Old Brooklyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Old Brooklyn
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Neighborhood of Cleveland
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Exterior of The RainForest of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
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| Country | United States |
| State | Ohio |
| County | Cuyahoga |
| City | Cleveland |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 32,813 |
| Demographics | |
| • White | 73.8% |
| • Black | 9.9% |
| • Hispanic (of any race) | 19.6% |
| • Asian and Pacific Islander | 2.6% |
| • Mixed and Other | 13.7% |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
parts of 44109, 44144 and 44134
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| Area code(s) | 216 |
| Median income | $39,591 |
| Source: 2020 U.S. Census, City Planning Commission of Cleveland | |
Old Brooklyn is a neighborhood on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. It's located about five miles south of downtown Cleveland. The neighborhood stretches from the Cuyahoga River in the east to the city of Brooklyn in the west. From north to south, it goes from the Brookside Park Valley to the city of Parma.
Old Brooklyn is home to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It also has the Jesse Owens tree at James Ford Rhodes High School. The Benjamin Franklin Community Garden, the largest urban garden in Cuyahoga County, is also here. Old Brooklyn's slogan is "Old Brooklyn, a great place to grow." This celebrates its past and future possibilities.
Contents
Old Brooklyn's History
The first Europeans came to the Old Brooklyn area in 1790. A fur trader named Joseph Du Shattar set up a trading post. It was on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River.
Early Settlement and Growth
Old Brooklyn was first part of Brooklyn Township. People started living there permanently in 1814. It was called Brighton, centered where Pearl and Broadview Roads are today. Brighton became the village of South Brooklyn in 1889. Later, the City of Cleveland took over South Brooklyn and other nearby villages between 1905 and 1927.
Farming and Greenhouses
In the late 1880s, farmers in the Schaaf Road area of Old Brooklyn were pioneers. They were among the first in the Midwest to use greenhouses to grow vegetables. By the 1920s, Old Brooklyn was a top producer of greenhouse vegetables in the country. More than 100 acres were covered by glass greenhouses. Most of these greenhouses were replaced starting around 1960. New houses and the construction of Ohio Route 176 (Jennings Freeway) took their place.
Business and Homes
Old Brooklyn's businesses grew the most between 1920 and 1960. Shopping areas appeared along Pearl, Broadview, and State Roads. After World War II, shopping plazas were built. These were at Memphis-Fulton, Broadview-Brookpark, and Pearl-Brookpark intersections. The original Honey Hut ice cream shop is on State Road. It's a favorite for many people on Cleveland's west side.
Many homes were built from the early 1900s to the 1950s. In the 1980s and 1990s, more homes were built. This was especially true in the South Hills and Jennings Road areas. Today, homes in Old Brooklyn are among the most valuable in Cleveland.
Important Landmarks
Old Brooklyn has several important places. These landmarks tell stories about the area's past and present.
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
The Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is Old Brooklyn's most famous landmark. It opened in 1907. Cleveland's Park Board moved the zoo from University Circle on the east side to Brookside Park. The zoo covers 145 acres. It is one of 16 nature preserves in the Cleveland Metroparks system.
Brookside Park's Sporting History
Brookside Park is famous in sports history. It hosted what is believed to be the largest baseball crowd in Cleveland's past. This was when the White Autos of Cleveland played Omaha. They were competing in the World Amateur Baseball Championship. On October 10, 1915, about 115,000 people came to watch. They spread out along the park's northern bluff. The home team won that day.
Historic Homes and Buildings
The Jeremiah Gates Home was built in 1820. It is located at 3506 Memphis Avenue. This house is thought to be the oldest home in Old Brooklyn. Other important landmarks include the Brooklyn-Brighton Bridge. There's also the Estabrook Recreation Center. The Our Lady of Good Counsel Church is another notable building. It's now called Mary Queen of Peace. It has an Italian Gothic style and sits on Pearl Road Hill.
Education in Old Brooklyn
Old Brooklyn is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Many schools are located in the neighborhood. These include Charles A. Mooney School and William C. Bryant Elementary. Benjamin Franklin Elementary and William Rainey Harper are also here. James Ford Rhodes High School is a local high school. Other schools are Facing History New Tech, Cleveland Preparatory Academy, and Constellation Schools: Old Brooklyn Community Elementary and Middle. Mary Queen of Peace, Luther Memorial, Saint Mary’s, and St. Leo’s schools also serve the area.
Famous People from Old Brooklyn
Many high school students from Old Brooklyn attend James Ford Rhodes High School. Some famous graduates include Heisman Trophy winner Les Horvath from 1944. Poet D. A. Levy also went there. Television star Drew Carey is another well-known graduate. The "Warsaw Tavern" from The Drew Carey Show was based on a bar near the Memphis-Fulton intersection. This area has many bars and restaurants.
Community Developments
Old Brooklyn has seen new projects and has plans for the future. These help improve the neighborhood for everyone.
Treadway Creek Greenway
The Treadway Creek Greenway Restoration project finished in 2008. It helped restore and protect 21 acres of land along Treadway Creek. This project also created a multi-purpose trail. It connects Harmody Park to the Ohio and Erie Canal National Heritage Corridor's Towpath Trail. There are also plans for a path connecting the Towpath Trail to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Improvements to public transportation and streets are also being considered.
Brighton Park
In 2020, the Cleveland Metroparks approved a new park. It's called Brighton Park and covers 26 acres. It will connect to the trails from the Towpath to the Zoo. This new park is being built on the site of the former Henninger Landfill.
