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Parks, Politicians and the People who made Euclid strong

In 1809, Euclid township was incorporated with the first records dating from April 2, 1810. Henry Pickands was Euclid's first of 13 mayors in 1903 with an annual salary of $10.

The City Charter was adopted by voters in 1951 to secure benefits of municipal home rule under the Ohio Constitution. This established our Mayor-Council form of government.

The first city parks included the 55 acres comprising Memorial Park to the east of the municipal buildings on East 222nd Street. Other parks included the public land around the Community Center and along Euclid Creek which is managed by Cuyahoga County. Since those early parks, others have sprung up around the community adding pools, playgrounds and many more acres over the years.

One of the earliest settlers was David Dille who came in November 1798. He settled on a main road about a half mile southwest of Euclid Creek. Mr. Dille had five sons who were nearly grown when he arrived in Eucild, and then had 14 more children after he settled here. Mr. Dille lived the remainder of his long life in Euclid and died here having done his duty to his country as a soldier, pioneer and parent.

Video interviews with retired Euclid Police:

Click here to watch the video of Euclid's Police history!

Video interviews with retired Euclid Fire Fighters:

Click here to watch the video of Euclid's Fire fighting memories!

Video interviews with retired Euclid Municipal Court Judges:

Click here to watch the video of Euclid's Court history!

Audio interview with Mayor Harry J. Knuth

On July 14, 1975, Harry J. Knuth recorded a tape that we can enjoy by linking here. He began with comments like "after working in my parents' greenhouse, I got into politics." "Once we had dirt roads and I have seen this city change from a small village to a city of 70,000 people." He mentioned statistics that Euclid was the 9th wealthiest in Ohio, we had the 4th largest high school in the state, and he was proud that we had the youngest fire department equipment in the state.

Mayor Knuth mentioned the "brand new shopping mall" (Euclid Square Mall) saying that Euclid people shouldn't have to go to Mentor to shop. He had many memories to share and was certainly proud of the city in which he spent his life. Listen to Mayor Knuth's 32 minute recording.

Audio interview with Geraldine DeVoe - family was one of the earliest settlers

January 11, 1975 Mrs. Geraldine Devoe spoke of her family who settle here when her great, great, great grandfather, John Crosier, brought his family to the Euclid Township to settle after his participation in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Crosier is buried in Euclid's Cemetery and his great grandson's family, Devoe, is the reason for the street named after him just south of Euclid's Municipal Golf Course.

You'll enjoy listening to Mrs. Devoe recount her family's significance in Euclid. Listen to Mrs. Devoe's 45 minute recording.

Audio interview with Mr. and Mrs. Emerson (Verna) Bickley - first black family in Euclid

The interview with Mr. and Mrs. Bickley was conducted on October 10, 1981. They were the first black family to buy a house in Euclid in 1928. TTheir dream was to own a home near the water. They bought a new home that was only the 3rd home built on Tracy Avenue. Most of the street was planted with orchards at that time.

Mr. Bickley ws a mail carrier who worked in Cleveland and Mrs. Bickley attended Western Reserve University walking south to Euclid Avenue to take a bus downtown. They never felt comfortable sending their son to attend school in Euclid; so they sent him to Cleveland. They were courageous pioneers and put up with a lot of harassment. Mrs. Bickley eventually served on the Board of the YMCA which at first had rejected her for membership.

In this recording, they share every aspect of what life was like in those early years. Church, stores and neighborhood life were topics they discussed. Listen to Mr. & Mrs. Bickley's 24 minute recording.