Origin of the Eastlake Historical Society

EASTLAKE – In 1948, Eastlake split from Willoughby and was certified as a village September 9, 1948 with its first election of officials in January 1949. While the city (officially declared in October 1951) is relatively young, there is still history to be preserved. That is the mission of the Eastlake Historical Society.

While there had been an Eastlake Historical Society previously, it disbanded about 1988 and its collection was given away to other local entities such as the library and The Little Red Schoolhouse in Willoughby.

The current officers of EHS are Caryn Mueller, president; Jackie Pacholke, vice president; Marie Tomko, treasurer and Joyce Bates, secretary. Two members who have been contributing their time and energy are Donna Bunsey and John Olwert.

The current historical society came to be when Mueller was given numerous items of historical interest which belonged to her father. Wishing to preserve the items, she contacted Mayor Ted Andrzejewski. He advised her that the city could not accept the items since there was no one to take care of them. Undaunted, Mueller made it her mission to start another historical society and the group has made a good start.

"We got all the paperwork that (the previous historical society) had and we updated it to us," Mueller said. "We started having people tell us where everything was, so we started getting everything back."
Since its establishment, the organization was given two rooms to use in City Hall by Andrezejewski, whom they said was very supportive.

At this point they believe they have managed to reclaim everything the previous historical society had. They have displays set up in one of their rooms. In the other, they have been devoting their energies to preserving old photos and papers, and cataloguing them.

Pacholke has been interviewing Eastlake seniors whose stories and memories help present the history of the city. The stories are posted on the city's web site.

Olwert was able to arrange slide presentations last year by resident Robert Turner.
"The one we did at the library was jammed with people," Olwert said. "People were standing around the walls with their kids, which was great.

"(Turner) has eight carousels filled with slides. He's got the history of Eastlake. He's a walking, talking encyclopedia. He has a fantastic photo collection too."

Violet Crest, or the Albacht Mansion, which once served as Eastlake City Hall and is located across Lakeshore Boulevard from the present city hall, is having its history chronicled by Joyce Bates.
"Residents have been giving us what they have if they don't want it anymore," Tomko said. "We've got a book from one of the first policemen – a scrapbook – where his daughter and wife were saving things."

Bunsey's family had a summer house on Wicklow Drive, built in 1918 which her father had sold in 1974. When it came up for sale two years ago, her daughter purchased it. She has been able to provide information and old family photos to contribute another bit of history to the historical society.
"I grew up every summer out here," Bunsey said, noting she came from Cleveland and Cleveland Heights.

As her daughter was remodeling, she found a cube in the wall on which was written "the freckle twins." She speculates her mother and aunt, who were real twins and called "the freckle twins," must have hidden it many years ago. Another find in the cellar was bootleg whiskey bottles from the days of Prohibition.

At the present time, the Eastlake Historical Society is seeking as many photos and mementoes of Eastlake landmarks as they can get, especially those which no long exist, such as Vine Lanes. They finally managed to get a photo of the old Eastlake Drive-in theater, but would welcome more.

Of course any other old items from Eastlake's past would be welcome, such as badges from organizations or anything else which represents the past.

So, when cleaning out garages, basements and attics in Eastlake don't just toss unwanted items and photos. Contact the Eastlake Historical Society through the mayor's office at 951-1416, ext. 101.
The display room is open at 3 p.m. on Thursdays, or by appointment.

ORIGIN OF THE EASTLAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ORIGIN OF THE
EASTLAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY