Joseph G Blake

A while back Dick Halle sent me a copy of an interview with his grandfather, Charles Colman. Colman was an architect in Cleveland who designed 26 homes in Shaker between 1920 and 1960. He was Jewish and had primarily a Jewish client base.

The interview covered the arrival of his family in Cleveland and where they lived. As I recall he noted various neighborhoods or areas where they lived in that movement. Colman studies at Cornell before WW1. His father changed their name from a very German sounding name when WW1 broke out. He joined company. The royal family in the U.K. became Windsor having been Saxon Coburg Gotha for the previous 100 years. Prince Phillip is a Mountbatten now rather than Battenberg.

Colman worked for Walker and Weeks before establishing his own practice. He would later be the on site architect for Park Synagogue on Mayfield.

It’s my understanding that the oldest Jewish family in Cleveland is the Joseph family with roots back to 1850. This would be just after 1848, the great year of revolt in various European countries.

As a gentile it’s interesting to hear about the movement of synagogues as the members moved to suburbs. It would be interesting to know if these congregations changed or evolved from being Orthodox to conservative or  reformed. Did the reigious outlook evolve as early immigrants passed along their heritage to a later generation?

I suppose the question is did the later group’s Americanize or become less rigorously religious? That might be part of a larger history of the Cleveland Jewish community.

The development of Beachwood and Pepper Pike is interesting. Shaker Heights was circa 1970 or possibly now more diverse than either of these communities now. At one point Beachwood was said to be one of the most Jewish communities in the world, probably more than 90%. Pepper Pike probably looked more like Shaker Heights in 1950. I do not recall the title just now but someone wrote a history of Beacwood that discussed the evolution between 1955 and 1980. I will try to find that title.

Stewart M Flate

Hi John,

Nice hearing from you. As a matter of fact, I play ball with a person named John Rice.  I kept calling him John Kent for a few years.

The book focuses on the people I have met in my life.  I'd like to think it is funny.  People who have read it find the book enjoyable.  It helps if you are the following:

1. Jewish and have parents or grandparents who were or are from Eastern Europe

2. Like baseball

3.Like to go to garage sales or saleing as I call it.

4.  Enjoy the TV program NCIS

5.  Enjoy movies

6.  enjoyed the pop music of the 50's and 60's

7. Like reading about real people

Joseph G Blake

The book is called Beechwood, the Book by Jeffery Morris.

The title deliberately spells the name using beech rather beach to be ironic.

You can find on line

http://web.ulib.csuohio.edu/speccoll/beechwood/

Go to contents and read what may be of interest.

I found this link while seeking the title which summarizes the history of Jewish Cleveland.

http://www.beachwoodkehilla.org/jewish_cleveland.php

Its brief but may open up other avenues of interest.

David Lee Rosen

Checked the records and found the following built by my grandfather Julius Rosen, in Shaker:

Architect                     Year(s)   No. Homes     Address

Burrows, George H.     1935       1                 2686 Ashley

Broida, Leonard           1936      2                  22469 Douglas, 22639 Douglas

Potter and Bremmer   1937      1                  2709 Belvoir

Moulthrop, Ray           21-38     5                2682 Rocklyn, 16721 Lomond, 3633-45-81 Lynnfield

Skolnik, L.                  27-29      2                3669 Hildana, 3661 Chelton

Apicella, C. T.             41           1                3639 Lindholm

Brandel, G. J.             32           1                 3645 Winchell

Nichols and Fritzsche 30         1                 3685 Lynnfield

and my family home on Strandhill, apparently purged from the records after the explosion.

Judi Bachman (Holtze)

Adding a correction.  Charles Colman is my grandfather and his brother was dicks grandfather.if anyone goes to the jewishmhistory museum on green rd ( dick had me go there after the reunuon) there is a photo on the way in to the permanment exhibition with founding familes in the 1850s.... the photo on left are charles grandparents,  man was i shocked,  had just given dick photos i found of his grandfather and wrote amshort family history.  If i hadnt done this i never would have known!! 

Joseph G Blake

David

Thanks for the houses your grandfather built.

Nichols and Fritsche designed my parents house in 1930. Bill Fritsche was a close friend of theirs. He and Nichols designed 15 houses in Shaker. But in the mid 30s Bill decided to head west and join a company called Technicolor Inc where he spent the rest of his working life. Nichols continued as an architect for many years designing  many more homes in solo practice. The 1930s was a hard time to design or build homes for the rising affluent. 

And thank you Judy for correcting my error in re Charles Colman. I hope we will see both you and Dick at the reunion in August.

Joe 

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

To Margy Perlberg, When I moved into Lomond, you were the only one I knew because up until 6th grade I went to Temple on the Heights. Betsy

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Stuart, I must have missed name of book. What is it? Betsy

Robert A Davis

Betsy,

Stewart's book is "Along The Way"  L'Chaim to Life;

Seems to be available thru Amazon.

It is interesting how many talented kids came out of our graduating class.  Plus interesting life experiences.

Bob Davis

Stewart M Flate

To Bob Davis,

Definitly seeing you and my cousin Norm was the highlight of my summer.  Hope to see you this winter.

stu

Betsy Dennis (Frank)

Thanks, Bob. I will look for the book on Amazon. Betsy

Arthur Charles Scott

Since we're talking about books from '64ers, let me put in a plug for Steve Schwartz's recently published book, Nationalist and Populist Composers - Voices of the American People.  It's a superb book of biography and musical analysis covering 8 American classical composers of the 20th Century.  It looks formidably scholarly, but is thoroughly entertaining reading for serious listener/non-musicians like me. If you knew Steve, you won't be surprised to find his dry wit pervading every page.  Rowman & Littlefield, 420 pgs. It's on Amazon, and pricey, but if you have access to a good library system I'm sure it's out there for loan.  While you're browsing Amazon, have a look at my most recent book, The Art of Robert E. McGinnis.  Funny - Steve studied English Literature and writes about music; I studied Chemistry and write books about illustration art. 

Art

Patricia Ann Richards (Armstrong)

Dear Cheryl, (Kushner), 

How many sweet memories I have of YOU and the kids at Moreland.  I was 8 when I arrived from Warrensville Heights in Velma Sibley's 4th grade class.  She just happened t be my Sunday school teacher at Heights Christian Church!  As I have been reading the fascinating posts of my Jewish friends at SHHS, I, again, felt rather "left out" of the loop I knew existed but never suffered from in actual fact. There was, as far as I was concerned, no barrier between any of us Morelanders...I went to my Jewish friends' parties, went to their houses, felt completely accepted by all and sundry.  Shaker in those days was a melting pot in every way, at least as far as I was concerned.  In truth I never dated a gentile boy until I went to college (Ed Kovachy excepted) and I married my first husband, Peter Jonas, whose father was a German Jew who emigrated to London before things really got "dark" in Germany.  His mother, however, was Scottish/Lebanese whose family emigrated to Jamaica where they became an extremely wealthy family of "the merchant class".  When I visited Jamaica with my husband and 10 month old daughter Rachel on a magical holiday in 1984, the Jamaicans who looked after us in the rented villa spoke "quietly" about the Zaidi family...with LITTLE affection.

I digress, as usual,..the point of this message is that when we fleetingly, yet warmly, met at our 40th reunion...or was it the 50th?, you told me that you had relatives in London.  There is a most marvellous  writer/playwright/screenwriter - Tony Kushner - could he be one of them?  WHATEVER!  In any case, dear Cheryl, whose lovely voice I still acutely remember, please get in touch with me who remembers you with such happy memories.

In fond hopes and with much love,

Patty Richards Armstrong 

P.S.  I've been meaning to get in touch with you, Cheryl, for SO LONG...at last this latest trending conversation between all of my friends from various temples and Schuls has made it imperative!  Please forgive the huge time it's taken to put fingers to iPad!  Excuses, excuses...the story of my life!

P.P.S.  Are you on the addictive Facebook?  If not, lucky you in some ways.  My email is:   prich71686@aol.com.  An email from you would be HEAVEN!

Stewart M Flate

To Betsy and Patti,

I have found my postcards and bookmarks that the publidher sent me.  Send me your e-mail address and I'll forward you an e-mail of the post card.  The postcard has on it the prolouge which sets the tone of the book.

Stu

Patricia Ann Richards (Armstrong)

Dear Stewart,  

Without a doubt you are one of those people I remember with such clarity and affection.  My email:  prich71686@aol.com.  Look forward to hearing from you.  Congratulations on producing a BOOK!

Fondly,

Patty Richards Armstrong.

Jonathan Meyers

All of the authors cited -- Art, Stephen and Stewart -- have created remarkable works.  Bravo!  Are there additional members of our class who also are published authors?

Stewart M Flate

To Patty Richards,

Ok before I go any further.  Are you the same Patty Richards with whom I was in Mrs Purusa's 6h grade class?  I believe you sat in front of me.  What I will never forget was your singing voice.  Today, you would be on the TV show, "Little Big Shots". 

I am going to attempt to send you an e-mail of the postcard of that the publisher, xlibris, sent me.  On the postcard is the prolouge to the book which sets the book's tone.  Hopefully you will find the book, more often than not, to be humerous.  Having been very fortunate, I have met many people who have wonderful senses of humor.

My main childhood friend was and is Eugene Greenstein.  He was hilarious.  I also pay tribute to Cheryl Kushner who was the first Shaker Hts friend I had.  Thankfully they are both doing fine.

Stu

Stewart M Flate

To Joh Myers,

I hope you enjoyed the book.

Stu

Stewart M Flate

Dear Patty,

There is a person on ebay who is selling one for the publisher's established price of $24.00.  Don't pay any more than that,

Stu

Stewart M Flate

To John Kent,

Somebody is selling the book on Ebay for $24.00.  I have no idea who or if he has more than 1.  I'm goinjg to call my publisher tomorrow.  Send me your e.mail and I'll send you a copy of the postcard and bookmark..  On these two pieces, you will find the prolouge which sets the tone of the book.

Thanks,

Stu

Margery Lynn Perlberg (Rapport)

HI Betsy--I had no recollection of knowing you from Heights Temple, but I don't remember that many people in our class.  That was a large congregation, I think.  I guess we go back a long way!

Margie Perlberg Rapport

Stewart M Flate

Dear Patti,

I had you confused with Patti Richards.  Did we have some classes together?

Stu

Stewart M Flate

To John Kent,

Once again thanks for the interest.  My publisher is Xlibris.  They should be able to help you purchase a book.  their phone number is 888-795-4274.

Stu

Stewart M Flate

To John Kent,

I forgot to mention that if you send me your e-mail, I will send you pictures of the bookmark and postcard Xlibris sent me.  On these two items are the prolouge to the book which sets the tone.

Stu

Stewart M Flate

To Bob Davis,

Seems people are having problems with Amazon.  So if someone should ask, the phone number of my publisher is 888-795 4274.

Hope to see you and Norm this winter.

Stu