But by one account, Perk told that story to the media to cover the real reason she turned down the invitation: his wife’s embarrassment over not thinking she had anything proper to wear to the White House. Since they’re both dead, it’s hard to check or corroborate that story, which may have been cooked up afterward as a cover story in the face of all the ridicule.

It’s not until someone points out the rare delicacy of lawn ornaments, hair fires, river fires, or political catastrophies based on scheduled bowling nights that stop me dead in my wanting to live in Barcelona tracks and seriously reconsider my desire to leave this crazy, cold as hell in the winter city.

I think Cleveland may have my heart. Is that insane, or what?

From what I recall, the Perk fire happened around the time of the river fire. Which leads me to ask what was it about Cleveland in those years that made it the fire-joke capitol of the world?

These were the sentiments from my friends and family living in shake/bake California. I have to admit, I was a little frightened when I decided to move to a city that had such a bad reputation.

I’m happy to say, I haven’t witnessed one river or lake fire since landing here in 2000.

Thanks for the Cleveland history lesson, M. Nice post.