Cleveland residents don’t mind boasting about the wonders of our beloved city, but there are so many wonderfully weird occurrences and features that we are completely unaware of. While Cleveland is doubtlessly an awe-inspiring city, it is full of countless architectural quirks, weird traditions, and odd urban legends.
Here are 13 strange things that have occurred in Cleveland over the years:
- The 1969 river fire that shocked a nation.
Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons In the summer of 1969, the Cuyahoga River famously caught fire. However, this was not a particularly unusual occurrence in such an industrial city, and local photographers did not even document the event. The photograph that was publicized by Time Magazine following the fire was actually taken in November of 1952 in one of the earlier Cuyahoga River Fires. What makes the 1969 fire so strange is that Cleveland residents actually began taking an initiative to clean the river in the wake of 1960s environmentalism, even passing a $100 million bond initiative to put toward cleaning the river in 1968. Fortunately, though, this event helped fuel the initiation of the Clean Water Act of 1972.
- The infamous Cleveland Torso Murders that still invoke chills.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Death_Mask_Display.jpgtuen/Wikimedia Commons Beginning in 1934, the Torso Murders, also called the Kingsbury Run Murders, had Northeast Ohioans holding their breath for four terrifying years. 13 total victims were found dismembered, chemically treated,and, in many cases, drained of blood. Safety Director Eliot Ness had a suspect that he believed committed the crimes, but nobody was ever convicted, and any documents hinting at an identity have been lost or destroyed.
- History’s very first rock concert… kinda.
Universal Attractions/Wikimedia Commons Cleveland is celebrated as the birthplace of rock and roll, but did you know that we can claim more than just inventing the name of this modern music? In 1951, Cleveland disk jockey Alan Freed first coined the phrase “rock and roll,” and in 1952 he brought together some of his favorite artists to perform in the first ever “rock concert.” On March 21, 1952, roughly 25,000 people showed up for the Moondog Coronation Ball at the Cleveland Arena, a venue which only seats 10,000. The crowd outside the venue broke in, and the concert was abruptly shut down after just one song.
- The invention of a summertime snack that won’t melt.
State Library of Queensland/Flickr In 1912, Clarence Crane invented Pep-O-Mint Life Savers as a summertime treat that wasn’t affected by heat. He sold his company to Edward John Noble in 1913, who would go on to invent tinfoil wrappers and significantly expand the market for these mouthwatering Cleveland candies. Just think, those humid Lake Erie summers inevitably led to the birth of these tasty hard candies!
- The history of the creepy-cool Dittrick Museum of Medical History.
Torana/Wikimedia Commons In 1898, the Cleveland Medical Library Association established one of the weirdest museums in Ohio. This unusual collection explores and celebrates the evolution of medicine, including everything from midwifery mannequins to early surgical instruments.
- When Ettore Boiardi opened his first restaurant in 1926, but then built an empire.
Mike Mozart/Flickr Il Giardino d’Italia (“The Garden of Italy”) opened at East 9th Street and Woodland Avenue. At the time, Italian food was not remarkably popular outside of Italian communities. However, Ettore discovered a niche market when patrons requested samples of his delicious sauce to take home. With the help of his brothers Mario and Paul, Ettore founded Chef Boyardee in 1928 and began selling packaged Italian-style cuisine, which became widely popular with Americans of every background. The Boiardis’ canned products would provide warm meals to US troops throughout the Second World War, and Chef Boyardee continues to warm hearts (and bellies) to this day.
- When Clevelanders experienced the first free city delivery mail service in the nation.
Smithsonian Institution/Flickr Direct household mail delivery was first authorized in 1794, but it would not take off until the mid-nineteenth century. At the time, it cost an additional two cents to have mail delivered to your home, so most preferred to pick up mail at the post office. A Cleveland post office worker named Joseph Briggs instigated free delivery in Cleveland in 1862 and designed the first mailman uniform after seeing soldiers’ loved ones hiking to the post office in the winter. In 1863, free delivery was expanded to 48 other cities.
- The unforgettable weather bomb of 1978.
Jim McDevitt/Wikimedia Commons In January of 1978, three low-pressure systems met over the Midwest. This created hurricane-like winds, which resulted in snowdrifts of up to 25 feet in height. In Ohio alone, National Guard helicopters were flown for as many as 2,700 missions to help stranded drivers. Doctors and emergency rescuers were forced to ski to assist with emergencies, as roadways were largely inaccessible. This snowstorm was appropriately named the “Cleveland Superbomb.”
- The birthplace of the Lake Erie Monster.
Robyn Hanson/Wikimedia Commons No, I’m not talking about our fantastic hockey team. I’m referring to Bessie, our own plesiosaur-like creature that is said to call Lake Erie home. Sightings of our coveted monster date back to 1793, and every few years another sighting is reported. In the early 90’s, the carcass of what appeared to be a juvenile plesiosaur came into the public eye, but was most likely an elaborate hoax by a local taxidermist.
With a history as rich as ours, it is no surprise that some rather unusual things have happened here in Northeast Ohio. From the invention of the brand that brought us easy-peasy Italian cuisine to a major milestone in the history of U.S. mail, it is undeniable that Cleveland is a remarkable city. What is your favorite unusual story or tale that has taken place in Cleveland?
Steve Jurvetson/Wikimedia Commons
In the summer of 1969, the Cuyahoga River famously caught fire. However, this was not a particularly unusual occurrence in such an industrial city, and local photographers did not even document the event. The photograph that was publicized by Time Magazine following the fire was actually taken in November of 1952 in one of the earlier Cuyahoga River Fires. What makes the 1969 fire so strange is that Cleveland residents actually began taking an initiative to clean the river in the wake of 1960s environmentalism, even passing a $100 million bond initiative to put toward cleaning the river in 1968. Fortunately, though, this event helped fuel the initiation of the Clean Water Act of 1972.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Death_Mask_Display.jpgtuen/Wikimedia Commons
Beginning in 1934, the Torso Murders, also called the Kingsbury Run Murders, had Northeast Ohioans holding their breath for four terrifying years. 13 total victims were found dismembered, chemically treated,and, in many cases, drained of blood. Safety Director Eliot Ness had a suspect that he believed committed the crimes, but nobody was ever convicted, and any documents hinting at an identity have been lost or destroyed.
Universal Attractions/Wikimedia Commons
Cleveland is celebrated as the birthplace of rock and roll, but did you know that we can claim more than just inventing the name of this modern music? In 1951, Cleveland disk jockey Alan Freed first coined the phrase “rock and roll,” and in 1952 he brought together some of his favorite artists to perform in the first ever “rock concert.” On March 21, 1952, roughly 25,000 people showed up for the Moondog Coronation Ball at the Cleveland Arena, a venue which only seats 10,000. The crowd outside the venue broke in, and the concert was abruptly shut down after just one song.
State Library of Queensland/Flickr
In 1912, Clarence Crane invented Pep-O-Mint Life Savers as a summertime treat that wasn’t affected by heat. He sold his company to Edward John Noble in 1913, who would go on to invent tinfoil wrappers and significantly expand the market for these mouthwatering Cleveland candies. Just think, those humid Lake Erie summers inevitably led to the birth of these tasty hard candies!
Torana/Wikimedia Commons
In 1898, the Cleveland Medical Library Association established one of the weirdest museums in Ohio. This unusual collection explores and celebrates the evolution of medicine, including everything from midwifery mannequins to early surgical instruments.
Mike Mozart/Flickr
Il Giardino d’Italia (“The Garden of Italy”) opened at East 9th Street and Woodland Avenue. At the time, Italian food was not remarkably popular outside of Italian communities. However, Ettore discovered a niche market when patrons requested samples of his delicious sauce to take home. With the help of his brothers Mario and Paul, Ettore founded Chef Boyardee in 1928 and began selling packaged Italian-style cuisine, which became widely popular with Americans of every background. The Boiardis’ canned products would provide warm meals to US troops throughout the Second World War, and Chef Boyardee continues to warm hearts (and bellies) to this day.
Smithsonian Institution/Flickr
Direct household mail delivery was first authorized in 1794, but it would not take off until the mid-nineteenth century. At the time, it cost an additional two cents to have mail delivered to your home, so most preferred to pick up mail at the post office. A Cleveland post office worker named Joseph Briggs instigated free delivery in Cleveland in 1862 and designed the first mailman uniform after seeing soldiers’ loved ones hiking to the post office in the winter. In 1863, free delivery was expanded to 48 other cities.
Jim McDevitt/Wikimedia Commons
In January of 1978, three low-pressure systems met over the Midwest. This created hurricane-like winds, which resulted in snowdrifts of up to 25 feet in height. In Ohio alone, National Guard helicopters were flown for as many as 2,700 missions to help stranded drivers. Doctors and emergency rescuers were forced to ski to assist with emergencies, as roadways were largely inaccessible. This snowstorm was appropriately named the “Cleveland Superbomb.”
Robyn Hanson/Wikimedia Commons
No, I’m not talking about our fantastic hockey team. I’m referring to Bessie, our own plesiosaur-like creature that is said to call Lake Erie home. Sightings of our coveted monster date back to 1793, and every few years another sighting is reported. In the early 90’s, the carcass of what appeared to be a juvenile plesiosaur came into the public eye, but was most likely an elaborate hoax by a local taxidermist.
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