The Cleveland History From 1796 - 1946

1796 - General Moses Cleaveland declares area good for settling; two acre lots to sell for $50

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1800 - Pres. John Adams signs bill placing Western Reserve area under U.S. jurisdiction.

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1802 - First census reports 76 free male inhabitants at least age 21.

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1809 - Mail route opens between Cleveland and Detroit; every two weeks carrier follows Indian trail on foot.

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1813 - Cleveland residents hear sounds of distant gunfire as Oliver Hazard Perry defeats British on Lake Erie.

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1814 - Cleveland becomes official village with its 34 dwellings and business places.

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1820 - Traveling troupe brings Cleveland its first theatrical performance; adults pay 50 cents children 25 cents.

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1829 - City purchases first fire engine for $285; trustees backing purchase all defeated in next election.

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1833 - Couple buys Lake Erie Island for $1.50 an acre; Kelly Island thrives with red cedar, vineyards and peach orchards.

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1840 - Ohio considered more desirable to settle after Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal opens, provides route from Akron to Pittsburgh.

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1846 - City's population passes 10,000 on its 50th anniversary year.

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1856 - Western Union Telegraph Company establishes in Cleveland.

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1862 - Cleveland women organize country's first Civil War relief society.

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1870 - John D. Rockefeller, other business leaders create Standard Oil Company in Cleveland.

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1880 - Mourners pay respects to assassinated President Garfield on Public Square; burial follows at Lake View Cemetery.

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1894 - City purchases 89 acres of land for nearly $206,000 to create Edgewater Park.

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1906 - Completed trolley line opens; 3 cents to reach the Public Square.

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1915 - Cleveland readies to open art museum, forms Playhouse theater group.

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1918 - Local musicians establish Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.

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1925 - Cleveland Public Library opens doors of new downtwon location.

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1936 - Clevelander Jesse Owens becomes world's greatest living athlete after Berlin Olympics.

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1938 - Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sell first illustrated story of Superman.

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1942 - City purchases Spirit of Cleveland bomber to send to General MacArthur.

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1946 - Cleveland Browns defeat Miami Seahawks 44-0 in their first game played at Stadium.