Collinwood School Fire Centennial Commemoration Committee Spaghetti Dinner

The Collinwood School Fire Centennial Commemoration Committee (CSFCCC) is holding a Spaghetti Dinner, Friday January 11th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at St John Nottingham Church (17403 Nottingham Rd). Adults $6.00 & Students (K-8) $3.00. This is our first fundraiser for the Commemoration events, as well as for our ongoing goals of maintaining the Memorial Gardens, and archiving the stories and artifacts of this Collinwood tragedy.

Help us commemorate an event that Collinwood, and the world, will not forget.

March 4 2008 is the 100th Anniversary of the Collinwood School Fire, in which 172 students, teachers & rescuers lost their lives, on Ash Wednesday, March 4th 1908. The CSFCCC is planning many events throughout the year, to remember this historic part of Collinwood history; we're excited to be working with Youngstown State on updating their 1993 video, and with WVIZ on a program about this tragedy. We're also working to restore and maintain the Memorial Gardens, collecting artifacts & stories, holding talks by Ed Kern, who wrote the book The Collinwood School Fire of 1908, around the area, and showing the current video as well. We were thrilled to meet so many of you at our recent exhibit at the Arts Collinwood Gallery, sharing your families' stories of the Fire.

As the Collinwood School Fire Centennial Commemoration Committee, our main purpose is to remember a generation past, commemorate a tragedy that defined the community, understand its legacy and celebrate the life of the community at this historic juncture. This 100th Anniversary commemoration will also benefit today’s children, demonstrating that children in general are important and not forgotten. In addition, the Committee wants to make sure that we leave the Garden better than we found it. In 2007-08 we believe these commemorative events, with an emphasis on the school as well as the Garden, will also raise awareness of safety and fire procedures in today’s schools. For the community, the awareness of it past will help them with their future, and as we reclaim the Garden incorporating community volunteers, we reclaim our past and build that future.

The Bottom Line Then Is, We Need Your Help!

Volunteers are needed to help with the Committee, the Garden, publicity, etc. Several separate events are being planned and they will only be successful when many hands help to make the work light.

Funds are needed to ensure that these events and activities will be able to take place.

Donations may be made through the
Northeast Shores Development Corporation at
317 East 156th St
Cleveland Ohio 44110

If you have any questions or comments please contact Mary Louise Jesek Daley in the office of Councilman Michael D Polensek. Mary Louise may be reached at 216 – 664 – 4236 or via email at either ward11@clevelandcitycouncil.org or mlajesek@aol.com

Thank You for your support.