Turns out, there's a historical basis for that east/west thing peculiar to Clevelanders divided by the Cuyahoga River.
Ron Reisinger, tour guide for Cleveland Gateway District's Canal Basin Park tour, told a tale of two cities; Cleveland and Ohio City.
Ohio City was founded first, two days before the city of Cleveland. Despite Cleveland being three times the size of it's neighbor to the west, the two cities were fierce competitors for business generated by river traffic.
"Crossing the river was always going to be a problem," Reisinger told the Fathers Day crowd. "Even back in the 1830's, people from the east side thought you needed a passport to get to the west side, and vice versa."
Once, the only way to conduct business across the river was by ferry boat. Eventually, the two sides built a floating bridge near Central Street, made of logs held together by chains.
"It worked pretty well," Reisinger told the 20 people in attendance, "but the competition grew."
When a draw bridge was built at Columbus Street, Cleveland really began reaping the economic benefits. To add to that advantage, some Cleveland folks took their side of the floating bridge off of the river, forcing river traffic to bypass Ohio City completely.
This did not sit well with the west side city.
"A group from Ohio City tried to blow up the Columbus Street bridge," Reisinger told the group. They were unsuccessful.
On Halloween night, 1836, an armed mob tried again to destroy the bridge. But then-Cleveland mayor John Willey stopped any further damage, and the matter went to court.
"The judge in the case said, 'Cleveland, you've got to put back your half of the logs from the floating bridge'," Reisinger told them. "And Ohio City, you need to stop trying to destroy Cleveland's bridge."
People in the tour group smiled and shook their heads in amazement. Most had never heard of the so-called 1836 Bridge War.
And that is the beauty of the Explore the City Take a Hike walking tours. Every week through September 16, tours are available for hikes through the Gateway District, Warehouse District, Canal Basin, Playhouse Square and Civic Center.
Visitors and Cleveland natives will be equally surprised by much of the 'inside scoop' on the city.
Each hike lasts about an hour and a half, and walkers are treated to a surprise visit from a re-enactor, bringing the history lesson to life.
Sunday's Canal Basin visit was from Mary Kelly, wife of Alfred, the first mayor of the Village of Cleveland and canal founder.
Kelly, played by actor Marcia Mandell, suddenly appeared and joined the tour crowd, looking excitedly around the area for the perfect spot for a statue of her beloved husband. She couldn't imagine that the city wouldn't want to dedicate a statue to Alfred, who lived and died in the city. After all, Moses Cleaveland has a statue, after staying in his namesake city a mere three months.
Mrs. Kelly went on to tell the group of her honeymoon, spent traveling from New York to Cleveland, which would be their new home, away from all the people they loved.
She read them a letter she wrote to her mother about that difficult journey. After feigning embarrassment about going on so long about her husband, she begged those listening to tell their friends and family about Alfred; to spread the word so that maybe, someday, there really will be a statue.
The Bridge War notwithstanding, Reisinger said that east siders and west siders really do get along.
"If you talk about the east/west divide with someone not from Cleveland, it's hard for them to understand," he said. "Two cities struggled mightily with each other, but they eventually became one. We get along fine, but there is a division and a pride attached to living on 'your' side of the river."
The annual Take A Hike fundraiser, "Walk and Dine," will be July 16 in the Gateway neighborhood. For more info, go to www.clevelandgatewaydistrict.com