WILLEYVILLE - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

WILLEYVILLE was the southeast section of OHIO CITY (CITY OF OHIO), the location of the famed "Bridge War" between Cleveland and Ohio City. Willeyville was laid out by Jas. S. Clark, adjacent to an allotment owned by Barber & Sons and named for the developer's partner, Cleveland mayor JOHN W. WILLEY†. The property, west of the main bend in the CUYAHOGA RIVER, was opposite Columbus St. Clark graded the hill and, at a cost of $15,000, built a drawbridge that connected the west side of Columbus Rd. with the east side branch. The bridge benefited 2 Clark-Willey ventures, the Farmers Central Market at Ontario and Prospect, and Cleveland Centre, slightly north. Willeyville was the scene of a brief, armed combat over the bridge's location. (See COLUMBUS STREET BRIDGE.)

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