What was Parma before it became Cleveland’s largest suburb and Ohio’s seventh largest city? Why was it named Parma anyway? Why is there Parma and Parma Heights? Have Parmidians always loved their local taverns? We hit the Parma library to find out more about our city.  Here are a few facts about the area’s early days to better understand our roots.

1. Parma was originally known as Township 6, Range 13 of the Western Reserve. With institutions such as Case Western Reserve, you may recognize the name. Much of the Greater Cleveland area (and Northeastern Ohio) was included in the Connecticut Western Reserve, land granted to the Colony of Connecticut under the terms of its charter by King Charles II. After the American Revolutionary War, Connecticut sold much of the reserve to a group of speculators who in turn sold it in portions for development by new settlers. The first settlers arrived in 1816.

2. The Parma area was once called Greenbrier after the many thorny bushes in the area. Early settlers had to clear out these bushes and woods to build on the land. The first settler was a merchant who opened an inn and tavern. Eventually a doctor from Cleveland visited Parma, Italy and was so impressed with it he persuaded the people of Greenbrier to change the town’s name.

3. Though some may complain about the city’s potholes, imagine driving down muddy roads and having to pay tolls just to cross through the Pearl and York intersection! This is how roads were in the city’s early days. Also, Ridge Road was once called Center Road because it ran through the center of town. Ridgewood Drive was first known as Bean Road after bean farmers in the area. And streetcars ran along State Road from Ridgewood Drive to Brookpark from 1915 until buses took over in 1939.

People gathered to watch street poles being painted at Ridge and Ridgewood in 1962. They were painted aluminum so they would shine at night. Standing on the stool is Mayor James W. Day who helped lead Parma through its booming growth period in the 60s. At the time, Ridge Road was a brick road and said to be one of the nicest pavements in Ohio.

4. In 1842 there were so many bears, wolves and rattlesnakes destroying farm animals and crops in Parma that a hunting party had to be organized.

5. In 1912, a portion of Parma broke off and became Parma Heights. Some say that this may have been because of the Temperance Movement against the use of alcohol. Parma had a lot of taverns and inns (even then!) and perhaps the people of Parma Heights wanted to form their own (more sober) community. But if you look around today you see the city came around 😉

6. After WW2, many soldiers came home to Parma to raise their families. The 40s and 50s saw industrial growth with the construction of the General Motors Chevrolet Plant. In 1950 Parma’s population was 28,000, but tripled to more than 82,000 by 1960. Many shopping plazas popped up, as well as Parmatown Mall and Parma Community General Hospital. Parma soon became not only one of the fastest growing cities in Ohio, but in the United States!

7. Parma has more than 34,000 homes, but the oldest is the Henninger House built in 1849. It’s still standing near the corner of Broadview and Snow. Philip and Sophia Henninger came to the United States from Germany, had 10 children and are buried at St. Peter’s Church Cemetery on Broadview Road.

8. Along with its many drinking holes, Parma also has a long tradition of being a city of churches. The first church in Parma was a Baptist church, but today the city has close to 50, including the iconic golden domes of St. Josephat’s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral and a Islamic mosque.

9. The Parma School district encompasses Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills, making it the 11th largest in Ohio with close to 20 schools. Many have been standing for decades: Thoreau Park Elementary 1926, St. Charles Elementary School 1924, Parma Senior High School 1853, Normandy High School 1968, Padua High school 1961, Tri-C 1966.

10. Byers Field was named after Superintendent Carl Byers and is one of the largest stadiums in Cuyahoga County. It sits on a site that used to be an apple orchard.

Byers Field after completion of renovations in 1953.  Ridge Road School can be seen directly next to the stadium, just west of Ridge Road. Day Drive had not been constructed when this photo was taken.  -Parma City Schools

11. Parmatown Mall was built in 1956 as a shopping center and later was enclosed in the 1960s (and now it’s back to open space…ironic!).

The 1959 groundbreaking ceremony for enclosing Parmatown Mall. (Courtesy of Cleveland Press Collection)

12. Ridgewood Golf Course opened in 1925. Famous golfers including Arnold Palmer have played there, and you should too!

13. There’s been lots of news about how West Creek Conservancy is redeveloping the old Parmadale site. But what was Parmadale to begin with anyway? For those unfamiliar, Parmadale was a village for needy children created in 1925. Cottages, a dining hall, school chapel and even power plant spanned 180 acres of land off State Road. The complex was closed in 2014.

Parmadale in the 1950s (Cleveland Press Collection)

14. The Parma Theater opened in 1936 and stood for almost 80 years before also closing in 2014. Parma also had a drive-in theater on Brookpark Road that closed in 1990, and a theater inside Parmatown Mall that closed in 2004.

15. After WW1, many Germans came to the United States and settled in Cleveland. In 1924, they established the German Central Organization, which purchased land in 1926 that became a farm and is still used today for many recreational activities including weddings, fish frys and the group’s fabulous Oktoberfest! While many settlers of Parma were of German descent, over time the city has become a mix of cultures including Ukrainian, Polish, Italian and Irish.

To learn more and see other great photos from Parma’s history, pick up Parma (Images of America) by Diana J. Eid from a Parma library or online. Much of the information here was taken from this book. 

Read why Parma’s mascot is the pink flamingo, and other blogs here.