Elizabeth Rhines has an amazing memory.

Born in 1915, she can still remember in vivid detail the Cleveland neighborhood where she grew up. Rhines has been traveling down memory lane quite a bit lately, writing her memoir for a class at the Cleveland Heights Senior Center. Her childhood memories provide a very interesting snapshot of life in Cleveland in the early part of the 20^th century.

Rhines, now 96 years old, was born in a house near the Farmers Market. At that time the market was at East 120^th Street and Superior Avenue.

She remembers waking every morning to the sound of roosters crowing, and the clattering of horse-drawn wagons bringing food to the market. Because there were very few automobiles in those days, the produce was all locally grown and in season. Mothers would bring the food home from the market in their childrens’ wooden wagons.

“Children were never given the chance to be bored back then,” Rhines said. “We were always given chores to do.”

Girls helped their mothers clean the house, beat the rugs and wash the windows. Boys were required to sell newspapers. Back then Cleveland had three different newspapers, and they were published several times per day.

“There were paper boys at almost every intersection,” she remembers. “And sometimes on all four corners.”

Rhines recalls winter in Cleveland as being a fun time for children. The city did not have snow plows, so many streets would remain snow-covered all winter. The area of East 120^thStreet between Superior and Beulah Avenues was a winter playground, where children would take their sleds and toboggans, she said. After the snow finally melted in the spring, the city would fix the potholes with hot tar carried in horse-drawn wagons.

Going to the park was a common pastime for Cleveland families in the early 20^th century. Gordon Park, which still exists today, was a popular place to go. With a beautiful lake view, ballfields and picnic areas, the park provided an entire day’s worth of entertainment.

The Rhines family, like most families at the time, did not own an automobile.  They took the East 79^th Street streetcar to the end of the line to get to the park.

Luna Park, at East 110^th Street and Woodland Avenue, was also a popular destination for Cleveland families of the time.  The amusement park sat on top of a large hill. The area was all countryside and farmland back then, so Rhines remembers it being a big excursion to get to the park. There were many different kinds of rides, a large monkey exhibit and a dance hall where national Jitterbug and Charleston contests were held.

Rhines, who has lived in Cleveland all of her life, has been a resident of Cleveland Heights for the past 12 years.  Like most of the other students in her class at the Senior Center, writing a memoir is something she has been thinking about doing for years.

But, like most, she didn’t think her life was interesting enough to write about.

“I’m very excited to learn that it’s really worthwhile to write this down, and that people are really interested to hear it,” Rhines said.

She couldn’t be more correct.

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.

Everyone has a valuable story to tell. The experiences, accomplishments, and lessons we have learned throughout our lives are unique. Recording your life story is a way for your loved ones to learn more about who you are and what is important to you. It is also therapeutic to reflect on your life’s progress, and to analyze what you have accomplished and what you would still like to accomplish.

Whether you decide to write as a gift to others, or simply as an exercise in personal reflection, there are many ways to record your personal legacy. Autobiographies, family histories, ethical wills, and memoirs are four common formats your story can take. Deciding on a format is a matter of personal preference, and depends on how much material you want to include, how much time you have to write, and your desired deadline for finishing.

Autobiographies are overviews of your entire life written in chronological order, beginning with your earliest memory and concluding with the present. Family histories are similar to autobiographies, and include autobiographies of other family members as well as yours. Ethical wills are descriptions of your beliefs, ethics, values and insights. They describe why you are who you are, and are illustrated with stories from your life. Memoirs are a blend of autobiographies and ethical wills. They combine factual accounts with thoughts and feelings. Unlike autobiographies, when writing ethical wills or memoirs you can decide which parts of your life you want to include and which parts you want to omit.

Many people are hesitant to write their personal legacies because they are not experienced writers. In truth, anyone can write a legacy. Unlike professional publications that take certain formats and engage the reader in certain ways, legacies can take any format you wish and be written in whatever style suits you. The best format is one that follows your natural speaking style, because then it is truly an expression of yourself.

Before you begin to write your legacy, you need to gather your ideas. Make a list of the people, events, or thoughts you want to include. This can take place over several weeks to several months. Keep a notebook or a journal with you so that you can record an idea whenever occurs. When you have finished gathering your ideas, group them into logical chapter titles. Then organize your chapter titles into a logical sequence, or outline.

Once you begin to write, you don’t need to write your chapters in order. Start with whichever chapter naturally calls to you. You may choose to write by hand, type on the computer, or write by hand and have someone else type it for you. Another option is computer software that automatically types when you speak into a microphone. Whatever format you choose, you may also wish to include photos, letters, newspaper articles, or family trees to help illustrate your story.

When you are finished writing it is a good idea to have a professional writer, editor, or a friend who is good at writing look over your work. It is often hard to detach from what you are writing and see it from an unbiased point of view. Your editor can verify whether your organization makes sense and whether you have gotten your ideas across clearly. He or she can also help with grammar and spelling, if you need it.

There are several options for publishing your legacy once it is finished. You can make simple stapled photocopies, take it to an office supply store and have it bound, or make professional-looking hardcover books online. Whatever format your legacy takes, it will be a unique gift to share with friends and family, and will surely be treasured for years to come.

 

Click here to read the full article in the Heights Observer.