As we celebrate this season of gratitude, the Historical Society of Old Brooklyn would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our supporters. Your generosity, whether through donations, volunteering, or spreading the word, plays a vital role in preserving the rich history of our community. We are deeply grateful for your continued support and commitment.

As we look to the future, we encourage you to consider contributing to HSOB by making a donation or getting involved in our efforts. Your contribution will help make a meaningful impact on the preservation of our community's stories and heritage, and ensure that our history is preserved for generations to come. Wishing you a warm and joyful Thanksgiving!

Brookmere Cemetery

Brookmere Cemetery, established in 1843 and located at 3645 Broadview Rd. (western end), has been referred to as a "disrespected" City of Cleveland cemetery. Over the years, it has suffered from vandalism and significant disrepair. Fortunately, Linda Cameron and her sister, Karen Parks, have taken the initiative to form a volunteer Preservation Coalition to address these challenges.

This year, Brookmere was chosen as Ohio's host for the 48 State Tour, a philanthropic initiative by Atlas Preservation, a leader in monument and building restoration. This nationwide program offers FREE workshops focused on the proper cleaning and repair of headstones and monuments. Many historic cemeteries, including Brookmere, lack the funding for essential repairs and rely on the dedication of volunteers, fundraising, and grants.

On August 5 participants learned how to identify stones, understand carvings, ensure cemetery safety, and master essential repair techniques. This was a unique opportunity to acquire valuable skills from an expert in the field. For more details and other locations, please follow the links below:

MORE INFO:
News 5 Cleveland stories on Brookmere Cemetery
5th 48 State Tour News Release
48 State Tour Flyer
Workshop Agenda

"Pearl Memphis intersection has long history"

Catch "Pearl Memphis intersection has long history," the first in a series of articles about an important piece of downtown Old Brooklyn by Lynette Filips in the Plain Press, January 2024.
https://bit.ly/4aZPGAM
Continue with part 2, "Resident reflects on history of Old Brooklyn corner slated for redevelopment" in the February 2024 issue:
https://bit.ly/42Oe30R
3: "Old Brooklyn corner slated for redevelopment has spooky history," March 2024
https://bit.ly/3uYVmuQ
4: "Old Brooklyn residents' research sheds new light on the history of a cherished corner slated for redevelopment," April 2024
https://bit.ly/4aliGSW
5: "Are prominent citizens still buried at the Old Burying Ground at Pearl-Memphis intersection in Old Brooklyn?," May 2024
https://bit.ly/4dsnS9g
6: "History of St. Luke's highlights importance of preserving corner slated for redevelopment," June 2024
https://bit.ly/3Y0Fgg9
7: "A look at the history of some of St. Luke's neighbors," July 2024
https://bit.ly/4bEBY5C
8: "History of Greenline Building offers a look at the past vitality of the intersection at Pearl and Memphis," August 2024
https://bit.ly/3SP8X0h
9. "How the corner of Pearl and Memphis came to be included in the National Register of Historic Places in 2005," November 2024
https://bit.ly/3Cdhx3w

Learn about the National Register of Historic Places designation of the South Brooklyn Commercial District. Registration form | Approval 2005. A great resource for the history of the area, its development and its buildings.

Old Brooklyn

Old Brooklyn is a roughly 6-square-mile neighborhood on the West Side of Cleveland about 5 miles south of downtown. It is bounded by Big Creek and the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood on the north, the Cuyahoga River and the village of Brooklyn Hts. on the east, the city of Parma on the south, and the city of Brooklyn on the west. Old Brooklyn has its roots in the original Brooklyn Township, organized as a governmental structure in 1818. The first settlers had come from Connecticut in 1812; more settled south of the Big Creek Valley in 1814. Indian trails were the basis for what became Pearl, Broadview and Schaaf Roads. Brighton Village, centered around today’s Pearl-Broadview intersection, was incorporated for one year in 1838. As German farmers moved in, the community grew. Another incorporation in 1889 renamed the village South Brooklyn. Annexation to the City of Cleveland—desirable because of South Brooklyn’s light plant (1902)—occurred in stages, beginning in 1905 and continuing through 1927. Greenhouse gardening began on Schaaf Road in 1887 and in the mid 20th-century gave the area the title of “Greenhouse Capital of the United States.” Old Brooklyn is also home to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (1914).

Meetings and more

Watch Events and Facebook for the latest news on HSOB events and whereabouts and be sure to mark your calendars!

There's a cemetery on Broadview? (Not Brooklyn Hts. Cemetery)

YES! Brooklyn Union Burial Ground. Located on Broadview Road near Spring Road. The Historical Society maintains this historic burying ground. ... Learn more.

Old Brooklyn Collage by Jim Ptacek (a unique and lasting gift, but you'll want your own too!)

The Historical Society of Old Brooklyn along with Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation have collaborated with photographer Jim Ptacek in creating an Old Brooklyn Collage. They are on sale for $20.00/ea. Jim Ptacek is a noted Cleveland artist, widely known for his sepia-toned images of local landmarks. We are pleased to offer this new print along with Jim Ptacek photos, note cards, magnets and lapel pins at the Museum/Store, 3430 Memphis Ave. The museum is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, from 12 noon till 5 p.m.

Also for sale—Old Brooklyn flags!

Vintage 3' x 5' flags for only $40. Only a few available.

1950s/1960s Photos Wanted

Do you have any photos of the Memphis-Fulton Shopping Center or the shopping district at Pearl and Broadview Roads??? The Historical Society of Old Brooklyn would love to make duplicates of them for our collection. We will return your original photos if you provide your name and full address. Thank you so much.

Also Wanted...

James Ford Rhodes High School yearbooks: 1972, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Our bricks & mortar home!

We are located at 3430 Memphis Avenue (just west of Pearl Road) and are open Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 12 Noon - 5 p.m.

We can always use a little help! Here's our wish list:
PVC free protector pages for photos | acid free folders | printer ink | printer paper | tissue, TP | clear, adhesive tape | guest/register book | office supplies | folding chairs | shelves and display cases

Contact us by email or call 216-337-8200 if you are interested in volunteering at the museum.

Always more to come...

We invite you come along as our organization, our museum, and this website grow. If you share our interest in preserving and sharing the past, we encourage you to join us in our endeavors.

Join Us

Membership is only $20 a year.

A note on the title: The typeface used in “The Historical Society of Old Brooklyn ” is called "Really Big Shoe NF," based on an offering from the Cleveland Type Foundry, originally named Oxford. It was produced by Nick’s Fonts, a small foundry that seeks to preserve typographic heritage. Cleveland Type Foundry was in business from 1875 to 1892 when they became part of the American Type Founders (ATF). See www.archive.org/details/ATF1893ClevelandSpecimen.