Our conversation with Helen Smith, former Cleveland City Councilwoman and community activist, among other things, took place May 18th at Talkies. We covered a lot of ground: the reasons for her grandfather’s migration from Tremont to Cleveland Heights, her brother with the allergies and the gas mask, Bruce Hedderson and the beginnings of the back to Ohio City movement, Patrick Conway and The Great Lakes Brewery, Father Bob Begin, Roberta Steinbacher, Tom Wagner, the Corrigan family, Margaret McCafferty, Mary Rose Oakar the teacher, Eddy Feighan, Tommy Campbell, Bill Sullivan, Dennis Kucinich, and Duck Island, named, supposedly, because the kids there always ducked under the bridge to avoid the police. Hear how citizen activists took it upon themselves to take out a bridge with a huge bonfire, and how a street nearly went to war over a crooked basketball court. My notes wrap with Helen’s reasoned commentary on George Forbes, in perspective and in history.
This one was fun. Enjoy. There’s also some good stuff here about the Port Authority, as well as ODOT; hear James Carney, Sr.’s ironic comments from the past. –Tim Ferris
Part 1. Time: 21.00
Part 2. Time: 19.12
Part 3. Time: 14.33
Part 4. Time: 17.24
The transcript for this podcast is forthcoming. The average cost of a transcription is $100. If you’d like to see this podcast transcribed, please consider helping to pay for its production. If you use PayPal, under Payment For: enter Helen Smith Transcript. If you prefer to pay by check, note the transcription in the memo field.
[…] A couple of good interviews with people not running for office. The highlight of the Helen Smith interview for me was her telling the story about the Duck Island residents, that became a running joke throughout. Spending an hour with Joe Foley was like talking to your 90-year-old grandfather about his experiences in World War II. Well, only if your grandfather was instrumental in establishing the Neurology Department at University Hospitals during the early 1960’s and was a graduate from Harvard Medical School with an expertise in dementia… […]
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