GLENVILLE NOW

Glenville went through major transitions in the 50s and 60s. The neighborhood has been witness to both joy and devastation. The permanent residents who have lived through the good and bad continue to see Glenville for what it is; a loving community focused neighborhood in the heart of Cleveland.

Glenville began its next major transition in the aftermath of the Hough Riots in 1966 and the Glenville Shootout in 1968, “Anybody that was not of color left. They sold their houses and they moved. Any people of color that had financial means could leave. If they could afford to leave, they left.” Darrell Branch shared.  Storefronts and houses were left vacant. Due to redlining and de facto segregation, resources were distributed to other neighborhoods and schools continue to be affected today. 

Due to people leaving, school enrollment decreased. Glenville residents, like Don Freeman, advocate for school reform and for finding solutions to low enrollment. Collinwood High School, which has been open since 1926, along with 10 other schools in the area were close to being merged due to a decrease in population size in late 2019. There are 305 students at Collinwood currently, but the school can hold 1,625. The same schools were near capacity throughout the 50s and 60s. Collinwood remains open as district leaders try to fill seats in the school. The changes in schools are a result of continued divides between Black neighborhoods and White Neighborhoods. While there is still progress to be made in the school system, residents have worked together to revitalize the arts community in Glenville.

During the 21st century, Glenville continues to grow back into prominence. The fight for equity continues with Black arts and activist organizations calling the new Glenville Arts Campus home. People are moving in and investing in the neighborhood. As the neighborhood continues to grow, some Glenville landmarks remain the same as before. Green spaces and historic landmarks, like the Cleveland Cultural Gardens and Rockefeller Park, continue to gather attention. “They’re tearing down a lot of the old stuff and building up new. The only thing that really looks the same are the Cultural Gardens. They take care of the different gardens now. They pay a lot of attention to them,” says Cynthia Evans who grew up in Glenville. 

Despite the difficult times Glenville experienced in the 60s and 70s, residents were always able to find joy. People gather for festivals and still maintain their beautiful gardens, like Fannie Allen who continues to grow vegetables in her backyard.  We see the result of that work now in the beauty of Glenville today. It remains a neighborhood powered by community.