9 Crazy World Records That Made History In Cleveland
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 03, 2018
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland has a colorful history, but many moments in its vast story have been forgotten. Most know of Moses Cleaveland’s initial founding of the city, and you may also know the history of the Terminal Tower, but do you know about the city’s unusual history of setting records? Turns out, Clevelanders are a quirky bunch, and we’ve left our mark on the world in some truly unforgettable ways.
1. The Record-Setting World’s Largest Pierogi (2017)
216 is a special number in Cleveland's identity. Not only is it the city's area code, but it was also the weight that students and chefs at Cuyahoga Community College were hoping their giant pierogi would come out at. When the giant pierogi was baked, it took 170 pounds of peeled potatoes, 15 pounds of cheese, and nearly a hundred pounds of dough. It came out at a total weight of 215.5 lbs, breaking the previous record for world's largest pierogi, which weighed 123 pounds.
Richard D. "Dick" Goddard is a legend in the City of Cleveland. From September of 1965 to September of 2016, Goddard was a familiar face on the local news. Throughout his career, he advocated for the welfare of animals, helping many pets find their fur-ever homes.
In 2003, 41 determined dancers gathered at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to break a world record. They grooved for 51 consecutive hours, excluding 10-minute breaks every hour, and beat the former world record by just one hour. They originally aimed to reach 81 hours - an ambitious goal that was not even realized by Delhi when the city broke Cleveland's record in 2004 by just four hours. Since then, multiple cities around the world have continued setting the bar higher and higher.
4. Most Fleece Blankets in One Color in One Place (2010)
Quicken Loans Arena was overflowing with a sea of red on a March evening in 2010 as a sold-out crowd of Cavs fans donned themed Snuggies. Guinness World Records recognized the 20,562 participants as the largest group to do so. That's a whole lot of love for The Land!
If any moment in Cleveland history proves that we're a breed all our own, it's this one. On a cool October night in The Flats in 2013, 21 people lit themselves on fire for 32 seconds to break a world record and raise money for charity. Participants wore flame-retardant suits and reported feeling only a minor warmth as they were torched. The record was broken in Cape Town, South Africa in January 2018, beating Cleveland's record by 11 participants. We're ok with losing the top spot on this one - it seems quite dangerous, even with the safety suits!
Nowadays, releasing a million and a half balloons into the atmosphere at once would do more than raise a few eyebrows and concerns. However, in 1986, Cleveland was feeling bold as thousands of locals gathered in Public Square to watch as their hometown broke a record previously held by Disneyland. The event was disastrous, resulting in accidents, tons of litter, and a tragically failed search and rescue mission.
For the full story, check out our previous feature article here and watch actual footage of the massive balloon release in this video by YouTube user Topic:
For 51 hours, locals kept a kickball game going for 474 consecutive innings. After concluding with a final score of 431-306, history was made at Padua Franciscan High School in Parma. Not only did the event raise $10,000 for pediatric cancer victims, it also earned recognition from Guinness World Records.
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8. & 9. The Largest Outdoor Soap Bubble / The Largest Indoor Soap Bubble (2015)
It was in Wade Oval Park that Gary Pearlman made history. He produced the largest free-floating soap bubble mankind had ever seen - an impressive 3,399.7 cubic feet in size. That same year, he also produced the largest indoor soap bubble in Mayfield Village.
Clevelanders are a quirky bunch, and there are no people quite like us out there. Many members of our community have taken strides to ensure that our hometown finds its place in the international spotlight every so often, and they’ve done so in some pretty crazy ways.
Have you ever helped make a record? Do you know of any other world records made in Cleveland? Tell us about it in the comments!
