Kenny on Columbia

In my continuing explorations of the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, I went in search of the small former Orthodox synagogue where my late mother's family worshiped in the 1930s. My cousin recently visited town with a cache of photos and memorabilia kept in boxes by her mom, my Aunt Freda, who died recently. Among them was a booklet commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Shomer Shabbos synagogue, where my very religious maternal grandfather was a prominent figure.

Like many of the old synagogues in the East 105th area, it is now a church, the Apostolic Faith Tabernacle at 105th and Columbia.

Kenny, who grew up on Columbia Road and first attended the church under its previous pastor, graciously introduced himself to me. He has lived on this street for some 40 years, and has seen a lot of changes. He shared details about  the neighborhood — the elementary school, now gone, that was just down the street; the church's baptismal pool with a balcony view.

These personal archaeology expeditions are interesting, but what really enchants me are the kind, fascinating people whose personal stories animate this old city. As Cleveland continues to gentrify with shiny new pleasure domes of gambling and gorging, it's this priceless, fading history I hold onto ever more dearly.

UPDATE: It turns out this wasn't the synagogue where my grandfather worshiped; the correct one is a shuttered building across the street, near Bryant, where the family lived. Still an interesting piece of history.