Mission Statement:
Our mission is to promote the preservation, study, interpretation, and appreciation of the history of the West Park neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio.
- Officers:
- Steve Lorenz, President
- Ross E. Bassett, Vice-President
- Elaine Staley, Secretary
- Doug Smorag, Treasurer
- Trustees:
- Jim Foos
- John Hannibal
- Steve Jackson
- Rosey Kellner
- John O’Brien
- Marge Sheridan
- Tow White
Contributing Members:
- Gary Swilik
- Julieanne Appleson Phillips, Ph.D.
Contact any of our Trustees and Officers at [email protected]
The Founding of the West Park Historical Society by Gary Swilik
For many years it seemed as if the Independent City of West Park, annexed by Cleveland in 1923, had been largely forgotten. Cleveland, Ohio history was taught as if West Park never existed. Most residents were not aware West Park had been a separate municipality with its own mayor, city hall, safety forces and school system. While Cleveland was celebrating its 200th Birthday in 1996, West Park had only been part of Cleveland for 73 years!
A few dedicated local historians labored against the tide, preserving local history at a time when few were concerned with such matters. Among these early researchers who took important steps to document aspects of West Park history which might otherwise have been lost were the late Hal Swinerton and the late Barbara Unterzuber. Their work in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s is still appreciated by researchers today. The West Park Kiwanis organization also took steps to record and publish local history.
Over the last three decades, various individuals and groups, often unaware of each others existence, were also studying and preserving local history. In the era just prior to the rise of the internet, this disorganized army of enthusiastic local researchers was amassing and archiving material in their own personal collections.
In early 2004, Charles C. Chaney, a retired librarian, and Gary Swilik, a retired private investigator, pooled their talents and established the first website dedicated to West Park history – westparkhistory.com (now defunct)
At about the same time, West Park native and John Marshall High School teacher Ralph A. Pfingsten had just completed a publication focusing exclusively on local history. In 2004, the John Marshall High School Alumni Association published Ralph’s book “From Rockport to West Park.” Many years in preparation, it was the first major work devoted to the history of West Park and Rockport Township.
The publicity and interest in Ralph’s book drew together a number of like-mined individuals, all of whom shared a passion for discovering and preserving West Park history. On August 30th, 2005, they gathered together in the meeting room at the Kamm’s Corner Development Corporation where Ralph Pfingsten read the following resolution: “That it is the consensus of this meeting that a society for the purpose of studying, preserving, interpreting and promoting West Park history now be formed.”
The resolution was voted on and approved by the following persons who are recognized as the Founding Members of the West Park Historical Society:
Ross E. Bassett, Gertie Cebulis, Margaret A. Cecora, James R. Foos, Jr., Cindy Janis, Steven Lorenz, Ellie Mapson, Thomas McGlynn, John S. Papay, Ralph A. Pfingsten, David C. Sacco, Deborah Schenk, Elaine Staley, Gary Swilik
West Park Historical Society is an exempt nonprofit community organization under IRS code section 501 (c)(3)