Amos Norwood Mini Park
Mr. Norwood came to Cleveland at the age of 18 from Eutah, Alabama to become a part-time third-shift attendant at the former Shell gas station located on the corner of South Moreland & Drexmore Road. Within 12 years, he owned the Shell Station, the Sunoco Station on East 130th and Buckeye Road, several apartments and a number of single and two-family homes. He sponsored several little league teams, bowling leagues, the Buckeye Development Corporation Summer Street Festival, the Annual East 128th Street Block Party and numerous other neighborhood events. He was Buckeye's Black Godfather.
In October of 2006, former Councilwoman Pat Britt, the late Director of Community Development, Daryl Rush, residents of East 128th Street, local business owners and a host of family and friends joined newly elected Mayor Frank G. Jackson for the dedication of the East 128th Street/Amos Norwood Mini-Park located at East 128th & Drexmore Road. Peter Rubin, President & CEO of the Coral Company, donated a parcel land which was converted into a pocket-park. The funding for the park was provided by several donations from the Cleveland City-Works Program, Neighborhood Connection, the Cleveland Foundation, Manno Landscaping, and the late Rory Turner, a certified architect, who designed the entire mini-park at no cost to the East 128th Street Block Club Association. Eventually, those funds were matched by a $17,000.00 plus gift from Amos Norwood. John Hopkins, Executive Director of the Buckeye Area Development Corporation served as the Block Club's fiscal agent.
Lawrence “Larry”
Francis Manno
Memorial Rose Garden
Lawrence “Larry” Francis Manno was born at St. Luke Hospital, Cleveland to Francis and Elizabeth (nee Piuuno) Manno of 2627 East 112th Street. His family and siblings attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church located at 11515 Mount Carmel Avenue, were he was baptized, received his First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Larry graduated from Mt. Carmel Elementry School, attended Benedictine HS for his freshman year and transferred to John Adams High School where he graduated in 1963. He joined Our Lady of Peace in 2010 after Our Lady of Mount Carmel closed. He served in the Ohio National Guard during both the Hough and Glenville riots/uprisings. In 1969, Larry opened Manno Landscaping, Inc in his grandmother's garage located on East 112th Street South of Woodland Avenue. Eventually, he relocated the business to 12808 Buckeye Road where he operated from for over 40 plus years with his loyal administrative assistant, Susan "Sue" Sevcik. He resided at 2666 East 130th Street until his marriage to Patricia Schneider. On September 6, 1975 he moved to South Euclid until his passing on October 11, 2019 at University Hospital. He is survived by his daughters: Jacquelyn, Stephanie, Kristen; grandchildren: Joey, Austin, Emily, Sophia, Ryan, Madelyn and siblings: Donald and Bruce. Larry designed the original landscaping for the Amos Norwood Mini-Park in 2005.