City celebrates bicentennial at Coulby Park

Wickliffe commemorated its 200th anniversary on July 15 at Coulby Park.

Lifelong resident and executive secretary Sue Iafelice said she is thankful that the city came together for such a special event.

The bicentennial celebration featured a full day of activities, including a vintage car show and historical tours.

Mentor residents Roberta and Tom Perno said they came to the event for the history

tours and antique cars.

“We’re originally from Wickliffe and this was a good opportunity to come back,” Roberta said. “It’s interesting.”

Wickliffe has a rich history.

The earliest town records show that in 1817 Wickliffe’s first residents, the Williams Jones and Abner C. Tarbell families, traveled in two covered wagons from Haddam, Connecticut, to the Western Reserve. They settled at Cleveland Public Square but soon relocated to land purchased on a knoll west of the intersection of Lloyd Road and Euclid Avenue, now

known as Wickliffe.

For its first 100 years, Wickliffe was a precinct in Willoughby Township. In 1916, a petition was filed requesting that Wickliffe be permitted to incorporate as a village. When the election was held on March 27, 1916, a majority of those voting approved the resolution. The incorporation of the Village of Wickliffe was recorded in Painesville on April 10, 1916. Harry C. Coulby, whose estate was destined to become Wickliffe’s City Hall, became the first mayor.

Wickliffe officially became a city on October 6, 1951.

Mark Iafelice, who has lived in Wickliffe for 41 years, said he enjoyed the bicentennial event.

Sue Margalis, who is

another lifelong Wickliffe resident, said she was also pleased with the event.

“It’s great for people of all ages,” she said.

Other activities included the Singers’ Club of Cleveland, Vintage Baseball Game, Cleveland Blues Base Ball Club, a free concert, Jungle Terry and disc golf.

Classic Pops Quartet, from the Singers Club of Cleveland serenaded audiences during the day and E5C4P3 –The Journey Tribute Band was scheduled to perform from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The community event concluded with the Lego Batman Movie at 9:15 p.m.

Online: A photo gallery from the bicentennial celebration MEDIA.NEWSHERALD.COM