Trivia

Bedford Heights Trivia

Seven square miles of land which was originally surveyed in the days of Moses Cleveland as Bedford Township later became the Village of Bedford Heights. In the village's early days the Mayor, Council and other administrators worked gratis, seeking only to get a job done.

By Charter, the City of Bedford Heights is a "non-partisan" community, in that the officials are not elected as Democrats or Republicans, but simply run as individuals which requires no primary elections.

In the year 1975, City Council pay was $75.00 per month.

Julius Seliga was the first Chairman of the Planning Commission, Councilman for 19 years and unsuccessful candidate for Mayor in the year 1965.

In answering to the needs of the new community and national issues at the time (early 1960's), Council Committees (Safety, Service, Finance, Planning and Recreation) included a Civil Defense Committee.

Prior to the opening of the City's municipal pool at Reed Park the swimming program was made possible by the City's rental of a pool and bus transportation to and from the facility. It was typically a learn-to-swim experience assisted by local ladies as instructors (1965 document). Also rented was the first Village Hall on Libby Road. The building, essentially a red brick private residence, still stands on the north side of Libby Road east of Bartlett Road.

Councilman James Cody is the first African American Councilman (1984) and Council President in the City of Bedford Heights as well as the first African American to be elected to the city’s Precinct Committee and Charter Review Committee.

Zion Cemetery on Northfield Road hosts a Holocaust Memorial which contains the remains of unknown victims of the Holocaust. There also are names of those who died in the Holocaust carved on the marble walls. Atop the walls, stones are positioned as symbols of prayers to their memories.