From Red, White and Green to "White"

Sections

Buckeye and the Idealized Past

The remnants of the Buckeye Neighborhood evoked a nostalgic rememberance of an almost idealized past. What remains today is the result of mass exodus and economic shock, and most of what is left are street signs and memories.

Reconstructing Buckeye

Though it may sound like a timeworn phrase, when looking at the history of the Hungarian-American community of Cleveland, it is important to remember what the community looked like in the past. The reality is that the contemporary archivist or photographer must deal with the physical remains left behind. When looking at Buckeye, why it was important, and specifically why its decline left such an impact on the Hungarian community, the physical remnants may simply not tell that story. Buildings change, businesses close, properties are renovated, and grass may grow on vacant lots.

Luckily, there was a way to reconstruct Buckeye....

St. Margaret of Hungary, before and after the "Move"

St. Margaret of Hungary Church was unique in one respect from its other Catholic counterparts. Unlike St. Emeric's and St. Elizabeth's, St. Margaret and its parish leadership endeavored to leave the Cleveland boundaries, and especially the Buckeye neighborhood. It sought to follow the Hungarians who had left for the suburbs. Included in this section are photographs of the former location on E. 116th and the new location in Orange Village.

Church's End and Legacy

As the Hungarian-American community grew in average age, eventually disease, convalescence and death took its toll on the community. With a geographically dispersed population, and without a concentrated neighborhood, attendance at Hungarian events and services declined. As it declined, outside forces precipitated an arguably premature end to St. Margaret of Hungary Church