DEMOCRAT Grover Cleveland (who moved to New York State from New Jersey as a young man and served as mayor of Buffalo and NYS governor) holds the distinction of being the only president to be defeated for a second term and run again in the next election and win the rematch, becoming the only president to serve two nonconsecutive terms. He lost to Benjamin Harrison (see above) in 1888 and then defeated Harrison in 1892. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated during his first term in 1886.
Cleveland Place in Little Italy, the northern two blocks of Centre Street, bears his name, as does Cleveland Street in Brooklyn’s East New York. There’s a Cleveland Place in Arrochar but, since it connects with Chicago Avenue, it’s likely named for the Lake Erie Ohio city. There’s also a Cleveland Street in New Brighton.
Grover Cleveland High School occupies almost an entire city block on Himrod between Grandview Avenue and Tonsor Street. The massive edifice was built in 1931. Prominent alumni include longtime New York Rangers and WINS announcer Jim Gordon, actress Rosie Perez, Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard and Ridgewood Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan.
Here’s a Crazy Eddie commercial filmed at GCHS, according to legend…
I never noticed before how attractive the Grover Cleveland Park “comfort station” is, with a combination ashlar stone and brick exterior and central arch. The park sits on a hill at Stanhope Street and Grandview Avenue and on a map, appears to occupy the NE corner of Linden Hill and Ahawith Chesed Cemeteries. The land for the park was acquired by the city in 1924 and was at first named for a local political club, Anawanda, a Tammany Hall-based organization diametrically opposed to reformists…of which Grover Cleveland was one. After 8 years, Parks got around naming the park for the nearby high school in 1939, outraging Anawanda, who are little remembered today.
As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
3/24/22
