Identifier,913022
Interviewee,Robert L. Oldenburg
Date,11/8/2013
Interviewer,Terre Maher
Abstract,"Robert Oldenburg shares his memories of growing up as a lifelong Clevelander. He describes his schooling through University School and Western Reserve. He also recalls his job search that led him to eventually become a lawyer. Peppered throughout his story, Oldenburg discusses his father and the influence he has had on his life. For example, Oldenburg mentions that his father used to take a horse and buggy to the market to replenish his father's grocery stock. Additionally, Oldenburg has lived though many ups and downs in Cleveland's history. He recalls the booming industry and Cleveland's recent resurgancy; as well as, tragic events like the East Ohio Gas explosion and the Hough Riots. Finally, he ends by describing his and his wife's volunteer involvment in the community. "
Tags,"St Vincent Charity Hospital, Edgewater Park, Mather School, University School, Lakewood, Western Reserve, Alcatraz, Main Avenue Bridge, Innerbelt Bridge, East Ohio Gas explosion, Bramley family, Cleveland Barons, Cleveland Arena, grocery, West Side Market, old market, electric cars, Cleveland Heights, Plain Dealer, Pickands and Mather, lawyer, Cleveland marshal Law School, indian guides, Fairfax PTA, cumberland pool, skating rink, boy scouts, Beaumont, Short Shelbourne, SEC, University Circle Inc., Heights Community Congress, Restrictive Covenents, Severance family, Judson, Shaker Lakes, Cleveland Playhouse, "
Special Notes,Wife sometimes interrupts the interview with relevant information
0,Describes what is going on outside
1,"Born November 13, 1925; named after Robert Lewis Stevenson"
2,Born in Cleveland Ohio; Born St. Ann Hospital; Father was a doctor at St Vincent Charity Hospital
3,Lived in Cleveland next to grandma near Edgewater Park; married in 1949 and lived in servants quarters above the garage-never served in world war ii
4,He has weak eyes almost went to sight saving school; Louise May Alcot school and Mather School then went to university school
5,Loved his neighborhood commuted to University School from Cleveland near Lakewood discribes his commute
6,Accepted at Williams College but ended up at Western Reserve took medical classes; His brother worked at Alcatraz Jail
7,Lived at home took the street car; took chem and got accepted into medical school but convinced to switch and he graduated in 3 years at 19 years old
8,Enrolled in Spanish 101 and thats when he met Buster his wife; mentions the innerbelt opening
9,Reminds him of the time that the Main Ave Bridge and walking over it; talks about the East Ohio Gas explosion
10,Describes Phyllus seltzer Sculpture Garden - his neighbor
11,Astrup Family also his neighbor; goes back to his memory of the East Ohio Explosion - huge
12,Across the street (Edgewater) the Bramleys lived- still standing along the river they lost everything because of the depression
13,Befriended the goalie for the Cleveland Barons becuase the bank let him stay at the Bramley's house to be a caretaker
14,Describes the 6 day bike races at the Cleveland Arena where the barons played
15,Father was strict and had inspections weekly; grandfather was a grocer on scranton
16,Father took a horse and Buggy to the market for his grandfather before going to med school
17,Grandmother moved to a hotel; mom would drive an electric car and take her siblings around
18,Began as a westsider; bought first house in 1951 on Warrensville Center every 12th house was the same
19,Stayed until 1959 then moved to Cleveland Heights but still went to west side; joked about passports
20,Friend sold them the house in Cleveland Heights; friends moved either in Shaker or Cleveland Heights; Switched to business and graduated from Case
21,Describes how he used to follow the freighters that would come into Cleveland - marine column in the Plain Dealer
22,Describes the few transportation companies that moved steel; applied at Hanna firm-they told him to go to Mather and he got a job in Marine Payroll 1946
23,Then became a railcoal builder - describes it
24,Pickands and Mather stayed a partnership longer than the others well into the 1960s then when they decided to become a corp he realized he needed to become a lawyer
25,Wen to night school - across from the court house; describes stauffers Clevleand Marshall Laww School
26,"Schooling wasn't subsidezaed, but took it as a tax deduction law school from 1950-55; in 1958 companies started paying tuition"
27,Missed the bar by 1/10 of a point the first time but he re took it and passed; describes a night he came home at 11 and the water heater broke
28,describes when hs kids were born - neighbors were helpful
29,"Block parties, and indian guides a part of the boy scouts- campouts in hunting valley on estates"
30,not sure this still happens; would go to cumberland pool and skating park
31,Friends with the mayor of Cleveland Heights; joined the fairfax pta
32,Describes a carpool with a printing salesman and the CEO of Republic
33,Moved to Short Shelbourne which is part of Beaumont's campus after the kids moved out
34,describes mr painter and mr nut; painter had a big house which had a zoo
35,Meuller bought the Van Sweringen house; Painter had animals and they went to the zoo after he went to jail
36,Painter was a banker and went to Jail in 1931 or 1932 during the depression right as the SEC was being created
37,Well organized neighborhoods-he says he is lucky to live in all good neighborhoods; another neighbor Pickett organized University Circle Inc
38,Worked for Osbourne-started an engineering school in India; Oldenburg house was on the tour for the Heights Community Congress
39,Defines Heights Community Congress: anybody could live where they wanted in Cleveland Heights - describes some of the restrictive covenents
40,Thinks community congress is a good idea; very aware of the restrictive covenents dis liked them
41,"They aren't enforceable; can't restrict by race, color, or creed; begins talking about the Hough Riots"
42,He says on the roof of his friends apartment could see the shooting back and forth-he describes his feelings; he hates shooting guns- he hated when his father and University School would train him to shoot
43,Says it was part of his curriculum at Univeristy School and Father loved wrestling and boxing so much that he made his kids do it
44,Father was internal medicine and gastroenterologist; describes how he dealt with the Severances
45,Servents for Severance family became their servants
46,Describes a servant who left for Ireland then came back; He also said that he and his siblings would cook on Thursdays and Sundays
47,Describes the Oldenburg Family Waffles; had lots of pets
48,He dealt with the garden at Juson and he loves it; they have been at judson for 15 years
49,He was good with Plants because he and his bros had to garden even though they had a gardener; describes the gardening situation at Judson
50,Describes his involvement in saving the Shaker Lakes
51,Describes his wife's involvement in the Office of aging; faith has helped them- he is congregational and his wife is presbyterian
52,Now they go to st. Paul's describes the progression in their faith; he also talks about the garden at st. paul's
53,Cleveland is a great place to raise kids especially in Cleveland Heights
54,Mrs Oldenburg talks a bit; loves the area around University Circle used to go to the orchestra all the time but its difficult 
55,Also go to the Cleveland Playhouse; Cleveland all of their lives like to see it come alive again
56,Likes that young people are living here; he's been lucky so he wants to share
57,Father wanted to instill discipline; and would help him with the check writing
58,Family had beachhouses on the West Coast and Fort Myers
59,Talks about the Bramley estate again on from Edgewater to Clifton Park; had to watch out for bootleggers
60,Loved living on the lake but more action in the area around Judson
61,Likes the growth around university circle and uptown
62,Talks about his wife's involvment as a volunteer for the junior league
63,Meals on Wheels and things like that; Talks about Betty Rose
64,Thanks and End