Cleveland Vintage Blog — History

Clevelanders who were lucky enough to be around for Dick Goddard are likely well aware of what a woolly bear is. But let's take a look at the furry little creature that was beloved by the also-beloved Cleveland meteorologist. What's a Woolly Bear - or Woolly Worm? You've likely seen these fuzzy little black-and-brown caterpillars before. They are the larva of the Isabella tiger moth and can be found just about anywhere. Though the woolly bear is a pretty cute-looking insect, the most notable thing about this caterpillar is its supposed ability to predict winter weather. Can the Woolly Bear...

If you're a fan of Pop-Tarts, you've essentially got Cleveland to thank for their existence (and really, you should be thanking Cleveland for a lot - like traffic lights!). Brands use specific cities as test markets all the time, and in September of 1964, Cleveland was the test market for the four original flavors of the Pop-Tart (the Fab Four, if you will): strawberry, cinnamon sugar, blueberry, and apple currant. In fact, the new breakfast pastry was so popular in Northeast Ohio, Kellogg's completely sold out of the 45,000 test cases they had of each flavor. And when the Pop-Tart...

We’re fairly certain that just about every city has its fair share of “haunted history," but through our research we discovered that the Greater Cleveland area, at least in our opinion, has some of the most unique locations with haunted histories to regale. Unique not only because of the locations or structures, but the overall history behind the structures or locations themselves. This includes the House of Wills, which started as Gee & Wills in 1904 at 2323 Central Avenue. Gee passed away in 1907, but the business continued to grow and was considered the largest black-owned funeral home in the...

Luxurious theaters with their large seating capacities were a staple in the Cleveland area as far back as the 1920s. I myself grew up with one in Maple Heights - the Mapletown Theater. Most started out as single-screen movie houses that were beautifully designed and decorated to be as much a part of the evening out as the show itself. Many, sadly, have met the wrecking ball over time, not able to compete with the emergence of multi-screen theaters. Others have been reimagined and reinvented and another, the Variety Theatre at 11817 Lorain Avenue, is getting closer to a rebirth...

Cleveland - and the rest of Ohio - is a cryptid hotbed, with recorded sightings that date back as far as the 18th century. From the watery depths of Lake Erie to the dense, forested depths of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and throughout the rest of the state, many types of cryptids have stalked this area and called it home. Here are some of the most popular cryptids you could find in Ohio. South Bay Bessie You might know South Bay Bessie by her other name - the Lake Erie Monster - but however you know her, she's been stalking...