The OHIO MOTORISTS ASSN., known as the Cleveland Automobile Club from its founding on 8 Jan. 1900 until 1978, was the second automobile club formed in the U.S. and is the oldest still in existence.
The OHIO POETRY ASSN. was established in the Cleveland Hts. home of Rachel Mack Wilson in 1931. Wilson, state president of the Natl. League of American Pen Women, served as first president of the OPA, whose purpose was to promote the creation and appreciation of poetry by its members throughout the community, state, and nation. Founding members included Edmund Vance Cooke, Albert C. Fox, Harriet Gleason, Alice C.
OHIO REGIONAL COUNCIL OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL WOMEN'S LEAGUE OF AMERICA, INC., was established in Cleveland in 1957. In 1995 it united 5 branches (8, 12, 33, Cleveland; 69, Lorain; and 116, Erie, PA) under the leadership of Iwanna Skarupa, president. The council has 160 members.
The OHIO ROUNDTABLE, 11288 Alameda Drive, STRONGSVILLE, was established by a group of Northeastern Ohio citizens and business leaders in 1980 as a non-profit, non-partisan research and educational organization (think tank) dedicated to a mission of "Restoring traditional Judeo-Christian principles to American public policy." Original headquarters were at 31005 Solon Rd.,
OHIO SAVINGS BANK (inc. 1889), is one of Cleveland's oldest savings and loans. In its first 9 years of existence, Ohio Savings operated as the Ohio Savings, Loan & Building Co. at 457 Pearl Rd. In 1898 it became the Ohio Savings & Loan Co. The office moved to 517 Pearl (1866 W. 25th St.) in 1901, and by 1904 Christian Schuele had become president.
OHIO ST. AME CHURCH. See ST. JOHN'S AME (AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL) CHURCH.
The OHIO STATE AND UNION LAW COLLEGE, commonly known as the Ohio State & Union Law School, was the largest, best known, and longest-lived of the independent day law schools in Cleveland. Prior to the formation of the Law School at Western Reserve Univ. in 1891, it was the major law school in northern Ohio and one of 2 viable law schools in Ohio.
OHIO STATE ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY. See ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETIES, BLACK.
THE OHIO STORY RADIO & TV SERIES (1947-1961) was produced for BELL TELEPHONE and ran for 15 years - the record for the longest-running regional scripted program in the nation.
The OHIO THEATER, 1511 Euclid Ave., opened on 14 Feb. 1921. Its architect was Thos. Lamb and its interior decorator, Philip Garbo. The Ohio was built by the Fleishman Constr. Co. of New York. Originally designed as a legitimate theater, it was decorated in the Italian Renaissance style with an elegant green-and-ivory color scheme. In the foyer, 3 murals by Italian artist Sampitrotti depicted the story of Venus.
OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY. See 19TH OHIO INDEPENDENT BATTERY, 1862-65.
The OHIO WOMAN’S SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION (OWSA) led and organized Ohio women in the long fight for the right to vote for almost half a century. Founded in Cincinnati in September 1869, with national suffrage leaders such as Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone in attendance, its purpose was to “advance the cause of woman suffrage and thereby to make our government in fact what it is in theory – a government of the people.”
OLD AGE/NURSING HOMES. The origins of community responsibility for the elderly in Cleveland can be traced to the Northwest Territorial law for the relief of the poor, enacted in 1795.
OLD BROOKLYN, a Cleveland neighborhood and Statistical Planning Area (SPA), is bounded by BROOKSIDE PARK on the north, the
OLIVET INSTITUTIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH, one of the largest AFRICAN AMERICAN congregations in Cleveland, was established by a group of former members of Triedstone Baptist Church who gathered for worship in a small building on Quincy Avenue on 12 February 1931. The new church, known as the New Light Baptist Church, held its first services on 16 February, with Rev. C.
OLLENDORFF, HENRY B. (14 March 1907-10 February 1979) was a German-born and trained lawyer who took up social work in the United States after escaping from Nazi Germany. In Cleveland, he founded and headed the Council of International Programs (CIP), a cross-cultural exchange program that has brought professionals from across the globe to the United States.
OLMSTED FALLS is a suburb situated 14 miles southwest of Cleveland. Its footprint comprises an oddly shaped 3 sq.
OLMSTED TOWNSHIP as it is today was originally Township 6, Range 15 of the Connecticut WESTERN RESERVE.
OLMSTED, GEORGE HENRY (21 Sept. 1843-8 April 1925), a leading representative of insurance interests and founder of two major agencies in Cleveland, was born on a farm near La Grange, Ohio, the son of Jonathan and Harriet (Sheldon) Olmsted. After attending local public schools and Elyria High School, he graduated from Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, and taught school for 3 years.
The OLNEY ART GALLERY was a privately owned and operated art gallery on Jennings Ave. (W. 14th St.). It was established in 1893 by Prof. Chas. Fayette Olney and his wife, Abigail who were convinced that Cleveland needed an art gallery.
OLNEY, CHARLES FAYETTE (1832-18 July 1903) provided Cleveland with its principal art gallery in the pre-CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART era and was a leading proponent of the Group Plan of public architecture. A native of Southington, Conn., he was the son of Jesse Olney, author of a widely used series of standard school textbooks.
The ON LEONG TONG, also known as the Chinese Merchants Assn., has served the local Chinese-American community as a bank, welfare agency, mutual benefit society, cultural preservation group, and trade association. First established in New York in 1904, the Cleveland branch was formed in 1910. By 1916 it established headquarters in the city's Chinatown, moving to a new facility at 2150 Rockwell Ave. in 1930.
The 100 YEAR CLUB OF THE WESTERN RESERVE (formerly 100 Year Club of Cleveland), which held its first meeting in 1953, is a voluntary organization that honors businesses and organizations in Northeastern Ohio that have existed for a century or more.
OPERA. Often regarded as the most esoteric of the arts, opera didn't arrive fully garbed in Cleveland for more than half a century. The Manvers Operatic Co. is generally credited with bringing the city its first opera on 23 May 1849 in Watson's Hall. Actually, they performed only selections from Vincenzo Bellini's La sonnambula, "in full costume" as advertised, but without scenery.
OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR (Oh-10) is a 3.2-mile roadway that connects University Circle with Interstate 490 and runs through largely abandoned industrial areas adjacent to the residential neighborhoods of Fairfax, Kinsman, and Slavic Village. Construction was completed in November 2021 at a cost of approximately $330 million.
ORBAN'S FRUIT AND FLOWERS was founded in 1914 by Martin and Mary Orban. The first greenhouse was located near the intersection of Union and East 72nd Streets. During this time, the couple sold flowers both at the greenhouse and at Mary Orban’s candy shop at East 90th Street and Buckeye Road.
ORDER OF FOUNDERS & PATRIOTS. See PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES.
ORLANDO BAKING CO., headquartered in Cleveland, is the largest wholesale specialty bakery between New York and Chicago. The company traces its origins to a bakery of the same name which opened in Castel di Sangro, Italy, in 1872.
ORLIKOWSKI, BERNARD E. (10 Jan. 1876-5 Dec. 1957) a key political fligure in the POLISH community, was born in Meisterwald, Germany, the son of Michael and Julia Slawinski Orlikowski. He came to Cleveland at an early age, completing his education at South High school and Canton's Business College.
ORNDORF, HARRY WESTLEY (9 Nov. 1892-14 July 1938), recipent of the Congressional Medal of Honor for service during the Boxer Rebellion, was born in Sandusky, Ohio the son of John and Julia Clark Orndorf. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. 17 Oct. 1896 at Mare Island, California.
ORPHANAGES. Since the mid-nineteenth century, Cleveland orphanages have cared for children, adapting to children’s changing needs and to large-scale economic and political developments.
The ORPHEUS MALE CHORUS was formed in 1921 by CHARLES D. DAWE, a vocal teacher born in Port Talbot, South Wales (16 Mar. 1888), who came to Cleveland in 1912 with his wife and son. The origins of the chorus stemmed from an incident which occurred when Dawe was giving a vocal lesson in his studio.
ORTH, SAMUEL PETER (1 Aug. 1873-26 Feb. 1922), attorney, educator, lecturer, author, and historian, was born in Capiac, Mich., the son of German Evangelical clergyman Rev. John and Katharine Troeller Orth. He accompanied Frederick A. Cook on his expedition to Greenland in 1894, graduated from Oberlin College with a B.S. in 1896, and studied law and political science at the University of Michigan from 1896-97.
The ORTHODOX JEWISH CHILDREN'S HOME was chartered in May 1919 and opened in Aug. 1920 as the Orthodox Jewish Orphan Asylum, following 2 years of discussion and fundraising. It was created as an alternative to the Jewish Orphan Home, directed by a Reform rabbi and a predominantly Reform Board of Trustees.
OSBORN ENGINEERING CO., Cleveland's oldest engineering firm, was founded on 1 July 1892 by Frank C. Osborn, formerly chief engineer for Cleveland's King Bridge Co. Osborn's diversified company offered a wide range of civil and structural engineering services, including the design, plans, estimates, and construction supervision for roofs, buildings, bridges, railways, and highways.
OSBORN INTERNATIONAL, INC., a division of Jason, Inc., evolved from the Osborn Manufacturing Corp. Osborn Manufacturing had grown into the world's largest manufacturer of industrial brushes and foundry machines by the 1940s. The firm was organized in 1887 a group of investors headed by John Osborn.
OSBORN MANUFACTURING CORP., see OSBORN INTERNATIONAL INC..
OSIKA, CHARLOTTE "Lottie" (3 Dec. 1916-1 Dec. 1993) was an officer for The Union of Poles in America and secretary of Branch # 71 who, during her 50 year association, increased membership and helped the organization prosper.
OSTENDARP, CAROL ANNE (12 May 1941-14 July 1992) was head nurse in a special kidney unit of the MT. SINAI MEDICAL CENTER and then instructor in nursing there (1965-83). With Francine Hekelman, she edited a textbook on her specialty, Nephrology Nursing (1979). Ostendarp was born in Cincinnati, OH, to Anne S. and Harold E.
The OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY can trace its origins to 1853, when Elisha Graves Otis introduced the first safety passenger elevator at the Crystal Palace Convention in New York City. His invention impressed spectators at the convention, and the first passenger elevator was installed in New York City in 1856.
OTIS IRON & STEEL CO. See JONES & LAUGHLIN STEEL CORP. (CLEVELAND WORKS).
OTIS, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, JR. (9 July 1868-9 Dec. 1953), industrialist who played a brief but pivotal role in the evolution of Cleveland newspapers, and son of Mary Shepard and CHAS. A. OTIS, Sr., graduated from Yale's Sheffield Scientific School and in 1893 returned to Cleveland as a steel broker with Otis, Hough & Co.
OTIS, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, SR. (30 Jan. 1827-28 June 1905), businessman and Cleveland mayor (1873-74), was born in Bloomfield, Ohio, to Eliza Proctor and WILLIAM A. OTIS. He attended local schools until his family moved to Cleveland in 1836, worked in his father's ironworks until 1848, then became a steamboat purser.
OTIS, WILLIAM A. (2 Feb. 1794-11 May 1868), merchant, industrialist, banker, and civic leader instrumental in developing the WESTERN RESERVE as a trading partner with eastern markets, was born in Massachusetts to William and Philina Shaw Otis. He moved to Pittsburgh about 1818, working in ironworks.
The OTTAWA were Algonkian-speaking hunters, gatherers, and fishers, with limited maize agriculture, when first encountered in 1634 as the Chevaux Relevez on Manitoulin Island in northern Lake Huron. Famed as middlemen in the French fur trade, they fled west when the New York Iroquois expelled the Huron Confederacy from Ontario.
OTTO MOSER'S, one of Cleveland's best known restaurants, was located for just over a century at 2044 E. 4th St. before moving to PLAYHOUSE SQUARE. According to the most reliable sources, the restaurant was founded by Otto F. Moser in 1893. At that date, E. 4th St.