Magyar Protestant churches
This area is now called "the forgotten triangle". Recently the city opened a new boulevard, which is called Opportunity Corridor. It was created to connect I-490 with University Circle to quicken, and bypass black neighbourhoods. Naturally, a whole lot of bullshit was spread about economic expansion. The chief substance of development is the future Police Headquarters.
This, and the next post will be about two abandoned churches that were in transactions of demographic change. The two buildings are easily visible to each other, and surrounded by empty lots growing grass and are next to this grand route. Both are near the intersection of East 79th, and Holton. This was once a heavily Hungarian (they call themselves, Magyars), and Slovak area up to, and around Buckeye.
The Magyars were somewhat unique in continental Europe in being divided into so many Christian denominations. There were several different churches here that were speaking the Magyar tongue. I think the only one that still does, and with the same continuing congregation is St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic. Only Budapest had more Magyars living within the city than Cleveland.
Several different Catholic congregations began at St. Joseph Franciscan on Woodland. Fr. Stephan Furdek began St. Ladislas (Laszlo in Magyar) there in 1885. In 1889, he bought land at Holton and Corwin. By the end of '89 the church was consecrated. In 1892, the Magyars left to start St. Elizabeth of Hungary. In August of 1970 St. Ladislas burned, the parish moved to Westlake to build a new church.
Első Magyar Református Templom Épült 1906, First Magyar Reformed Temple Built 1906
Services have not been regularly attended, and that was before corona virus-19.
Vegetation grows through the mortar.
This window was thought unnecessary long ago.
This is an organ, there is also a piano there. There is nearly always a piano.
The last occupant was The New Community Apostolic Faith Church.
The demographic change of the neighbourhood went from Magyar, to Black Americans, to nearly no one.
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