Sure, the rest of the country knows the obvious things about Cleveland, like the Rock Hall and LeBron James. But when it comes down to the details, only true locals know them all. If the following moments and places ring a bell with you, then you’re definitely a true Clevelander.
The Rain Delay
A mere four months after the Cavaliers brought Cleveland its first professional sports championship in 52 years, the Indians had a chance to make it two championships in a row. They were down 6-4 in the bottom of the 8th in Game 7 to the Chicago Cubs when Rajai Davis homered off Aroldis Chapman to tie the game up. It seemed like all the momentum was on the Tribe’s side. Then the rains came, the Cubs regrouped, they scored two runs in the top of the 10th and won the World Series, celebrating on the Indians’ field. The rest of the country just remembers that the Cubs won, but not here in Cleveland.
Photo by Emanuel WallaceThe Drive
Much like other famous Cleveland sports moments, the “Drive” is known far and wide. But the details are only remembered by real Clevelanders. Like John Elway going 98 yards in 5 minutes and 2 seconds in 15 plays to tie the 1987 AFC Championship game between the Browns and the Denver Broncos. And only the diehards remember that the game went to overtime. Everyone else remembers we lost though.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsFrank Sterle’s Slovenian Country House
We hope you remember this place, as it only closed in 2017. That said, this near downtown restaurant was a Cleveland staple, and if you never ate there, you really missed out. They are still open as an event space, but it’s just not the same.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe Silver Grille
While the Silver Grille was restored in recent years and is now an event space owned by the Ritz Carlton, back in the day it was part of the Higbee Company and was the fanciest restaurant in town. The Grille operated in its original form until 1989.
Photo via Restauranting Through HistorySeverance Town Center
Yeah, Severance Town Center is still around in Cleveland Heights as a strip mall. But it’s nothing like it once was. Ohio’s first indoor mall was a thing of beauty, anchored by the department stores Halle’s at one end and Higbee’s at the other. It was palatial and one-of-a-kind and the place to shop in town.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe River on Fire
Yes, we’re sick of all the stupid fire jokes too. Here’s the thing though – these jokes are usually terrible, and wrong. The jokes usually start off wrong by saying that the lake caught on fire. Real Clevelanders know it was the Cuyahoga River. Also, it happened multiple times. And, the 1952 fire helped create the Clean Water Act, so take that.
Photo via Scene ArchivesPlayhouse Square Tour
Always had a desire to see what happens behind the scenes at the world renowned Playhouse Square? Now you can with the tour through these five beautiful theaters at the largest performing arts center outside of New York City.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe New York Spaghetti House
This East 9th restaurant was once one of the most popular dining spots in the city. The Italian joint was modeled after New York restaurants, which is where the owners, Mario and Maria Brigotti, moved to Cleveland from. It closed in 2001.
Photo by Emanuel WallaceThe Final Game at Old Muni
We all know that the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996 and were gone until 1999. What only true Clevelanders remember is the utter chaos and depression of the last home game in 1995, a 26-10 victory over the Bengals on December 18th, 1995. The last game at Old Municipal Stadium saw extremely inebriated fans throwing debris on the field, ripping seats out of the stadium, numerous arrests and just general chaos.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsThe Boy Mayor
Before Dennis Kucinich became known on a national stage for his slightly eccentric, populist left views, he was the youngest mayor in the history of Cleveland. Kucinich became mayor of Cleveland at just 30 years old, in 1977, but only lasted two years in office.
Photo via Scene ArchivesHough Bakery Cakes
If you grew up in Cleveland and you never had a Hough cake, well, did you really grow up in Cleveland? The almond-flavor white cake was known far and wide and after Hough closed in 1992, Archie’s Bakery took over the recipe, but Archie’s just closed in February. They do have a new location planned.
Photo via Cleveland Memory ProjectTony Fernandez’s Error and Jose Mesa’s Blown Save
1997. Game 7, Indians vs. Marlins. The Indians took a 2-1 lead into the 9th inning, closing in on capturing their first World Series title in 50 years. And, well, you know the rest.
Photo via MLB ArchivesEuclid Beach Amusement Park
Opening all the way back in 1895, Euclid Beach Amusement Park was one of the most popular attractions for Clevelanders all the way up until 1969, when it closed its doors for good.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsThe Cleveland Barons
Cleveland had an NHL team? Yes, we did! The Barons, who played in Richfield Colisuem, lasted just two seasons, from 1976 to 1978.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsFirst Major City to Default Since the Depression
There are some great things about Cleveland’s history. And, well, some not so great facts. In 1978, when Dennis Kucinich was mayor, the city was unable to pay back $14 million in loans from 6 banks, becoming the first major city to default on their loans since the Great Depression. That’s depressing.
Photo via Scene ArchivesNever forgetting the Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals.
Via Stephapeaz/RedditFirst Black Mayor in a Major American City
While the city has had (and continue to have) its fair share of racial strife and oppression, there are some bright spots, like electing the first black mayor for a major American city. Carl Stokes took the office in 1968 and was the Mayor of Cleveland until 1971.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsBalloonfest
In 1986, the United Way of Cleveland decided to have a fundraiser by releasing over 1.5 million balloons in downtown Cleveland. While the initial release looked stunning, the balloons later caused massive problems all over the city, including two missing fishermen unable to be located, terrible traffic jams and Burke Lakefront Airport shutting down.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe Blizzard of 1978
With windchills reaching -100 degrees, 50-mile-per-hour winds and a “snow hurricane.” the 1978 blizzard was the worst storm in Ohio history. Fifty-one people died in the storm. The National Guard was dispatched, there were over 300 down power lines and the Ohio Turnpike closed for the first time.
Photo via Wikimedia CommonsRichfield Coliseum
Tell someone not from here that the Cavaliers used to play at an arena 30-plus minutes from downtown in the middle of cow fields and they’ll look at you like you have two heads. But that was really where the professional NBA team from Cleveland played their home games from 1974 to 1994. As you can see in the picture, it was really in the middle of farmland.
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
