Cleveland history preserved at Grays Armory downtown

By CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN

Since 1837, when 118 individuals adopted the motto “Semper Paratus,” or “Always Prepared,” and were chartered as an independent militia, the Cleveland Grays have made history.

From 1792 to 1903, state and federal law authorized independent militias. These private volunteer groups supplemented the official state militia and served the community in ways that the National Guard does today.

Cleveland Grays Armory Museum, a Richardsonian Romanesque Revival-style building sometimes described as Cleveland’s downtown castle, houses more than 170 years of military and Cleveland history. The armory, built in 1893, was the third home of the Cleveland Grays. The other armories were located on W. Third St. and on what was once Long St. Both of those buildings were destroyed by fire. The current armory also sustained a fire in the 1920s which destroyed the main drill hall on the first floor, but that part of the building was rebuilt. The front of the armory is original.

Members of the Cleveland Grays have served in all armed forces in all U.S. wars. During the Civil War, the Grays were part of Company F in the first Ohio infantry and participated in the first battle of Bull Run. Most of the men were 90-day volunteers, but some continued to fight with Union forces in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia before being decommissioned. The Cleveland Grays also fought in the Spanish American War and in World War I, the last time they fought as a unit.

The uniform of the Cleveland Grays is modeled after a West Point uniform. The signature hats are Russian brown bear and have been worn as part of the uniform since the 1890s. Following the Civil War, some of the returning Union veterans refused to wear the traditional gray uniform and instead wore navy blue.

Today’s Cleveland Grays strive to preserve the historic Armory Museum, advance the military heritage of Greater Cleveland through public awareness and education programs and support the men and women of the armed forces. There are currently about one hundred members of the Cleveland Grays, both male and female. The Grays raise donations for programs such as “Socks for Soldiers,” which resulted in the Bombas company sending 30,000 pairs of socks. The Cleveland Grays host lectures on historic topics, march in parades and provide color guards. The armory’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ was built in the 1930s in Erie, PA. It was originally used to provide musical accompaniment for silent films. Its’ 1400-plus pipes are augmented by chimes, drums, tuned sleigh bells, special effects and a full-sized piano.The organ is owned by the Cleveland Grays and maintained by the Western Reserve Theater Organ Society. Three to four organ concerts are held annually. Within its imposing walls, the armory has also made history by hosting some of Cleveland’s finest events. The first concert season of the Cleveland Orchestra was played at the armory, before Severance Hall was built.

Cleveland’s first auto show was held in the armory, with 17 cars. Composer and musician John Philip Sousa performed at Cleveland Grays Armory 13 times. Closed during the pandemic, Cleveland Grays Armory Museum is now open for public tours on the first Wednesday of the month. Group and private tours of the Blue Star Museum are available upon request. Displays and artifacts in the museum are original. The armory is also available as a unique special events venue. Call 216.621.5938 or visit www.graysarmory.org.

GroundWorks DanceTheater’s It Takes Two! 2023

GroundWorks DanceTheater’s 15th Annual Benefit

Gala, It Takes Two! 2023, took place May 13, at Tenk West Bank. This Dancing with the Stars-style dance competition features local celebrity dancers paired alongside GroundWorks’ professional dancers. The event helped to raise $119,000, and some 240 people attended the benefit.

GroundWorks is a contemporary dance company entering its 25th anniversary year. Fundamental to its mission is fostering new choreography and challenging preconceptions about dance.

Originally built in the 1880s as a machine and tool factory, Tenk West Bank is now a converted warehouse located in the West Bank of the Flats, a popular venue for weddings and special events.

Guests voted for their favorite team of dance competitors through live voting with event auctioneer Brooks Ames. Overall Grand Champion was Randy Ruttenberg, Founder & Principal of Fairmount Properties, who performed a charming duet to Singing in the Rain with company member Madison Pineda. Conor M. Coakley, Senior Vice President, CRESCO l Cushman + Wakefield, earned the Fan Favorite Award with a White Lotus-themed hom- age danced with Ahna Bonnette, in her first season with GroundWorks. Coakley’s young son Max charmed the crowd in the final moments of the choreography.

Other competitors were Patrice Blakemore, Senior Vice President of Equity and Inclusion, Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), who performed with David Shimotakahara, GroundWorks’ Executive Artistic Director.

Dabney Conwell, Vice President and Executive Director of The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, performed a trio with Ahna Bonnette and Matthew Saggiomo. Wesley Gillespie, Regional President, ERIEBANK, performed with Victoria Rumzis. Leta Obertacz, Senior Vice President, Advancement, The Cleveland Foundation, performed with Matthew Saggiomo. And Edward Stockhausen, Senior Vice President of Advocacy & External Relations, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, performed with Teagan Reed.

Event emcees included last year’s celebrity winner Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director, CEO, Cleveland Public Library, and 2022 alumni competitor Amanda Cole, Executive Director, Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce. STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY

ANDREA C. TURNER

Apollo’s Fire “Fired Up!”

Apollo’s Fire, Cleveland’s internationally acclaimed Baroque orchestra, hosted its Fired Up! A Musical Feast gala benefit on May 20, at Tenk West Bank for 300 guests. For the event, Apollo’s Fire performed a musical prelude with music by Georg Telemann and Diego Ortiz, followed by dinner, wine, cocktails and a live auction.

Musicians then performed a Blues Cafe of 1610 concert evoking a London Alehouse with music by Solomon Eccles and Turlough O’Carolan, then a Bistro in Barcelona with music by Barbara Strozzi and Jose de Nebra. Erica Schuller enchanted the crowd with her melodic soprano voice. She was joined by Elora Kares, a Young Artist Apprentice soprano, who hails from Shaker Heights.

Alan Choo served as concertmaster. Andrew Fouts played violin; Liz Holzman Hagen on viola; Kivie CahnLipman on cello; Daphna Mor played recorder, Kathie Stewart on traverso; Brian Kay played lute and guitar, with Jeannette Sorrell on harpsichord.

This past year, Artistic Director Sorrell and the Apollo’s Fire musicians performed in 50 concerts around the globe, including a recent international tour in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, London, Aldeburgh (UK), and Germany.

Funds raised through the Fund-the-Need campaign support community outreach and education, such as the MOSAIC Project (Apollo’s Fire’s diversity initiative); concert production; media production, as well as continuing to fund the orchestra’s artistic excellence. The event raised approximately $202,000 for these initiatives. This year’s honorees are Dr. Cliff Deveny, CEO and President of Summa Health. His work on the Apollo’s Fire board have supported and strengthened its 29-year residency in Akron, including medical guidance on performance protocols through the pandemic. Astri Seidenfeld, Arts Lover, Patron and Advocate, is a native of Norway who moved to Cleveland 30 years ago. As a new Cleveland resident, she attended her first Apollo’s Fire concert, and has become one of its strongest advocates and patrons ever since. Apollo’s Fire 2023-24 season includes 29 concerts in Northeast Ohio. Look for Splendour in London and Handel’s Israel in Egypt in October; Nights in Venice and Fire & Joy from Bach and Vivaldi in November; Wassail! An Irish-Appalachian Christmas in December; Angel Fire: Mysteries of the Violin in February 2024; Hispania! A Spanish-Mexican Journey in March 2024; and Bach’s Easter Oratorio in April 2024. Visit apollosfire.org for more information. STORY AND

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREA C. TURNER