West Side Irish American Club Ladies' Drill Team, 1961

West Side Irish American Club Ladies' Drill Team, 1961
The area surrounding Gordon Square was originally settled by Irish immigrants. Clustered between Detroit Avenue, Herman Avenue, W. 65th Street, and W. 69th Street, these early settlers came from County Mayo, Achill - an impoverished region on the west coast of Ireland.

Even as the neighborhood gave way to Italian immigrants during the early 20th century, the Irish retained a strong presence around Gordon Square. The Irish community regularly frequented the building now inhabited by Cleveland Public Theatre at 6415 Detroit Avenue, using the upstairs for community events, dances, and social club meeting. During the 1930s, the West Side Irish American Club began their St. Patrick's Day march to downtown Cleveland at the corner of W. 65th Street and Detroit Avenue.

Photograph courtesy of Cleveland State University Special Collections.
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