PRESERVING
HISTORY The Cleveland Restoration Society helps develop new Civil Rights Trail. By Rhonda Crowder
36 COMMUNITY LEADER | MAY 2022
moment to mark sites that have been underrepresented in our field of historic preservation.” Formally called “In Their Footsteps: Developing an African American Civil Rights Trail in Cleveland, OH,” the project involves the installation of 10 Ohio Historical Markers at the top 10 sites in Cleveland associated with the struggle
for civil rights for African Americans between the years 1954 to 1976. Crowther describes the markers as “huge” and “beautifully cast in bronze.” She says the markers are really popular and attract motorists, who will stop and get out of their car to read them. “It signals something happened here,” she says. The message with this project, Crowther continues, is a need for civil rights in today’s world. “Civil rights didn’t just start and end,” she adds. She also wants people to know civil rights activities were not exclusive to the South. “It led to some important legislation even in the North.” Seven of the sites have been identified. The first three announced were Cory United Methodist Church, Glenville High School and a location in the Hough neighborhood near East 79th Street and Hough Ave., where the Hough Uprising was initiated. Three other locations include: Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church, which served as headquarters for
ISTOCK / COURTESY THE CLEVELAND RESTORATION SOCIETY
ince its beginning in the early 1970s, the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) has focused on preserving commercial and residential historic buildings. But with the support of a $50k grant from the National Park Service and generous donors, they’ve taken up the task of preserving history — African American history to be exact — as the organization has embarked upon the development of a Civil Rights Trail here in Cleveland. CRS is the largest non-governmental, regional historic preservation organization in Ohio and a National Preservation Partners Network member. With an engaged board of trustees, a professional staff and active programs, the organization is recognized nationally as a leader in the American preservation movement. Kathleen Crowther, 65, president of CRS, is ecstatic about the project. She notes that the trail is essential to Cleveland because of the city’s role in what is known as the Modern Civil Rights Movement. “We’re doing it because it hasn’t been done,” says Crowther. “It’s a good
