Run #46: Old Brooklyn

Run #46: Old Brooklyn - Part 6

This was the sixth section run of the Old Brooklyn neighborhood. The boundary included Pearl Road (north and west) to Brookpark Road (south) and State Road (east).

Notable locations included:

Cleveland Library - South Brooklyn Branch: According to CPL: "Originally located on the corner of Pearl and Devonshire, the first site for the South Brooklyn Branch was built with Carnegie funds and belonged to the independent South Brooklyn Village. When the village annexed to Cleveland, the building was turned over to the Cleveland Library Board. In 1936, a former bank building was bought, remodeled, and expanded to house the branch. In 1979, Cleveland Public Library opened a new 10,200-square-foot building. A 1980 sculpture by Carl Floyd, which consists of two sandstone arcs standing approximately ten feet tall, is located on the north side of the building on the corner of Pearl and State Roads. The branch offers a Kids Café in partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to provide free meals for children."

MCP Secure Asset Disposition: This data security company employs 425 at locations in Old Brooklyn, Erie (PA), Canada and the Netherlands. The location in Old Brooklyn occupies a 120,000 square-foot building that was a former RTA bus garage (part of the building is over 100 years old).

Mary Queen of Peace: Mary Queen of Peace is the merged parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel (original parish of the current church) and Corpus Christi. The current church on Pearl Rd. was built in 1930. There is also a preschool-8th grade school on the campus. At it's peak, it once enrolled over 1,000 students. The church also once used to own a gas station.

Cleveland Fire Station #42: This fire station at 4662 Pearl Rd was built in 1949.

Jindra Floral Design: Flower shop on Pearl Road serving up floral arrangement since 1956.

Ampol Hall: Short for American-Polish (Am-Pol), this old banquet hall on Pearl Rd sadly closed in 2017. It was a popular place for polkas, weddings and other community gatherings.

Old Brooklyn Community Elementary & Middle School: Charter school on State Road with enrollment of around 600+ from K-8th. The elementary school is pretty decently rated in comparison to state averages.

Cleveland Presbyterian Korean Church: Per Case Western Reserve: "Korean churches in Cleveland began to organize after a modification in immigration quotas in 1970, when thousands of Koreans entered the U.S., many of them coming to Cleveland. While there were some denominational preferences, many Koreans were either unchurched or unaffiliated. The Korean Assn. aided the newcomers to whom language and custom presented a formidable barrier. During the next 15 years, churches quickly augmented the association's services and provided spiritual centers where the Korean language was employed in services and counseling."

Old Brook High School: Charter school serves about 200 students who would be traditionally enrolled in grades 9-12, ages 15-21. These students may have fallen behind in earning credits, have difficulty passing state-required tests, are at risk of dropping out of school, or just need a new environment to get their high school diploma.

Cleveland Clock & Time Co: Since 1924, this time clock business provides comprehensive service for labor management clocks such as punch cards, badge readers, on-site clocks, cloud-based services and more. These folks know time.

Mr. Peabody's Pub & Grille: According to Google Reviews, if you're a hardcore political conservative who also happens to like karaoke, this may be the spot for you.

Tri-Star Skateshop: Tri-Star began in 2004 buy selling boards out of the back of a van and slowly grew the business into the 11,000 sq. foot store, indoor skate park, and memorabilia museum on Brookpark Road today. They "are and always will be 100% skater owned and operated." I lost my hat over the 480 bridge during the run and picked up a new lid from these good folks.

Ed Keating Bingo Center: This massive bingo complex offers games several nights a week. Proceeds benefit sober living facilities. Folks also rave about their cheap but good food.

Enviroserve: This massive business on Brookpark Road offers the services you need to prevent or remediate environmental releases, manage waste, or responses to emergency and catastrophic events.

Dormition of the Mother of God (formerly St. Mary's): Originally St. Mary’s, the church formed in a rented wooden shop on the corner of State Road and Stickney Ave. Parishioners eventually purchased it and three additional lots, and then built a rectory. A recreation hall and an auditorium adjoining the wooden church were constructed next. The current St. Mary’s church building was dedicated in 1950, and six years later, the former church and rectory were converted into a school and a convent. A larger school was dedicated in 1960 (still in operation). In 1981, St. Mary’s purchased the former Producers Dairy property and renovated part of it into the “Crystal Chalet”, a social hall which they began renting out the following year.

Pic Nic's Bar & Grille: Neighborhood bar with a nicely remodeled dining area and outdoor patio. Regulars rave about the breakfast.

Archmere Park: Small neighborhood park on Oak Park Ave featuring playground equipment and newly refurbished tennis courts.

Honey Hut Ice Cream: Honey Hut opened its first location in Old Brooklyn in 1974. Frank Page - an active-duty firefighter at the time - and his family decided to remodel an old shoe repair store at the end of their street. Since then, Frank’s children and grandchildren now operate 5 locations throughout Northeast Ohio. A notable feature is the inclusion of fresh honey as the sweetener. (Their Honey Pecan is a iconic flavor). Like nearby Jack Frost Donuts, Honey Hut is a Cleveland classic. In fact, it's such a big deal that President Biden recently visited the shop in Old Brooklyn during a recent stop in Cleveland. Naturally, this was my post-run meal.

Distance This Section: 11.5 miles (3 runs)

Distance So Far: 262.5

Strava Recording 1

Strava Recording 2

Strava Recording 3