On the 50th anniversary of the Hough riots, a look back at images and media coverage (photos)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - - On Tuesday, July 19, 1966, the front page of The Plain Dealer newspaper carried the blaring headline, "Woman killed in Hough violence"

The following day, the front page announced, "Negro killed in Cleveland; guard called in new riots"

On Thursday, July 22, it was "Tense, eerie Hough like movie set awaiting war"

And so went the headlines by local and national media informing of the Hough unrest that began on July 18, 1966 and ended six days later, 50 years ago.

As the story has been retold numerous times, a black man walked into the white-owned Seventy-Niner's Cafe on the corner of Hough Avenue and East 79th Street and asked for a glass of water. The bartender refused, used the N-word, and ordered him out. Minutes later, an angry crowd gathered outside, and soon after Hough erupted.

Four people were killed, two dozen critically injured, and more than 300 people arrested. It's been posited that 15 months later, the memory of the rioting played a role in Carl B. Stokes' election as the first black mayor of a major American city.

Kevin D. Skinner Senior was only four years old at the time of those devastating days in Hough, but his memories are vivid.

"If you were there you'd never forget," said Skinner, whose family lived on Kenmore Avenue, a few blocks over from Hough Avenue. "You could see the flames from where we stayed. The library that we went to was burned down. It was ugly."

Here, we take a look at the images and media coverage over those six infamous days of violence, looting and arson, the eventual calm, and images of life in Hough today.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.