In the early 1900’s the area adjacent to and along W. 130th, known as Settlement Acres, became the home for a large number of Slovenian, Croation, Polish, and Italian Catholics.  To serve this growing population, Annunciation was started as a mission parish out of St. Mary’s on Brookpark Avenue. Our original name was “St. Mary’s of the Annunciation” which Bishop Schrembs transferred to us in August of 1924 from a parish that was in Ohio City for a short time in the 1800’s.  Our first Mass was celebrated by Fr. Hyland in a tent at Cimperman’s Grove, a private picnic area south of Sprecher Avenue. Services moved into the dance hall pavilion on the grounds while a church and school building was being built at Bennington and W. 130th.  The cornerstone was dedicated there in October of 1924 and the new building along with a rectory was completed in 1925.
          On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the parish in 1949, a campaign began to build a new church building.  Ground was broken in August of 1950 and the first Mass in the new church was on Easter Sunday 1952.  Over the altar hung a painting of the Annunciation, a personal gift from Archbishop Hoban.  It was at the dedication Mass in July 1952 that the parish ceased to be called “St. Mary’s of the Annunciation” but simply “Annunciation”.  The new church structure was the most modern on W. 130th and was a tribute to the people who built the neighborhood and who valued the place of the parish in their lives.
          Through the years, the Sisters of Charity, The Sisters of the Incarnate Word, and the Sisters of St. Joseph staffed our school, which, at its peak in the 1950’s, averaged a yearly attendance of around 600 students.  It served the community well for many years until declining enrollment forced its closing in June of 1994.  However, the decision was made to retain the building for education and presently houses Hope Academy West.  We are happy that this transition enabled us to continue the presence of education in our neighborhood.  In addition, our church building is a site for an adult literacy program of the Sisters of St. Joseph and also for computer classes for seniors coordinated by one of our parishioners.
          From its early days at Cimperman’s Grove, Annunciation brought together the neighborhood’s diverse working class families.  After Sunday services various groups often gathered at the pavilion for picnics or meetings.  Annunciation became a unifying presence for the W. 130th neighborhood through her parishioners who owned neighborhood family businesses and who were active in such local institutions as the West Park Slovene Home and Veterans Club.  Likewise for the families whose lives revolved around the school and various parish activities such as the Holy Name Society, the Altar and Rosary Society, and the Church’s Athletic Club.  Annunciation became a centering force linking together the neighborhood’s family life, businesses, and social clubs.  It is little wonder that the families of these early residents, many of whom never left the neighborhood, chose Annunciation as the site for the Settlement Acres Founder’s Memorial, dedicated in conjunction with Cleveland’s Bi-Centennial
in 1996.
          Our parish’s history is not complete without mentioning its history of outreach and simple caring that reflects the generous hearts of the W. 130th residents.  In the early days, parishioners canned food from their gardens providing a ready supply for the Holy Name Society to distribute to the neighborhood’s needy. For years, baskets for the poor were distributed during holidays as well as Welcome Baskets for new parishioners.  These early roots of caring transitioned through the years to form, among other ministries, another Welcome Basket Ministry, a monthly food collection for the West Park Community Cupboard, an Advent Giving Tree, a Christmas in July collection, and a St. Vincent de Paul Ministry.  Our church site also provides a monthly meal prepared by various neighborhood groups, once again bringing together our diverse neighbors.  Around the time of our 75th anniversary, our outreach extended its focus to the greater global neighborhood.  This resulted in a twinning relationship with a parish in Haiti and involvement in various peace and justice issues.  We also became a site for AA meetings and Cleveland Pax Christi.  Like our parish’s early local neighborhood involvement, we believe our present social action ministries reflect the compassionate Christ.
          Annunciation has seen many transitions in its history and is currently living into another.  After the dedicated service from a long line of pastors who guided us throughout the years, we’ve adopted a new model of leadership.  Sr. Janet Bednar was installed as Parish Life Coordinator in September 2002 and we presently have Fr. Tim Daw as our Presbyteral Moderator.  We are grateful that this model has enabled our parish to continue Christ’s work locally and globally in a new way.  We have continued to respond, like those before us, with the same spirit of the simple “Yes” of the Annunciation and we are most grateful for what was begun over 80 years ago: a welcoming and caring parish community.