C-Town IQ:Fun Facts About Forest City - Cleveland Article

Famous Firsts

Alan Freed’s Moondog Coronation Ball, held at the Cleveland Arena on March 21, 1952 is regarded as the first ever rock concert.

Cleveland was the world’s first city to be fully lighted by electricity in 1879. 

Cleveland was home to the first traffic light which began operating on August 5, 1914. 

East 105th Street and Euclid Avenue in Cleveland was the site of the first pedestrian button for the control of a traffic light in 1948.

John Lambert of Ohio City made the first automobile in the US in 1891.

Cleveland hosted the first Monday Night Football game between the Browns and New York Jets on September 21, 1970.

The first newspaper for African Americans, The Aliened American was published here in 1853.

The world’s first electric streetcar, invented by Charles Brush, was operated here in 1884.

Cleveland’s 225 kW Vestas machine is the first utility-scale wind turbine to generate electricity in the heart of an American city. It was installed by the Great Lakes Science Center in June 2006.

The first successful blood transfusion was performed in Cleveland, by Dr. George Crile who later founded the Cleveland Clinic.

Euclid Avenue used to be called “Millionaire’s Row” and was home to John D. Rockefeller.

Cleveland was originally spelled “Cleaveland,” named after General Moses Cleaveland. The “a” was dropped so that the name could fit into a newspaper’s masthead.

Playhouse Square Center is the second largest performing arts center in the US. New York City’s Lincoln Center is the largest.

The very popular sitcom, “The Drew Carey Show” was set in Cleveland.

Nicknames for Cleveland include: “The Forest City”, “ “Metropolis of the Western Reserve”, “Sixth City”, “The Rock ‘n’ Roll Capital of the World”, and “C-Town”.

The first unassisted triple play in a Major League Baseball World Series was completed by second baseman Bill Wambsganss, of the Cleveland Indians, in 1920.

The Arcade, located downtown on Euclid Avenue, was the first large-scale indoor shopping mall in the United States. It first opened in 1890 and was financed in part by two of Cleveland’s most prominent citizens, John D. Rockefeller and Louis Severence among others.

Fun Facts

Life Savers Candy was invented in Cleveland by Clarence Crane in 1912.

The NFL’s Vince Lombardi trophy is awarded to the Super Bowl Champions each year and is handcrafted by Tiffany & Co. It was initially inscribed with the words “World Professional Football Championship” but was officially renamed in 1970 in memory of legendary Green Bay Packers head coach Vince Lombardi after his sudden death from cancer and to commemorate his victories in the first two Super Bowls. The Lombardi Trophy lives year round at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Historical Facts

Cleveland serves as a destination point for iron ore shipped from Minnesota, as well as coal transported by rail.

John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in Cleveland in 1870.

Many prominent Clevelanders from the industrial era of the early 1900’s are buried in Lake View Cemetery, including President James A. Garfield and John D. Rockefeller.

The Women’s Christian Temperance Union was formed here in 1874 and soon spread throughout the nation.

Terminal Tower, finished in 1930, was the tallest building in the US, outside of New York City until 1964.

The Key Tower is the tallest building in Ohio.

The Olmstead-inspired Cleveland Metroparks System that runs throughout Cuyahoga County, are commonly referred to as the area’s “Emerald Necklace.”

One Playhouse Square was originally used as the broadcast studios of WJW. Alan Freed coined the term “Rock and Roll” while a DJ on this AM station.

The Cleveland Orchestra is one of the “Big Five” major orchestras in the US. The other four are: the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony and Philadelphia Symphony.

Paul Simon’s One Trick Pony movie was filmed at the Agora Theater on Euclid Avenue. Other movies filmed in Cleveland include: The Avengers, Stranger Than Paradise, Light Of Day, The Rainmaker, Almost Famous, Welcome To Collinwood, The Deer Hunter and A Christmas Story.

Fashion Week Cleveland, held the first week of May each year, is the third largest fashion week in the US behind New York and Los Angeles.

Cleveland’s sister cities include: Alexandria, Egypt; Bangalore, India; Cleveland, England; Lima, Peru, and Vincenza, Italy.

The high level Lorain-Carnegie Bridge spans across the Cuyahoga River and connects Lorain and Carnegie Avenues. It was renamed the Hope Memorial Bridge in the early 1980’s in honor of comedian Bob Hope’s family who were stone-masons in Cleveland.

Corporate HQs

Applied Industrial Technologies-Supports Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) and select Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) markets throughout North America.

Eaton-A leading provider of electrical components and systems for power quality for industrial and mobile equipment as well as the aerospace industry.

Forest City Enterprises-A diversified real estate management and development company.

Sherwin Williams-Founded by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams in 1866.

Key Corp-The 24th largest bank in the United States by total assets.