This past Saturday the City of Cleveland, his family and friends remembered Mansfield Frazier and his legacy at a memorial service at the Maltz Performing Arts Center on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. The tributes spoke to the spirit of the man and the people he touched. The eulogy, delivered by Reverend Dr. Marvin McMickle, spoke of a man who was much like the city and the neighborhood that created him — a comeback kid, from a comeback city.
Now it is time to recognize Mansfield in a tangible way. The best way to do that would be to name the new branch of the Cleveland Public Library now under construction at East 66th and Lexington in his honor.
Mansfield grew up in Central and used the Cleveland Public Library as a young man. It was the place where he developed his life-long love of books and writing. When he landed on the other side of the law during the middle years of his life and spent time in prison, he used the love of books he developed in Cleveland Public Libraries to become a self-educated writer and journalist.
When he returned to his roots — to Cleveland — he chose Hough: he made it a better place not just for himself but for others. He created jobs, second-chance programs and became a reentry advocate. He founded the Vineyards of Château Hough that employed formerly incarcerated people. He pioneered the construction of a biocellar whose innovative concept of urban farming won national recognition and showed how houses slated for demolition could be recycled for a eco-friendly use.
I clearly remember the joy he expressed when he found out that the Cleveland Public Library would build its new branch a block away from his vineyard. He had been instrumental in getting the City of Cleveland to initiate plans to create the East 66th Street Corridor that would connect Gallucci’s on Euclid, the Dunham Tavern, the new Cleveland Foundation headquarters, Château Hough, and League Park. He saw the new library as the icing on the cake.
Currently, the Cleveland Public Library has policies regarding the naming of buildings. The Cleveland Public Library Foundation also seeks to set up guidelines for the naming of rooms and various parts of libraries. But sometimes, circumstances do not fit into nice little boxes. Some rules are meant to be altered.
After speaking with John Hairston, Vice President of the Cleveland Public Library Board, and longtime board member Thomas D. Corrigan, I am hopeful that the Library Trustees will work with the community and listen to its voice to create a proper recognition for a man who contributed so much to the community where he lived and worked.
With the support of the community and CoolCleveland readers, I believe that we can achieve our goal of someday being able to visit the Mansfield Frazier Branch of the Cleveland Public Library.
C. Ellen Connally is a retired judge of the Cleveland Municipal Court. From 2010 to 2014 she served as the President of the Cuyahoga County Council. An avid reader and student of American history, she serves on the Board of the Ohio History Connection, is currently vice president of the Cuyahoga County Soldiers and Sailors Monument Commission and president of the Cleveland Civil War Round Table. She holds degrees from BGSU, CSU and is all but dissertation for a PhD from the University of Akron.
3 Responses to “Let’s Honor Mansfield Frazier By Naming CPL Hough Library After Him”
Carolyn Watts Allen, Esq
A permanent recognition of Mansfield’s contribution to our community is definitely in order. If not the library itself a community gathering room would be fitting. The room could feature some of his journalistic insights that would inspire our youth here in Hough.
Daniel Lovinger
A man that when I first met him I knew he was a special human being. I feel honored to be just a casual acquaintance to Mansfield. He deserves special recognition in a grand way by this city.
DonLaster
Not only should the library be name after this great man, a part of East 66th Street as well. MANFIeld Represented a true American he was born in this neighborhood, got knocked down in this neighborhood and had the come back of a life time. Being unselfish and helping others. isn’t that the American way ???? He was a grass roots hero!!!!