A series of two discussions that explored the cultural heritage of Ward 1 were held recently that helped us learn more about the Land Use changes as the Mill Creek community developed and expanded in the early 20th century.
Shining a spotlight on Ward 1 Lee-Harvard’s African-American Heritage: 1925-1975
Land development in Lee-Harvard started in the 1920s but stalled during the 1930s. Dr. Todd Michney discussed the building of homes by Arthur Bussey and other African-American builders in the southern section of the neighborhood and the integration of the northern section in the early 1950s.
This discussion was held on August 17, 2016 at Harvard Community Services Center and recorded for posterity.
Part 1 of 3:
Part 2 of 3:
Part 3 of 3:
Cleveland’s Suburb in the City: The Development and Growth of Lee-Harvard
The experience of middle-class African Americans moving into Lee-Harvard was echoed by people across the nation. Dr. Michney incorporated the broader African American experience into his presentation, addressing the story of Lee-Harvard through the 1980s.
This discussion was held on October 6, 2016 at Cleveland State University Maxine Levine Goodman College of Urban Affairs Atrium and also recorded.
Part 1 of 2:
Part 2 of 2:
This program was offered in collaboration with Councilman Terrell Pruitt, the Harvard Community Services Center and Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin’s Collge of Urban Affairs.
This program was made possible, in part, by The Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. And by a grant from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior administered by the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection.
Dr. Todd Michney’s book, Surrogate Suburbs: Black Upward Mobility and Neighborhood Change in Cleveland, 1900-1980, will be released in March 2017.