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About
Wickliffe
Country : United
States of America
State : Ohio
County : Lake
County
Population:13
484
(census
2000)
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The city
of Wickliffe is located about 15 miles northeast from the center of Cleveland,
Ohio and about two miles inland from Lake Erie. It was originally a precinct
of Willoughby called “Chagrine” before taking its present name.
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It
is known that some of the original settlers were living in Wickliffe as
early as 1810, and by 1815 there was even a small hotel. However the first
recorded sale of land in Wickliffe was not until 1817, and the city takes
this date as its official founding. The surrounding area consisted predominantly
of small farms with the harvest from orchards and vineyards providing a
livelihood
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for
their owners. In 1852, construction of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
Railroad (later the New York Central) passed through Wickliffe and a few
small industries grew along its tracks. Not much else changed until late
in the 19th century when the area began to attract wealthy Cleveland businessmen
looking for country property on which to build elaborate summer retreats.
One
of these was Frank Rockefeller, and another was Harry Coulby,
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a
shipping magnate who built a large estate in Wickliffe named “Couellenby.”
Situated on a ridge with a view of Lake Erie, Coulby’s mansion provided
a commanding vantage point to observe the arrivals and departures of his
fleet of ships as they navigated Lake Erie.
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In March
of 1916 an election was held on the question of incorporating Wickliffe
as a independent village. The proposition passed, and the popular Harry
Coulby was elected as the first Mayor of the newly established Village
of Wickliffe.
Wickliffe remained
a small village until the expansion following World War II placed it in
the path of progress. Several new industries decided to build here and
it was a period of explosive residential growth. Wickliffe officially became
a city on October 6, 1951, when its population grew to 5,002. Three years
later, in 1954, the city purchased the Coulby mansion and 54 acres of the
original estate (which had become a private school following Coulby’s death).
Coulby’s historic, white-marble mansion became Wickliffe City Hall, which
it remains to this day.
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Adjacent
to the beautiful mansion, on the old estate acreage that now serves as
a city park and recreational property, the bandstand that you see was constructed
in 1986. With its all-masonry construction, it is a departure from the
usual wooden bandstands seen in neighboring cities in both design and materials.
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In this
bandstand we see something unique. It reflects the sturdiness of the early
pioneers and the self-sufficient spirit that marked the early history of
this place, as well as the uncomplicated tastes of the generation of residents
who built it.
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This rugged
bandstand is rented by the city for celebrations of many types, such as
weddings, reunions, company picnics, etc. where the music is arranged by
the renters. City-sponsored musical performances at the bandstand are irregular.
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Concerts
in the Park
6:30-8:30 pm
GAZEBO AT COULBY
PARK
Ron
Stark Orchestra
Concert
- Wednesday,
August 15,2007
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....there
were some raindrops on the way there, but they stopped long enough for
the concert by the Ron Stark Orchestra to take place.
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The
5-piece orchestra plays
"standards"
from the '40s and '50s, some polkas and waltzes... (Vic Cooke)
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Crédits
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Links
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Pictures
and
Information
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Vic Cooke
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pbase Artist
Vic Cooke
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To see it
on Google-Earth
Lattitude
: 41.5952
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Longitude:
-81.4775
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