Sandy Mitchell Pavick

Cleveland's Little Italy's people, history and rebirth today can be found in these pages.

Developed in the late 19th century, Cleveland's Little Italy neighborhood, on the city's east side, was peopled with Italian artisans and craftsmen, many of whom were drawn to jobs carving monuments for the nearby Lake View Cemetery. The compact area relied on the local parish, Holy Rosary; charitable institutions, such as Alta House; and the cohesiveness of the neighborhood to sustain itself. It also produced a number of interesting favorite sons, including Angelo Vitantonio, the inventor of the pasta machine; championship boxer Tony Brush; and Anthony Celebrezze, Cleveland mayor, federal judge, and secretary of health, education, and welfare under Pres. John F. Kennedy and Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson. The area continued to grow until after World War II, when residents graduated from the old neighborhood to Cleveland's eastern suburbs. During the last 20 years, however, Little Italy has experienced a rebirth, and today the area combines Old World charm with a vibrant art scene, new housing, and a host of popular restaurants.

Utilizing historic photographs, Sandy Mitchell Pavick shows how faith is integral to the history of Ashtabula County. 

Among the first to form churches were Congregationalists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, followed closely by Episcopalians, Baptists, and Roman Catholics. The intrepid, itinerant preacher Joseph Badger was one of the area’s first clergymen and made the two-and-a-half-month trek in 1801 from Connecticut to Ashtabula County, which was then part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The history of Ashtabula’s churches is an interesting and varied one. Churches here were a part of several efforts to effect social change, including the abolitionist movement, the Underground Railroad, and the suffragette movement. They are also the home of beautiful stained-glass windows, some by Tiffany Studios; hand-hewn wooden pews; and original artwork by talented clergy and parishioners. The many congregations that survive continue to make a difference in their communities.

Sandy Mitchell Pavick has lived in northeast Ohio for more than 25 years and is active in the Ashtabula County church community. She is a full-time writer and has penned two previous titles for Arcadia Publishing. For this book, Pavick has amassed images, many of which have never been published, from dozens of church archives as well as from private collections and Ashtabula County libraries, museums, and historical societies.