Mrs. Stephanie Nowak (3711 W. 13th) and Mrs. Nettie Nowak (1318 Redmond Ave.) cover their faces to protect themselves from the fumes of the valley under the Harvard-Denison Bridge. This photo shows that air pollution was a major problem that had developed before Cermak's campaign. Since her house overlooked Lake Erie and downtown Cleveland, Miss Cermak bore witness daily to the destruction water and air pollution had caused. Industrial factories were a key cause of both air and water pollution in Cleveland. Although it was a topic that had been discussed periodically for decades, few politicians were willing to take on big industry. Cermak promised that if she were mayor, she would have old factory buildings renovated to meet cleaner standards. New factories would have to be built under stricter regulations to ensure less toxins would be released into the air and water. This issue of concern depicts how progressive she was. | Source: Cleveland Memory Project, Cleveland State University Library Special CollectionsDownload Original File
Source
Cleveland Memory Project, Cleveland State University Library Special Collections
"Women Enduring Air Pollution, 1946" appears in: Albina R. Cermak
