14. CHARITIES
14:1 Cleveland Associated Charities (Lakewood Branch) F.C. Lowing
14:2 Fund in Memory of N.C. Cotabish. Lakewood Post 11-28-1957
14:3 Cleveland Associated Charities (Lakewood Branch) Lakewood
Press 3-17-1918
14:1
ASSOCIATED
CHARITIES
HISTORY OF THE
CITY OF LAKEWOOD - F.C. LOWING
There are six
branches to supplement the work of the parent organization in the Forest City
and its environs. The Lakewood branch, presided over by Miss Hirsching, is on
Detroit Avenue, near Fry. It was established three years ago, [1912]taking over
the charity work of the City of Lakewood. It has found a great field of
usefulness and a large work needing careful and conscientious attention.
14:2
REVEAL CHARITIES:FUND IN MEMORY OF
N.C. COTABISH
THE LAKEWOOD
POST 11-28-1957
DAUGHTER CREATED
TRUST IN 1944 TO AID AFFLICTED LAKEWOODITES
This article represents
first public disclosure of a fourteen year old trust fund for use in covering
expenses of Lakewood Hospital patients or other afflicted Lakewood residents
who may lack financial resources to pay for costly medicines and special
nursing and similar services not generally available to the financially
handicapped, but which may speed recovery, make recovery more complete or even
represent the difference between life and death. Known as the Cotabish
Charitable Fund, the grant came into being in 1944 as an element in the trust
set by Mrs. Vida (Cotabish) Logan, two years after death in July 17, 1942 of
her father, Nelson C. Cotabish, who, for almost a half century, had a foremost
part in fashioning the principles and policies which came into being as Lakewood's
destiny became apparent and have continued, the community's code ever since.
Within recent
months the Cotabish Charitable Fund, with government approval, was made an
independent financial entity with the Cleveland Trust Co. as depository. With the
fund now a permanent, irrevocable trust empowered to receive as well as
disperse donation, there are indications that it may well become nucleus of an
endowment to aid in realization and maintenance of a Lakewood Hospital addition
or other public or private facilities for housing older people who require some
degree of nursing and medical care. Lakewood has by far the largest percentage
of older citizens of any comparable community in Ohio and there are indications
that it will pioneer in a comprehensive Golden Age program which will include
provision for chronic illness within the foreseeable future.
RESOURCES ARE
SUBSTANTIAL
Although there is
no indication of intention to publicize financial and operating statements
beyond circle of those directly interested, it is known that the Cotabish Fund
has substantial resources which have been augmented since its founding beyond
the considerable disbursements both through accretion of investment and through
repayment or partial repayments of expenditures of beneficiaries. Despite lack
of publicity there have also been limited contributions from outside sources.
Of particular interest to those concerned with the welfare of Lakewood's aging
citizens is the Cotabish Fund's lack of red tape or limiting restrictions.
Under terms of the Trust, complete discretion as to disbursements is, and will
remain in three front rank Lakewood doctors with a representative of Mrs. Logan
as business manager. Characteristic of the Fund, which will be extended through
the indefinite future, is complete absence of publicity regarding its
undertaking and accomplishments. There was no disposition to reveal names of
Lakewood doctors in charge of disbursements when material for this article was
secured nor did specific instances of benefits go beyond descriptions of
anonymous individuals who were provided with expensive drugs or around - the -
clock nursing care after serious surgery.
Mrs. Logan who is a
member of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation, told the Post that her sole
interest so far as the fund is concerned, is making immediately available
resources to alleviate distress in Lakewood either on an independent, basis or
in conjunction with any appropriate private or public agencies which might come
into being. "My father and mother lived in Lakewood from earliest
adulthood and loved Lakewood," Mrs. Logan said. "My dad was deeply
interested in Lakewood Hospital and in spite of poor health during the last
years of his life, he accepted appointment as a trustee of Lakewood Hospital
and held that position when he died. I could think of no more appropriate
memorial to my father and mother, who was deeply interested in all that
interested him, than creating a fund which, would be made immediately available
to Lakewood people without red tape or publicity.
HAD OFFERED
HOMESTEAD
Although Nelson
Cotabish named no streets to commemorate himself nor sponsored institution or
monument bearing his name, he was Lakewood's one founding father intimately
associated both with progress of the National Carbon Co., actual factor which
precipitated establishing of the community just as it later became cornerstone
of Union Carbide, and the group of fortunate farmers and the real estate
developers popularly credited with dreaming up this City of Homes. That the Charitable
Fund, with its capacity for immediate service and its possibilities in
conjunction with ultimate solving of Lakewood 's old age problem would have
full approval of Mr. Cotabish is attested by his lifelong devotion to the
useful; during his last years, Mr. Cotabish's abiding interest was the outsize
tomatoes and towering corn he cultivated in a half-acre miniature farm
immediately adjoining the much modified field stone Dutch Colonial Cotabish
homestead at Cohasset and Detroit. The house, a landmark built to last for
generations, was offered to Lakewood for use as a youth center by Mrs. Logan
shortly after the death of mother, her father having died several years before.
When officials were unable to vision need for a youth center in Lakewood but did
offer to accept the home for use as a branch library, negotiations ended or,
rather, didn't begin.
COTABISH STORY
From the practical
standpoint, Mr. Cotabish and Lakewood grew up together. Of Bohemian stock,
death of Mr. Cotabish's father, when Nelson was 19, made wages the man earned
as an iron worker a chief source of income for the family which included two
other sons and five daughters. Mr. Cotabish was born in Cleveland on Nov. 5th
1867. He worked as a laborer in the now merged Otis Steel Co. and, in the Tyler
Wire Works in the period 1881-52. His first white collar job was a stenographer
for the still remembered Variety Iron Works in 1885 and, in 1886 he returned to
Otis Steel in this same capacity. Although, Mr.
Cotabish's formal
education ended with eighth grade in the Cleveland Public Schools, he began
young in life, to shoulder executive responsibilities. The first affiliation
with the industry around which he was to build his career started as chief
clerk of the Standard Carbon Co. ,forerunner of the National Carbon Co. of
which he was made sales manager in 1890, and later became a member of the
directorate serving in this dual capacity through the decades which preceded
the merger, in about 1915, which made National Carbon a basic element in world-wide
and world famed Union Carbide.
CAME WITH CARBON
CO.
Actually interests
of National Carbon were responsible for Mr. Cotabish's interest in Lakewood.
Back in the early '90's National Carbon was pioneering with a branch plant a mile
or so beyond end of trolley rails on the edge of what was then known as
Rockport. A fire on the East Side suddenly accelerated development of the
National Carbon installation which still stands at Madison and W 117th.
Meanwhile, on March
6, 1890 when Nelson Cotabish was 23, he married Ellen McBride Cotabish who, for
some long forgotten reason, was always known as Mrs. Nellie Cotabish. With wife
and infant daughter, Mr. Cotabish dared the rigors which establishing a home
near his place of employment represented in April, 1963[sic].
First Cotabish
Lakewood residence, which Mr. Cotabish had to discover during his lunch hours,
was a shingled cottage still standing on Cove, just north of Detroit. From his
first days in Lakewood, Mr. Cotabish found pleasure and exercise in his bicycle
rides between his home and National Carbon, something of an athletic feat when
inclement weather made the byways of that day rougher going than usual. But Mr.
Cotabish received more than pleasure or exercise as he propelled his bicycle
hither and yon in a personal survey of the emerging hamlet. First, byproduct of
Mr. Cotabish's exploration which, through the years, was to pay frequent and
handsome dividends, was discovery of a new dwelling for his family on Grace
Avenue, north of Franklin in a new allotment developed by the pioneering
Nicholson family. On the basis of his hard gained, intimate knowledge of every
corner of the community Mr. Cotabish became an important Lakewood developer in
his own right and, in later life, greatly expanded his real estate interests
beyond Lakewood limits.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
ALWAYS
And, from his early
years here, Mr. Cotabish devoted unstinted effort to community progress. He was
elected to Council in 1906 and was elected mayor in 1910-11 when Lakewood
attained city status thus, in reality, qualifying as the town's first chief
executive despite maze of technical argument. Later he served a number of years
as Director of Public Works and was Director ex-officio for two decades. He
headed or actively participated in dozens civic movements and causes but, as
was said in the story which appeared in The Post at the time of Mr. Cotabish's
death in 1942: " His years of active interest in civic affairs were
important in themselves ...but, vastly more importantly, they served as a basis
for formulating the pattern which was to make Lakewood outstanding among cities
of its type."
The notable fact
regarding life of Mr. Cotabish was his ability to shoulder the overload of
civic burdens through the years and, at the same time fashion a highly
successful career at fast rising National Carbon. His affiliation with the
forerunner of world prominent Union Carbide began in 1890; ended with his
retirement in Jan. 1920. A reminder of his National Carbon career is Cohasset
Avenue, named for a Boston suburb he encountered and liked while on business
trips. Similarly a Cohasset prototype suggested architecture and materials
incorporated in the Cotabish homestead.
Both Mr. Cotabish
and Mrs. Cotabish, who died in 1944, remained modest, approachable, interested
Lakewood residents to the ends of their lives. With the exception of trips to a
Canadian fishing lodge now and again, Mr. Cotabish found a full measure of
enjoyment in his home and its adjoining 'suburban farm". Freedom to wear a
venerable and venerated felt hat and to skip shaving when he felt in the mood,
were chief relaxation of his later years. And Mrs. Cotabish found the same
degree of satisfaction in sharing these modest, domestic pleasures.
14:3
RELIEF ASSOCIATED CHARITIES
LAKEWOOD PRESS
3-7-1918, pg. 36
The work of the
Lakewood Branch of the Cleveland Associated Charities was begun in 1912, with
the formation of a local committee and the appointment of Miss Lula Hirsching,
of 7904 Franklin Avenue, as secretary, working from the Associated Charities
west side office at Franklin Avenue, and West 25th Street.
In January, 1914,
offices were opened on Detroit Avenue near W. 117th Street. As the work grew
other workman were added to the staff and a year ago the office was moved to
its present quarters at 11737 Detroit Avenue. Miss Ada E. Anderson and Miss
Anna B. Beattie are assisting in the furnishing in her work for the 119
families now under the care of the Associated Charities , Lakewood Office.
"In all
seasons, families, because of the sickness, accident, desertion, old age or
death of the bread winner, must look the Associated Charities for every kind of
human helpfulness as well as for the very means of life itself. Of course at
present, there is no lack of employment for the able-bodied, but except at
times a great and industrial depression the able-bodied never constitute a
large portion of those we serve, " says Miss Hirsching.
"Material
relief is but one part of the plan for helping families back to independence.
The most vital need may be medical assistance, locating a deserting husband,
and seeing that he does his duty, suitable employment which has opportunities
for advancement, temporary or permanent institutional care, re-adjustments within the
home, constant supervision, encouragement and inspiration . Different things
are done for and with different people by cooperating with them to achieve at
the same time their own and the nations betterment. The coming of war has but
intensified the need for this service. The conservation of life, health and
human energy is of paramount importance. Our task is to strengthen the second
line of defense -- normal living, sturdy childhood, sound health and
morals."