Murray Hill Road in Little Italy, Cleveland
Brick road – Murray Hill Road in Little Italy, Cleveland
Mayfield Road and Random Road, by the little park in Little Italy
Mayfield Road and Random Road, by the little park in Little Italy
Statue of Columbus in Little Italy
Statue of Columbus in Little Italy

The Holy Rosary Church in Little Italy is adorned with wonderful sculptures

Statues on Holy Rosary Church in Little Italy
Statues on Holy Rosary Church in Little Italy

I love Presti’s Bakery in Little Italy….just love it!

Prestis Bakery....the best cannoli in the world!!  And some other good Italian goodies
Presti’s Bakery….the best cannoli in the world!! And some other good Italian goodies

As one enters Little Italy they pass by the Lake View Cemetery, an iconic cemetery loaded with wonderful monuments.  My real father, Joseph Laurienzo is buried here. Former President Garfield is also buried here. The cemetery was founded in 1869.

Garfield Monument in Lake View Cemetery
Garfield Monument in Lake View Cemetery
A scene from Lake View Cemetery
A scene from Lake View Cemetery
A thinking monument in Lake View Cemetery
A thinking monument in Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery monument
Lake View Cemetery monument
A solemn statue in Lake View Cemetery
A solemn statue in Lake View Cemetery
Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland
Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland

 

Cleveland is home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is a giant glass pyramid near downtown.  My son Solomon was with me on this visit.

The birthplace of Rock & Roll in Cleveland, OH (with my son Solomon)
The birthplace of Rock & Roll in Cleveland, OH (with my son Solomon)
Rock and Roll Museum (foreground) with Cleveland skyscrapers
Rock and Roll Museum (foreground) with Cleveland skyscrapers
Rock & Roll Museum, Cleveland
Rock & Roll Museum, Cleveland
Rock & Roll Guitar - there are about 4 of these in the area
Rock & Roll Guitar – there are about 4 of these in the area

Some other sites in Cleveland:

Guardians on Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland
Guardians on Hope Memorial Bridge in Cleveland

The Hope Memorial Bridge is a 5,865 foot long art deco truss bridge crossing the Cuyahoga River. The bridge connects Lorain Avenue on Cleveland’s west side and Carnegie Avenue on the east side, terminating just short of Progressive Field. Pairs of statues designed by sculptor Henry Hering and architect Frank Walker (titled the “Guardians of Traffic”) stand on pylons at each end of the viaduct, symbolizing progress in transportation. Each holds a type of transportation.

Giant Statues on Bridge in Cleveland
Giant Guardian Statue on Bridge in Cleveland

The Fountain of Eternal Life, also known as the War Memorial Fountain and Peace Arising from the Flames of War, is a statue and fountain in downtown. It was designed by Cleveland Institute of Art graduate Marshall Fredericks and dedicated on May 30, 1964. The sculpture, which honors people from Cleveland who served, died, or were declared missing in military service, is situated on Veterans’ Memorial Plaza.

Fountain of Eternal Peace
Fountain of Eternal Life

Of course, the Cleveland Indians have been around for decades.  Bob Feller is immortalized in this statue:

Bob Feller
Bob Feller

The buildings are also nice too

Downtown Cleveland
Downtown Cleveland – old and new buildings

And finally, one of my favorites, the giant quirky FREE rubber stamp located in Willard Park at the northwest corner of East 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue.  Claimed to be the “World’s Largest Rubber Stamp,” it was created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen (I have also seen their giant badminton birdies in Kansas City), it has been called the “world’s largest rubber stamp”.  The dimensions of the sculpture are 28 ft 10 in  by 26 ft by 49 ft.

World's Largest Rubber Stamp - FREE
World’s Largest Rubber Stamp – FREE