Code,920012,
Subject,Virgil Brown,
Date,4/16/2008,
Interviewer,James Calder,
ABSTRACT,"Virgil E. Brown Sr., resident of Cleveland Heights, moved to Cleveland in 1929 at age twelve.  Brown relates his experiences growing up during the Depression, including local schools, baseball games and the availability of part time jobs.  Schools and ball teams were racially and ethnically mixed, and he does not remember much racial tension at that time. Brown discusses the changes in shopping habits; the shift from local shops and downtown stores to malls and big box stores, and the loss of vibrant neighborhoods.  Brown served on the Cleveland council in the late 1960's, headed the Board of Elections in 1972 and was the Director of the Ohio Lottery under George Voinovich.  Brown recalls the frustration of the City Council dealing with riots in the 1960's and the atmosphere of the city at that time. Brown bought a home in Glenville in 1945 and describes the area as it changed from a mostly Jewish to a black neighborhood and the property decline as homeowners continued to move out over the years. He describes the devastation and abandonment of buildings due to the riots and the declining economy. Brown hopes the economy in Cleveland can turn around; good jobs are needed to replace factory jobs in the area for working class people.  Brown briefly describes the entertainment district near 105th and Euclid which served as a second downtown, with its bright lights, big name entertainers, and theaters ""all lit up,"" like New York and mentions museums at University Circle.",
Special Notes,"Resident Central and Glenville, Politician",
minutes:,,
0,Introduction,
1,"went High School and Fenn College, neighborhood",
2,"neighborhood memories, worked in different areas of county, play baseball",
3,How neighborhood different from present,
4,"Part-time Jobs around Central Ave., shopping within walking distance",
5,"public transportation to go downtown, downtown shopping",
6,Jobs,
7,"Racial Make-up, Black, Jewish, Italian, few Polish, Jews moved out of area",
8,"Diversity of neighborhoods, baseball",
9,"Glenville riots, beginnings of polarization",
10,"Beginning of Political career, Republican affiliation, role of wife in politics",
11,"Wife hosted political meetings in home, needed rep in district 41",
12,"3 terms as councilman, 1967,1969, 1971",
13,"Director of Board of Elections, 1972-1979",
14,Being Republican,
15,Interactions with other politicians,
16,As Commissioner and Director of Ohio Lottery,
17,Democratic Majority in City Council,
18,Balance of Power,
19,"Crossing Party lines, major projects, tore down abandoned buildings",
20,"projects and activities, playground, emergency services,",
21,"""tough times"" in Cleveland",
22,"Cleveland in 1930s, Depression",
23,"Impact of depression, used to poverty",
24,,
25,Glenville riots,
26,,
27,"Plans to rebuild, vacant houses",
28,Move to Glenville 1945,
29,Glenville nice area/Goldcoast Glenville Area Community Council,
30,"Descriptions of the area, racial dynamics, deterioration",
31,"Jewish population moved out, natural progression",
32,"Neighbors integration, Cleveland Heights",
33,"Nightlife, 105th",
34,Theaters and Nightclubs descriptions,
35,,
36,Musical Groups,
37,Crowds,
38,Favorite Entertainment,
39,WHK Radio,
40,Entertainment,
41,Why enjoy Cleveland,
42,Political economy,
43,Manufacturing in Cleveland,
44,,
45,Job at Republic Steel,
46,Need for Manufacturing,
47,Work in Coke Oven at Republic Steel,
48,"Change in Glenville, shopping,",
49,University Circle,
50,UC as arts and cultural center,
51,,
52,,
53,,
54,,
55,,
56,,
57,,
58,,
59,,
60,,
61,,
62,,
63,,
64,,
65,,
66,,
67,,
68,,
69,,
70,,
71,,
72,,
73,,
74,,
75,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,
,,