Code,913005
Subject,Robert Brooks
Date,8/12/11
Interviewer,Nina Gibans and Mark Souther
Abstract,"Robert Brooks was born in Cleveland. He spent much of his life in the University Circle area. More specifically, Brooks lived on the corner of East 105th Street and Chester Avenue. He vividly describes and shares some of the experiences he had in that neighborhood. He learned French at the Demonstration School for Foreign Languages and subsequently taught French in the Cleveland Public Schools. Later in life he dedicated his time to volunteering with the program Project Learn, as well as with the Cleveland Orchestra and Citizen's Academy. "
Tags,"University Circle, 105th Street Market, 105th Street and Chester Avenue, Euclid Avenue, Demonstration School of Foreign Languages, Church of the Covenant, mulberry trees, Hessler Street, Glenville, Cultural Gardens, Cleveland Orchestra"
Special Notes,"The sound quality is excellent, except for a few places Gibans is difficult to hear. "
minutes:,
0,Mark Souther introduces the interview. Nina Gibans makes a few introductory comments. Robert Brooks was born in Cleveland. 
1,He grew up close to University Circle and later in life lived on 105th and Chester and then Judson. He was a Cleveland Public School teacher and mentions that the Cleveland Art Museum and the schools had a relationship. 
2,Brooks taught French to grades 2-6. He started in 1955 and retired in 1983. 
3,"After teaching he became a volunteer, giving much of his time to St. Luke's Hospital and Health Hill Hospital with Project Learn. He currently volunteers for Citizen's Academy and the Cleveland Orchestra. Gibans compliments Brooks on his volunteer achievments. "
4,Brooks discusses some of his volunteer activities. He was exposed to University Circle by visiting the art museum and Severance Hall. 
5,"He describes seeing the Cultural Gardens for the first time. He lived in the Glenville area on Edminten Ave. and on North Blvd., but remarks that he lived on the slum-like end of the Blvd."
6,"He went to the cultural gardens to play. He lists the public schools he attended. He received scholarships to attend the Demonstration School of Foreign Languages, during summers. He mentions Mather Mansion and Harkness Chapel. "
7,Brooks lists the different French teachers he studied under at the Demonstration School of Foreign Languages. The apartment building he lived in on 105th and Chester was home to members of the Cleveland Orchestra. 
8,"He used to walk to concerts to see the Cleveland Orchestra and describes the route he would take. He describes what his neighborhood on 105th and Chester looked like, by naming the different buildings that used to stand there. "
9,His apartment looked out on to the Banks-Baldwin Publishing Company and beyond that was a temple. 
10,The 105th Street Market was still operating and some would phone in their orders and send a chauffeur to pick up their groceries. Gibans provides names of sellers at the 105th Street Market. He frequently used the Greyhound Station on 107th Street. 
11,"Brooks lists some of the shops, drug stores and even doctor offices that were in close proximity to his apartment. He also went to the local YMCA to swim. He remembers that in a two block area there were at least 5 theatres. "
12,"Growing up, the theatres were the place to go and a ticket cost a dime. He did not eat out often, but remembers a Gazelle Restaurant. "
13,In the summers at the Demonstration School he played in the Church of the Covenant's lawn and he describes the lawn. He comments on the process of institutions purchasing the mansions in the University Circle Area. 
14,The mansions and apartment buildings were very elegant on Euclid Avenue and he so hoped to get inside one of them before they were torn down. The mansion opposite Hessler Street was torn down to build a parking lot. 
15,"Brooks, Gibans and Souther discuss Hessler Street activities. Brooks remembers walking in the backyards of the builings on Hessler and describes the changes that took place on the street over time. "
16,Gibans and Brooks comment on the abundance of mulberry trees in the University Circle Area. Gibans explains what will happen with the recording. 
17,Gibans continues to explain what will be produced from the recording. The interview ends. 
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