Community Corner

Recording Westlake's History, One Story at a Time

Joyce Able Schroth is collecting oral histories for a new book.

Joyce Able Schroth, director of the city community services department, is recording the personal stories of Westlake's residents.

Inspired by Westlake historian Bill Robishaw, Able Schroth is collecting and transcribing oral histories for a new book.

“If we don’t write our own history, then it’s recorded by someone else, and I think people that want to need to write their own history,” she said. “And I encourage them to do that.”

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Able Schroth says she welcomes any resident or past resident of Westlake  to record their memories. She even provides a list of suggested questions. Then, over a session or two of one or two hours, Able Schroth records the person’s story.

“They have the opportunity to choose what they want, and and add anything else they want,” she said. “They’re welcome to share their personal story. It wouldn’t have to be about Westlake. So far, almost everyone has been specific to include some great stories and some great pictures.”

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One person even shared a photo of a sleigh on Bradley Road, saying that the whole family used to hitch up the horse and ride down the road every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“It’s heartwarming for those folks, and they become Westlake history,” Able Schroth said. “So many people have such warm and tender memories, and when they put them into words, it recalls so many aspects of that memory— a loved one, a place that no longer exists or maybe isn’t the same.”

Twenty years ago, Able Schroth wrote a grant for an oral history project, and now she has the stories of people born as early as the late 1800s. She will include those, along with transcriptions provided by Robishaw from about 30 years ago.

“They have experiences of Westlake that are near and dear to those who love local history,” she said. “So we’re also going back and transcribing those.” 

With some help from some students, the tapes are being transcribed, and Able Scroth says interviews are on hold for right now, until all of the existing tapes are taken care of.

If you would like to share your history, contact Able Scroth at 440-899-3544.


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