What do you say?

Dussault Moving, Inc.

"Our family has lived in and done business in Lakewood for three generations.  This small town is full of big living.  No surrounding city can boast the shops and amenities that are within walking distance here in Lakewood.  From the Gold Coast to the west and east ends culture and diversity can be found.  We see all types of folks moving into Lakewood, for many reasons. Good schools, great nightlife, close to downtown! We love the city like atmosphere with the small town family feeling."

David Breudigam Sales Consultant, Emerald Health

"I moved to Lakewood in October 1996 for its proximity to downtown Cleveland. Before moving to Lakewood, I was living in the Columbus area. The houses were newly developed there. They looked pretty much the same. In jogging down Lakewood’s streets, I’ve noticed each house has its own character. I especially like the homes on Edgewater Drive, Lake Road and Clifton Boulevard. I enjoy Lakewood for the culture and history. There’s a lot of recreational activity as well as social activity. I play softball for Doolittles, a sports pub in the Lakewood Softball League. You can’t beat the bar scene and social venues along Detroit and Madison Avenues. There are great restaurants in Lakewood. I especially like Amici’s and Georgio’s. There are many beautiful churches in town. The architecture is amazing."

"I grew up in Lakewood in the '50s and attended Madison Elementary School. When I was twelve, my family moved out of state, but I will always remember my nine years in Lakewood with special fondness. I can still recall when our street was paved with bricks and garbage collection was done with open bed trucks. Though it is now going on some forty years, I still have dreams from time to time about some of my old elementary school classmates, so Lakewood still exists in my heart and psyche. I am a little wary of coming back for a visit, for fear that it will all be changed. If there is any way to get in touch with old classmates, I'd love to hear about it!"

"As an addendum to my previous comments, I've since made it back to Lakewood twice in the last five years. I was awestruck by how much it still matched my childhood memories. Thomas Wolfe wrote "You Can't Go Home Again," but that certainly wasn't the case with Lakewood. If someone were to offer me a job back there, I'd move back in a heartbeat."

"You get the feeling that the community is rooted, the houses have character. It still has a vibrant main street through an identifiable center of town. This place felt like 'home' right away. There are few places like this in the country--with all the benefits of living close to a major city, yet with a feeling of being in your own town. Lakewood passes the popsicle test--your kid can walk to a store in five minutes and get a popsicle--they don't have to wait for you to drive them to the mall."

"I like the lake, the valley, being able to get from home to work on time to go to my kids soccer game. I also like the diverse architecture -- every house has a unique quirk/feature. The neighbors and the neighborhoods are friendly. I like the idea of walking into a locally owned hardware store and knowing the salespeople."

"I like the hardwood floors, leaded glass cupboards, and the tall ceilings. I love my apartment, more so than the house I grew up in. In the summer, I love to sit on my porch during the hellacious thunderstorms we have here. The people are very friendly -- I love having sidewalks and actually being able to walk places. This town is kid friendly, pet friendly, and pedestrian friendly. I don't know why anyone would want to live anywhere else, considering the location and quality of life."

"I like the character of the city -- the houses, unique architecture, the neighborhoods. I like to sit on my front porch and get a sense of what's going on in the neighborhood. It's refreshing to see so many generations of people living together here."

"Why do I live in Lakewood? Trees. Cool lake breezes. I love the older homes, each with a distinctive character. There are many pizza place, and you can walk to church or to the doughnut shop. I like the progressive library system. It's a good place to raise kids."

"I like the beautiful lakes and the Metroparks. There are lots of programs, recreational and academic, for my child. I like being close to downtown, yet separated from the center of Cleveland."

"Lakewood still has neighborhoods; you can sit on the front porch, talk with neighbors, feel like a part of the community. The diversity of the programs offered in the public schools is fabulous. These programs meet the need of students across the spectrum. It is easy to get people behind issues here, because it seems that people are really invested financially and emotionally in this town. My child actually gave me a tour of the Art Museum after his last field trip. The character that exists in this town -- in the people, the schools, the neighborhoods -- cannot be built; it has to evolve over time."

"Lakewood for me is about knowing the merchants in a downtown that hasn't been obliterated by cookie cutter shopping malls. It's about sitting on the front porch with an iced tea. It's about genuine neighborhood red brick schools. It's a sense of being rooted that I cannot describe. It's about seeing three generations of people at a Sunday 'Hometown Band' concert. It's streets vs. roads, storefronts vs. malls, and front porches vs. attached garages. There are few things in life I can comfortably and unconditionally recommend to others. Lakewood is one of them. I love it here."

"Lakewood is a place of much spirituality. Churches abound. Neighbors also include people of Jewish and Islamic traditions. Through the efforts of our clergy and prayer leaders, prayer services have been raised in which all people of the three monotheistic faiths have been involved. We prayed together at Thanksgiving for all the benefits God has given. We prayed together in Spring of 1996 asking for an end of strife and for peace in Bosnia. It is not every community where inter-faith opportunities such as these are happening. We raise prayers from Jewish, Islamic, and Christian households and corporate worship places. It's a reason to love this city. God's Spirit is evident here."

"During the past few weeks the Beth Israel Synagogue (14308 Triskett, Cleveland) was vandalized and bullets were fired through the building. Many people were outraged and saddened that this violence could happen in our neighborhood. Through the efforts of the faith communities, a prayer service was held at the synagogue. The sanctuary was filled with people representing many faiths. We sang, we prayed, we read and celebrated together. I stood in this Cleveland temple, as did many of my Lakewood friends and neighbors. The Beth Israel congregation was so welcoming and pleased with the community support. The air seemed electric; we stood side by side to show our support for each other's right to worship as we chose. At the close of the service I heard someone say, "I feel we were on holy ground." Amen to that!

"I love Lakewood. I just moved here from Berkeley, California. Lakewood is the closest thing to Berkeley I've seen. I am a Berkeley graduate and so is my girlfriend. We find Lakewood has a family atmosphere with an edge -- meaning, you could be pleasantly surprised here."

"I spent my teenage years living in Lakewood. I attended college in Columbus where I've lived for the past seven years. Nothing could [make] me miss my home town more! Now that I'm just about to finish grad school, my husband and I are looking for a home in Lakewood. There is nowhere I'd rather live or raise a family. Lakewood offers so many things that are fastly disappearing from the American urban landscape. Lakewood has all of the benefits of urban living without losing its sense of community, which is very important to me. What else is great about Lakewood? Diversity, architecture, trees, a healthy downtown commercial district, the lake, and the feeling that history is all around you."

"I left Lakewood in 1973 at the age of 21 to move to San Diego and eventually Las Vegas my current home of 16 years. I go back to Lakewood about once a year or so to visit family, and find it to be something of a tap root. It's a great feeling to walk down tree lined streets at just about any time of year except winter and let the nostalgia take over. I'm glad there are so many people who value a community like Lakewood. I keep coming back and who knows, one day may decide to stay.

We have lived in Lakewood for over 30 years now and enjoyed every year spent here. We live on Clifton Blvd. the blvd. of trees. We enjoy just walking down Clifton taking in the splendor of the age old trees and the atmosphere. We often wish the old trolleys were back even though we were not here at that time when they existed.

I have lived in a double, a single, an apartment, and then two more single homes. Lakewood is a community that offers a lot of great places to live and work. A gateway to Lake Erie, close to stores and entertainment. A grand place to call home.

I had the good fortune to live in this beautiful city from october 1975 until june 1979, when I graduated from LHS. Although I now live in my native country, Guatemala, I still keep great memories about the people that I met, teachers that I had, places that I visited, excellent friends and teammates at the varsity soccer team and loved ones with whom I spent very few but unforgettable moments. I have had the opportunity to live in other states and other countries, but nothing will top the time that I lived in beautiful Lakewood, Ohio. Although my last visit was on January 1983, I still hope to visit sometime in the future with my wife and two kids.

I spent the four best years of my childhood on Belle Ave. from 1969 to 1973. There were more than 100 kids in the neighborhood! (good Catholic families) I'm lucky because I'll always have the best memories. Lincoln School, St. Luke's, walking home everyday for lunch, big trees, sidewalks, the coolest old homes, watching thunderstorms from the front porch, taking a quarter up to Schuster's and buying a lot of candy with it, Buddy Bell and the Indians, swimming at Lakewood Pool, dancing on the front lawn, building forts, doorbell ditch, the Partridge Family!, oh my...that's only a FEW of my fond recollections of Lakewood. I'll always treasure your town.

I was born in Lakewood and lived here through 3rd grade. I spent the next 8 years in Parma Hts. and Rocky River and during that whole period, I remembered and missed Lakewood. I moved back in the middle of my junior year of high school and I was so impressed with the friendliness of the students and the size of the school!! After graduation, I lived in California and all over Cleveland and then I married and eventually returned to Lakewood again---although we moved and bought our first home in Westlake. With the arrival of our fourth child, we had outgrown our 1950's post war home and we needed to find a place with at least 4 bedrooms, a decent yard and space for a growing family. After searching Olmsted Falls, Berea, Westlake and North Olmsted, my heart brought me back to Lakewood, with the promise of a beautiful neighborhood and a big old house!!! We have our big old house which is in need of many repairs but I love it anyway!! It is on beautiful Belle Avenu! e, it's big, it's old, it's 5 minutes from the park and it's in Lakewood---what more could a mother of 5 and native Lakewoodite want???!!

I was born in Lakewood.  I lived on the same street in the same house and played with the same friends in Lakewood for twelve years.  After twelve years, we were the only family of all my friends to move off that street.  Now I'm twenty-four, and all those other families are still there.  That really says something.

When we moved it was to Lima, Ohio.  We lasted there ten months.  It just wasn't "home."  So back to Lakewood we came.  I went to Lakewood High School, then off to college.  And after college, back to Lakewood.  I travelled a lot, but it took coming back to Lakewood to meet my husband, the love of my life.  And even though we don't live in Lakewood anymore, when it came time to have my son, I passed on closer hospitals for the excellent facilities and care at Lakewood Hospital.  And I keep coming back, to go to church, do my shopping, watch fireworks, and visit my family and friends.  There's just no place like home, and there's definitely no place like Lakewood.

I am a third generation Lakewoodite and have lived here for 35 years.  I am a product of the Lakewood City Schools. I love my community for many reasons.  The Lake, proximity to downtown, the home town band concerts, among others, but the people and the family run businesses where the owners know us by name is what makes Lakewood a warm and wonderful community.  It doesn't get any better than sitting on your front porch on a lazy summer evening chatting with the neighbors over an ice cold lemonade. (or whatever)

I grew up in Lakewood, and though I left in 1983, I get back nearly every year. It will always be home, and will move back someday. Lived in Las Vegas for these past 12 years, and there is no comparison. I enjoy my time there so much, I hope to be there this summer, and am looking forward to my 25th LHS reunion next year.

I still hang on to a rental property in lakewood because I hope to someday return to the neighborhood I spent my whole life in. I will always love Lakewood for its cultural and economic diversity, proximity to Lake Erie and Lakewood Park.

As a youngster growing up in Lakewood, one of my favorite things was to watch the Nickle Plate going by, reading all the magical names on the railroad freight cars. listening to the whistle blow as the train passed through town.  I remember Kelly's Donut Shop, Winterich's Flowers (when you could walk in, 'smell the flower smells' and watch the goldfish lazily swimming in their beautiful pool), and being able to ride my bike everywhere!  Although I've lived in many places for many years, I still consider Lakewood my home.

La próxima semana llegaré y seré una residente de Lakewood, estoy emocionadísima, toda mi vida he tenido sueños vívidos a cerca de casas victorianas con exhuberantes trabajos en madera.  Creo algún duende jugetón me quiere llevar allí.

I grew up on Woodford until I was twelve, then I moved to NC, where I live now. I never wanted to move and I wish I never had, but not living there has made me love it so much more. I think about everything I miss; I especially loved going up to Medic at night, spending all day in the library because it was the only place that was air conditioned, Bonne Bell sales at the factory, riding my bike through the trails in the valley. Now I'm in a relationship with someone I went to McKinley with. Great people come from Lakewood, and there is no other place where you can be in a big city, but still in a little town, with hardly any crime to worry about.

My husband and I have lived here now for four years and we wouldn't move anywhere else!  We were renters until recently.  We just purchased our first home.  After many nights of debating where to buy a home we both agreed that Lakewood had everything we wanted.  I wanted good schools, a safe neighborhood, and amenities close enough to walk.  My husband wanted city living but not too crowded.  The only thing he didn't get was the big yard he hoped for, but that's what all the parks are for I told him!  I absolutely love this city and my son does too.  Where else could we just walk to a movie or get an ice cream cone?  The city is beautiful as well as the homes and the people.  I hope that we will raise our family here for many years to come.

I lived on Clifton Blvd. from 1950 to graduation from Lakewood High in 1963. Trees are what I most remember. For the last twenty-four years, I've been transplanted up to Northern Ontario, the Nickel Capital of the World, unfortunately until just recently an Ecodisaster area, a moonscape where astronauts came to train. Once there were trees here as tall and stately as Lakewood's. But a century of open pit smeltering killed everything within ten miles of the city core. The rains washed off the soil, leaving bare, black Cambrian Shield rock.

Luckily I live far north of town on a meteor crater lake. We have a few old growth yellow birches, second growth maples, poplars, and lots of cedar and spruce.

If I walked the streets of Lakewood now, my mouth would drop in awe of those trees. And to think I took them for granted.

I hadn't lived in this area since 1973, so when I moved back I was nervous.  At first I rented in Cleveland Heights. It was nice, but they have trouble keeping their business district vital. Not Lakewood! I am so happy I live here. The shops I have discovered are varied and wonderful, from an Eastern European Deli on Madison (Lakewood Deli) to City Dwellers on Detroit.  I almost never have to leave the City to get services or goods. Funky shops near my street on Madison have a 'Greenwich Village' feel to them.  Why would anyone want to live anywhere else!

Vincent A. O’Keefe, resident

                    Lakewood, Ohio

 True to its name, my city is a marriage of many contrasts.
             Its neighborhoods contain multitudes both
                     metro and retro,
                     ritzy and gritty, 
                     high-tech and homespun.

Madison Avenue welcomes window shoppers and people watchers 
             with its cozy rows of unique boutiques and fancy antiques.
             After all, something there is that doesn’t love a mall.

Detroit Avenue traffics in saloons, salons, and sanctuaries
             of leaded glass and vintage brass but its intersections
             remain only semi-clogged with open-minded congestion.

Clifton Boulevard sprawls seven tree-lined lanes across town 
            but maintains its quaintness via passing runners
            jogging memories of bygone trolleys and ghostly commuters.

Lake Avenue features gargantuan mansions dwarfed by giant trees 
            whose trunks lumber toward the lake like elephants’ legs.
            Shadows heavy with history drape the entire street.

Tidy side streets with fastidious front porches and posh pocket parks
            connect the main arteries like well-kept secrets.

And on every street, shoulder-to-shoulder houses of columns, coves, spindles, and spires
            transform their dwellers into conversational artists who constantly rub elbows
            as if the town were an ongoing wedding reception.

Lakewood is a city of alluring lore, enchanting spirits, and solid foundations—
            a place more superb than suburb.

Chris Schneider, via the Internet

I just moved to Lakewood a month ago from Toledo and I love it here. This town is so alive, there are such a great mix of cultures here. I hope that after college I am able to stay here.

Kathryn Boyd Stakelin, via the Internet

"Clifton Boulevard sprawls seven tree-lined lanes across town but maintains its quaintness via passing runners jogging memories of bygone trolleys and ghostly commuters." - My grandparents lived at 18097 Clifton Road. They built the home which was at the end of Clifton Blvd at what was then a circle. My Mother and brother grew up in the house and graduated from highschool in Lakewood. We had wonderful times as kids running around the block, roller skating, watching the trolleys...going to the Clifton Club and playing on the beach. Lake Erie was polluted in the early 40's so swimming was out due to the polio scare. We used to love to take car rides down into what we called "The Valley" and drive across through the streams - a beautiful park. Wonderful restaurants in Lakewood and one that I remember was "Cozzies" - spelling I'm not sure of, but they made the best homemade rolls ever! We loved Lakewood."

Olga Wickman Porter, via the Internet

"We lived in lakewood, ohio when I was 4 years old {1936} and I loved it. we lived on clifton bv. right next to emerson middle school {junior high school then}. How I loved that house and I can close my eyes and see that whole house. I remember the clothes chute in the upstairs bathroom {good idea when you think about it!} and the big front porch and the screened in porch upstairs. I remember seeing the teachers from my elementary school {taft} going to lunch at emerson school every day and I would run over to them with flowers just picked in my yard. The trolleys were running then and my mother and I would go downtown alot on the trolley. I saw bob hope on one of them. My mother goaded me into going up to him and asking if he was bob hope-he just smiled and rolled his eyes mischeiviously and said "no I'm his brother". I remember the blackouts of WW2 and the sirens and the whole city in pitch blackness. I remember my dad taking me ice skating on a frozen pond in lakewood and the beauty of the city - the lakes and trees - most beautiful city I ever lived in and I'll never forget it."

Rick Ferrell

Lakewood was my favorite vacation spot! While other kids seamed unimpressed with trips to Florida or Vermont I always looked forward to my 15 minute ride to the city of homes. My aunt Hazel and uncle Joe's home on Andrews ave. I would pack my bags and off I went for a glorious week of living the high life. See I grew up on west 25th and Clark and it was a little rough there, I'm a pretty nice guy by most standards but I used to be able to steal hubcaps off moving cars....I loved to swim and this [Lake Ave.] pool was out of control big, I loved that place. At night i would go to sleep listening to the trains roll by and imagined being in some faraway place that all kids dream about. It smells different than other areas,it feels warm and cozy at night and the people are old fashion. I think I've come far enough! I'm home.

Lorraine Robinson-Knight, former resident, via the Internet

"My memories of Lakewood are the best. We lived in the big white house on the corner of Belle Ave and Clifton. Went to Lincoln, Horace Mann and Emerson (after moving) Jr High and then onto Lakewood High until leaving in my Junior year. Have memories on the tornado back in the early 70's on 4th of July and my dad having people coming into the house to get out of the storm. Going to Schusters with a quarter and buying a bag of candy, getting my pool pass every year to enjoy Lakewood park. Going to the bakery across from Schusters to buy dad his favorite pastry. The front porches, trees and swinging on the big swing at Lakewood park by the Lake. Walking 10 blocks home at lunch time and knowing all the street names by heart. The memories will be forever."

Nancy Underwood, former resident, via the Internet

I lived in Lakewood on Belle Avenue next to the railroad tracks until I was 13 years old and moved to California. I have so many fond memories of Lakewood.  My most memorable were the summers spent at the pool at Lakewood Park, going to Schusters, going to a brand new elementary school (Grant), my friends, riding bikes, counting the train cars, the 4th of July parades, the swings at Lakewood Park, the church bells, sitting on the front porch with my family and smelling the honeysuckle.  I miss the small town environment where everyone knows each other.  I hope to visit next year.

Edward Hannaford, former resident, via the Internet

I've lived in Lakewood throughout my childhood and can't think of a better place to live in America. I have lived in San Diego and Long Beach California, and have lived in Chicago for over the past 10 years. I can truly say that my heart is still deeply rooted in Lakewood. I have many friends who still live there, and I think they take it for granted. What are some of the things I miss? The valley, the lakefront, Lakewood park, tree-lined streets, beautiful homes, friendly people, good schools, proximity to downtown Cleveland, bars, fresh air, and family values. What more could you ask for? I visit at least twice a year and always look forward to it!!!!

P. Williams, resident, via the Internet

My boyfriend and I purchased a home [here] in November. We love how we have all the conveniences of a city and everything being withing walking distance. At the same time the place has a 'small town feel', with friendly neighbors and hardly any crime. We love that schools are so incredibly close by and that we aren't surrounded by a million houses that look exactly the same. This will be a wonderful place to raise our son. We feel so at home here! I do not think we will ever leave.

Residents and former residents: what do you say? Contribute a tribute. We may post your comments here!