11111 Orville Avenue

The history of the home at 11111 Orville Avenue reflects the transitions of Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood. The area was once farms and market gardens. In 1870 it was incorporated as the Village of Glenville and Cleveland’s wealthy families maintained large suburban estates there. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the estates were carved into suburban subdivisions and finally divided further to a dense urban neighborhood. [1] In 1905, the village was annexed into the City of Cleveland, but is still referred to as the Glenville neighborhood.

Mary and Thor Hamilton owned a large plot of land in Glenville that today would encompass dozens of city blocks along Orville from Doan Street (now East 105th) and past Melville Street (now East 111th). The Hamilton family had lived there since the 1870s, if not earlier. [2] County Records sometimes list them as “otherwise known as the McHamiltons” and they may have changed their last names to be more accepted in Cleveland. [3]

 

In 1896, Mary and Thor sold a portion of her land to Howard and Hattie Hamilton for $1; they were most likely related. According to the City Directory of 1889, Howard Hamilton was a carpenter and was living on the property in 1910 when the house was built. [4]  APOC rescued pine and maple flooring and hardwood framing lumber including maple, ash and beech woods. These are highly unusual woods to use for house construction, and APOC suspects Mr. Hamilton constructed the home himself with these valuable hardwoods.

 

The Hamiltons further divided the propery in 1910 and a couple named Frank and Anna Reinke purchased the house at 11111 Orville Street.[5] During the Great Depression, many owners and tenants lived in the home. The home was occupied by the McKnights, Grundmans, Zimmermans, Lloyds, Petros and McEnallys; these names represent Cleveland’s once large and shifting immigrant populations. [6]

 

In the 1930s, Glenville was a mostly Jewish neighborhood, but in 1939 Newell E. McEnally, the president of the Metal Fusion Company, lived there with his wife Ann.

 

By1942, an Italian family headed by Frank and Anna Borally were living in the home. Frank was a baker by trade and ran Frank’s Bakery. His brother, Albert Borally served in the United States Army in World War II.

In 1953, the Borallys moved east to Monticello and opened Franks Pastry Shop in South Euclid. [9] The Borally’s now run the successful Borally Catering in Richmond Heights. Linda Borally lived in the home as an infant and today works at the catering company. She was both surprised and pleased to hear that her family home is being upcycled to provide useful and beautiful products.

 

Like the Borally family, many of Glenville’s European population began to move to suburban areas after World War II and by the 1950s, Glenville was almost entirely African American. In 1954, Lucius (sometimes spelled Lucious) Hubbard, his wife Lessie and ultimately their eight children lived in the home.[10] Mr. Hubbard was a church deacon[11]  as well as a Trackman and he inspected and maintained railroad tracks.[12] The Hubbard family lived in the home for almost fifty years and their family can be found in Call and Post articles from the 1950s and 1960s. [12]

 

 

REFERENCES

1.] Cuyahoga County Plat Maps, 1890, Cuyahoga County Archives, Cleveland, Ohio

2.] Volume 24, page 13 Cuyahoga County Recorder’s records, Cleveland, Ohio

3.] Volume 632, page 131 Cuyahoga County Records, Deed, Cleveland, Ohio

http://recorder.cuyahogacounty.us/searchs/Docindex.aspx?docid=24021188&ref_nbr=189604230023

4.] 1889/1890 City Directory of Cleveland, City of Cleveland, Ohio

5.] Volume 1308, page 576 Cuyahoga County Records

http://recorder.cuyahogacounty.us/searchs/Docindex.aspx?docid=23966660&ref_nbr=191012170006

6.] Cuyahoga County Plat Map, 1930, Cuyahoga County Recorder’s Office, Cleveland,

Ohio

7.] 1939 City Directory of Cleveland, City of Cleveland, Ohio.

8.] Metal Fusion Company, website and address

9.] 1942 and 1953 City Directories of Cleveland, City of Cleveland, Ohio

10.] Plain Dealer; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #119| 1974-09-20 | 0554862

11.] Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1962). Cleveland, Oh.: Feb 28, 1948. p. 5A

12.] 1954  City Directory of Cleveland, City of Cleveland, Ohio

13.] Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1962). Cleveland, Oh.: Feb 28, 1948. p. 5A

       Cleveland Call and Post (1934-1962). Cleveland, Oh.: Mar 29, 1958. p. 3_B