Bedford Historical Society

Author: Ali Al-Ramezi

  • You Remember Getting Shoes at Nienal’s

    You Remember Getting Shoes at Nienal’s

    While still battling the heat of August, your mom would stop the summer fun to take you to Nienal’s Shoes to get fitted for your new pair of school shoes, signaling the sunsetting of another summer.  Sweating in your shorts and tank top, you would begrudgingly enter the cool store where Mr. Nienal would place your stockinged foot in the metal contraption, instructing you to push your heel into the back of the sizer (first right then left) and stand tall. Sliding the metal side bar to the end of your big toe, your shoe size would be noted.

    Mr. Nienal would then disappear into the back rooms, returning with several boxes of various “sensible” shoes guaranteed to last the whole year. Mom would review as you walked back and forth to determine which pair was the winner, all the while you examined the shoes from various angles on the mirrors stationed at floor level. Once picked, Mom would slyly ask for a half size larger knowing that by the time snowflakes started to fall, your feet would have grown into them.

    Once all of the family had been sized and supplied, we kids were gratefully released back to our summer tasks of riding bikes and playing ghost in the graveyard. And that night, knowing that this special time was coming to an end, the air was a little sweeter, the wind a little softer, and the whisper of summer freedom just a bit more noticeable.

  • Richard Handyside and The First Fire

    Richard Handyside and The First Fire

    The Bedford fire department was formed January 1, 1881 by the Bedford Village Council. In February of 1882, 28 volunteer firefighters were sworn in as members of Bedford Fire Company #1 and operated out of a barn on Woodrow St. using hand-pulled pumps and hose carts and responded to fires when alerted by the sounding of the church bell in the steeple of the Baptist Church. The first fire for Company #1 occurred on April 9, 1882 at a barn and saloon located on Broadway Ave.

    A photo of young Richard Handyside
    Dick Handyside

    Ninety years after that first fire, the only firefighter in Bedford’s history to die in the line of duty, Richard Handyside, succumbed to injuries sustained from a fire he helped battle on March 1, 1972. Richard (Dick) Pierce Handyside was born in 1930 and grew up on Harriman St. He joined the Bedford Fire Department as a volunteer in 1951. In 1963, he became one of the department’s first full-time firefighters as a “driver sergeant” and over time, he rose to the rank of Captain. He died April 18, 1972.  He was survived by his wife, Georgia, and their two children.

  • Volunteer Reporter – An Exciting Journalism Opportunity

    Volunteer Reporter – An Exciting Journalism Opportunity

    Calling all Aspiring Reporters

    Are you interested in media, journalism, or reporting? Do you enjoy talking with people and learning their stories? Are you looking for a creative volunteer opportunity in Bedford, Ohio?

    Becoming a Volunteer Reporter might be exactly what you’re looking for.

    The Bedford Historical Society is looking for Volunteer Reporters to help document the people, places, and stories that make our community unique. No experience is required—just curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to make a real impact.

    What is a Volunteer Reporter?

    The Volunteer Reporter is one of our many local opportunities dedicated to promoting and preserving the history of Bedford, a vibrant community just east of Cleveland, Ohio. A Volunteer Reporter is someone who creates short, engaging video stories about Bedford, Ohio, and the people who live here. These stories help preserve local history while showcasing what makes the community special.

    Your video could include:

    • Highlights on a local business or location
    • An interview with a member of the community
    • You or someone else sharing a piece of Bedford’s history
    • Coverage of community events
    • Moments of interest from around town

    We are intending these journalism volunteer opportunities to be flexible, creative, and accessible. All we ask for is a phone and an interest in storytelling.

    Our goal is to grow this into a community-driven media project that reflects the voices, perspectives, and experiences of the people who call Bedford home for generations to come.

    Why Become a Volunteer Reporter?

    Being a Volunteer Reporter is a practical, hands-on way to gain journalism and media experience while contributing to something meaningful.

    If you’re searching for a volunteer opportunity in Bedford, Ohio that also helps you build skills, this is a strong place to start.

    • Gain real-world journalism and media experience
    • Build a portfolio with published video content
    • Work closely with real veterans in the Cleveland media scene
    • Develop interviewing, storytelling, and communication skills
    • Get involved in your local Bedford community

    Many important community stories are never recorded. This project is an effort to change that. By making it easy for anyone to contribute, we ensure that our town’s story includes the perspectives of anyone willing to share.

    Who Can Participate?

    Anyone can be a Volunteer Reporter—yes, really!

    We’re looking for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels.

    Whether you’re:

    • An aspiring journalist
    • A student looking to build experience
    • A content creator, influencer, blogger, or photographer
    • A seasoned reporter
    • Or simply someone who enjoys storytelling

    There’s a place for you in this project, as long as you have a desire to participate and share your perspective.

    How to Apply

    Getting started is simple:

    1. Choose a person, place, or story in Bedford that interests you.
    2. Record a short video (under one minute) using your phone.
    3. Submit your video to museum@bedfordohiohistory.org for review.

    Someone from the Historical Society will follow up with feedback or next steps. We may have questions or recommendations based on the work you provide us.

    While we’re excited to see the variety of submissions, we do need to prove that our volunteers can maintain a professional level of consistency. To keep submissions consistent, please include the following:

    Opening Line: “Hi everybody, (insert name) here.”

    End with: “Go to bedfordohiohistory.org to learn how you can share your thoughts, pictures and videos about Bedford on our new interactive website”

    Final Tagline: “Believe in Bedford: wonderful place to live.”

    We’re excited to see what you come up with!

    Questions and More Information

    For more details, see the official listing, or send us an email at museum@bedfordohiohistory.org with “Volunteer Reporter” in the subject line. We’re excited to help you with your submission.

    If you’ve been looking for a volunteer opportunity in Bedford, Ohio that combines creativity, community involvement, and real-world media experience, this is your chance to get involved.

  • An Evening with Robin Swoboda: A Great Success!

    An Evening with Robin Swoboda: A Great Success!

    Little did we at the Bedford Historical Society realize when we decided on the event title, “An Evening with Robin Swoboda: The Good, The Bad and The Hilarious” that the experience would do much more than live up to its name!

    Robin and I truly enjoyed sharing our often-crazy experiences doing “live” television with some of the funniest, most talented and nicest people you’d ever hope to meet.  Your warm reception, laughter and support were sincerely appreciated, especially during the technical glitches which, for us, are a normal part of live TV.

    On behalf of The Bedford Historical Society, Robin Swoboda and myself, we want to thank all the wonderful people who attended our Annual Bedford Historical Society Gala Fundraiser at Jimmy and Patty D’Angelo’s Sherwood Forest Party Center.

    Your comments on Facebook and other platforms were both welcomed and gratifying.  For those of you who unfortunately could not be there to share in the humor and walk down memory lane, you can enjoy some of the following photos and comments from those who spent a memorable evening with the funny, inspirational and totally genuine Robin Swoboda.

    Thank you!

    Robin & Tim

    Attendee quotes

    I went to the Sherwood Forest Party Center for the Bedford Historical Society fundraiser and what a night !  Fantastic food, remarkable staff and entertained by two of the best known and well loved newscasters of my time. Robin was absolutely hilarious, witty, beautiful and such an incredible hostess.  She and Tim shared behind the scenes stories from their news days and had the whole room laughing.

    —Gina

    Watching Tim and Robin took me back to the golden age of TV news where news and personality reigned supreme.  It’s only fitting that the broadcasting history they created is helping support the mission of the Bedford Historical Society

    —Ed “Flash” Ferenz

    Nice job Tim and Robin, tap dancing around the microphone mayhem. 😊

    —Waverly

    Holly and I really enjoyed the evening…chaos and all!  The food was very good.

    —Roland

    Because we watched this news team for years on TV, it was fun to hear how the anchors kidded around with each other behind the scenes.  The story of Robin and Dick Goddard picking up dinner and the mishap the happened on the drive back was funny.

    —Dennis

    Based on the stories and your calmness, you two experienced many technical and health glitches during your careers.  Your stories were excellent.

    —Wayne

    It was very good and very entertaining. Robin is hilarious and genuine.  I loved the event.

    —Bob