Cleveland, Washington

Cleveland is a community in Klickitat County, Washington. It is located within the Bickleton CDP.

Cleveland was first settled in 1879 by Ripley Dodge, who named it for the city of his native state of Ohio.[1]

Cleveland contains an old cemetery and a rodeo. The rodeo, the oldest in the state, has been completely refurbished. Also on the rodeo grounds is a 100-year-old Spillman carousel that has been completely refurbished thanks to grants and private funds. The closest town is Bickleton. An annual rodeo is held the 2nd weekend in June along with Pioneer days in which the carousel is restored to operating conditions as it was back in 1907, with the original carousel horses which are housed in the Museum in Bickleton.

Per R. Bollinger, former owner "The Oaks" Amusement Park / benefactor Oaks Park Association (the non-profit he set up to perpetuate "The Oaks"), this carousel was one of the few rides owned by "The Oaks" when it opened May 30, 1905. It was sold to the Bickleton/Cleveland group in 1928 along with the band organ and ticket booth. Through the years, the method used to turn this machine was modified from donkeys or small horses to steam engine to tractor engine. The communities of Bickleton and Cleveland have kept this machine in beautiful condition.

Cleveland's most famous grandson was William O. Douglas, the longest sitting member of the US Supreme Court. His family moved from California to Cleveland before settling in Yakima, Washington.

References

1. Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.