Category: Immigration and Ethnicity

The HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSN. was established in 1904 to provide interest-free loans to needy Jewish immigrants, following the Biblical injunction that Jews not charge interest to the needy. Cleveland merchants Chas.

The HEIGHTS BENEVOLENT AND SOCIAL UNION (HBSU), the oldest Jewish benevolent society in Cleveland, was organized in 1881 by 24 Hungarian Jews as the Hungarian Benevolent & Social Union, to aid members in illness or death, assist nonmembers in "unfortunate circumstances," and cultivate social relations among its members. Membership was over 100 by 1885; 763 in 1916; about 500 in the 1980s.

The HEIGHTS JEWISH CENTER, established on 1 July 1923 as the Heights Orthodox Congregation, was the first Jewish congregation in Cleveland's eastern SUBURBS. It initially met in the home of Jacob Makoff on Euclid Hts. Blvd. in CLEVELAND HTS.

HEISE, GEORGE W. (b. 27 June 1888), chemist and researcher for Natl. Carbon Research Laboratories, was born in Milwaukee the son of German immigrants Paul E. and Dora Tyre Heise. He earned his B.S. (1909) and M.S. (1912) degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

HERKOMER, JOHN (1821-1913), a woodcarver born in Waal, Bavaria, practiced his craft in Cleveland from 1851-83 and is best known for the staircases and interior decorations he carved for the homes of prominent Cleveland families. Herkomer left Bavaria in the late 1840s and traveled to New York City.

HESSENMUELLER, EDWARD (25 May 1811-27 Jan.

HIJOS DE BORINQUEN SPANISH AMERICAN-CENTER is a multi-service social agency which was formed to serve the needs of the east side Hispanic community. Hijos de Borinquen (which translates as "sons of Borinquen") was established in Dec. 1979. Its incorporators and first Board of Trustees were Avis Sanchez, Lora and Tomas Santiago, and Fr. Timothy Troke.

HISPANIC COMMUNITY. By the 1990s Spanish-speaking individuals constituted the fastest-growing portion of America's immigrant population. Though Cleveland's Spanish-speaking community did not grow as rapidly as those in Florida or California, it was, in 1990, the largest linguistically defined segment of the local population; 20,290 individuals in Greater Cleveland spoke Spanish.

HOFFMAN (HOPFERMAN), ISAAC (10 June 1815-26 Feb. 1890), grocer, butcher, and fur dealer, was chosen by the Israelitische Society (1839) as the city's first Jewish spiritual leader (see JEWS AND JUDAISM). A professional mohel (circumsiser), he traveled throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania.

HOPFERMAN (HOFFMAN), SIMSON (1777-?), one of the first Jewish settlers in Cleveland (see JEWS AND JUDAISM), hosted the city's first Jewish religious services in 1839 at his home at 33 Seneca Street.

HRIDEL, ANNA C. (17 Nov. 1913 - 14 Sept. 1996) had a long career in broadcasting ethnic music on Cleveland RADIO. Born in Cleveland to Anna (Hejma) and Frank Jamek, she graduated from South High School and attended Cleveland College for three years.

HUNGARIANS. Cleveland was at one time referred to as “the American Debrecen” following the popularly held belief that it was the city with the second largest population of Hungarians, outside of Hungary, after Budapest.

HYLAND, JOHN “PACKY” (January 18, 1942 - May 27, 2009) was a businessman and cofounder of Hyland Software, Inc. He was born to parents John P. and Catherine (Conway) Hyland on Cleveland’s East Side.

IAFELICE, JAMES (3 Jan. 1913-8 Mar. 1998), head of District 54 of the International Association of Machinists, was one of Cleveland's most influential labor leaders. He was born in Cleveland to Concillia "Mary" (Bonavia) and Dominic Iafelice. He grew up in the Murray Hill neighborhood and dropped out of high school to help support his family during the Depression.

IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION. The growth of major industrial centers such as Cleveland was made possible in large part by the migration of peoples of a variety of origins to provide the labor or entrepreneurial skills demanded by the changing economy.

The IMMIGRATION BUREAU was established as part of Cleveland's Public Safety Dept. in Sept. 1913 to help and protect immigrants. It was transferred to the Dept. of Public Welfare in 1914, but by 1922 no longer existed.

Immigration to Cleveland by Country of Origin, 1874-1907

  1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887

The INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER began in July 1976 as a temporary facility known as India House, located at 10819 Magnolia Dr. in UNIV. CIRCLE. Established by the India Assn.

INDIANS (ASIAN). The history and current profile of the Asian-Indian community in Greater Cleveland reflects the pattern for the entire U.S. Indians first settled in Cleveland in the early 1920s; their numbers increased, gradually at first, and more rapidly after the replacement of the Natl. Origins Act in 1965.

The Asian Indian community in Northeast Ohio: some significant highlights

The INTERNATIONAL SERVICES CENTER, formerly Nationalities Services Center, a nonprofit organization serving Cleveland's immigrant community, was created in 1954 by the consolidation of the Citizens' Bureau and the Intl. Institute of the YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSN. (YWCA).

IRISH. Cleveland's Irish population, like that in many other cities, did not reach a significant number until the potato famine immigrations in the late 1840s. Unlike those in many Eastern Seaboard cities, Cleveland's Irish never exerted influence beyond their numbers, though they have been part of the city's diverse ethnic community and activities since the first immigrants from Ireland arrived ca. 1820.

The IRISH AMERICAN CLUB, EAST SIDE, INC., was officially chartered in the state of Ohio on St. Patrick's Day, 17 Mar. 1978. Its purpose is to promote Irish heritage and to sponsor social, cultural, educational, and athletic programs in Cleveland and around the state. The majority of members are of Irish descent or married to Irish. The club purchased and remodeled a building at 22770 Lake Shore Blvd.

The IRISH AMERICAN CLUB, WEST SIDE, INC. (est. 1931) maintains recreational facilities and meeting rooms and sponsors social and cultural events for members of Cleveland's Irish-American community. With 3,300 adult members in 1994, the club was the largest Irish organization in Cuyahoga County.

IRISH NATIONALISM IN CLEVELAND.   Support for the cause of Irish nationhood has flourished in Cleveland, Ohio, for as long as IRISH immigrants have settled in the area.