Eastlake Historical Society

In its early days the Chagrin Harbor was a summer retreat, especially for people who lived in Cleveland. Roy and Edna (Wendorff) Turner lived in Collinwood, around 143rd Street. They would bring their two sons, Robert “Bob” and Richard to this area to enjoy their summers. The street, presently know as Forest, was once part of the main street called Lake Shore Blvd, and that is what they drove on to get out here.

It was a great place to grow up. At one time the adjacent river by the harbor had swimming holes that were 12 feet deep. Robert often enjoyed hunting rabbits. Oddly enough, in the early days there were no deer or wild geese in the area. The Twilight Gardens was a dance hall that was located over where the Children Learning Child Care is now. They would have polka bands play in there on the weekends. Oompa music could be heard all around. Fishing and power boating were always great fun. At one point Bob belonged to a fast pitch men’s softball league. They were the county champs in 1939, sponsored by the Harbor Bar. That’s where the field was located, behind the bar. Area teams would routinely play there. He also remembers playing on a field behind Longfellow School. After the games the bar was often frequented by the players. He remembers the bar having slot machines. He said they also used to have slot machines in the grocery stores.

Bob was born Aug 22, 1920, in Cleveland, OH. He graduated from Collinwood High School in 1939. From 1942 to 1946, Bob served in the Coast Guard. He was water tender on an antisubmarine. This job was similar to being a fireman. His sub would follow US ships from the States to the coast of Africa. They would drop depth charges to keep the enemy subs away from our ships.

On June 14, 1946, Bob married a Chagrin Harbor girl, Patricia Fencel. They were married in the Willoughby Methodist Church, one that they still attend. Her parents had a summer cottage on the street Lakomis, going back to 1932. She remembers the streets being oiled to keep down the dust. Often they were impassable for a couple of days. Because they were one of the first houses at the top of the hill, the milkman would leave the neighbors’ orders at their house to be picked up. For a number of years Patricia worked in the administrative office for the Willoughby-Eastlake Schools.

Bob went on to get a job for an asphalt company named Pioneer Contracting, located in Bedford. He was a member of the Operating Engineers. They drove heavy equipment.

The couple has two sons, Thomas and Dean. They both have located out of the state and thus Mr. and Mrs. Turner have no family members living close by. For a time they enjoyed going on cruises. They have been on 19 of them in all. These have taken them down the Mississippi, the Amazon and to parts of Europe.

Bob has always enjoyed photography and appreciates what can be done with a camera. He has taken it upon himself to photograph the city of Eastlake and the many ways that it has changed over the years. He has been known to give a slide presentation and discussion: what was then, and is now. For example, he shows the school grounds of Eastlake Middle School as it is now, and a slide of an airport as it was then. This reporter has seen the presentation and recommends that one take advantage of his talk. It is highly informative.

The couple is located on the street named Hiawatha, content to finish their days where they once began.

This article is brought to you by the Eastlake Historical Society. If you are or know of someone who is 80 years old or older and has lived in the city of Eastlake for 50 years or more, please contact us at Eastlake City Hall, 35150 Lake Shore Blvd., Eastlake, OH.

EASTLAKE CELEBRATES ITS SENIORS