One of the most underutilized resources for genealogical research is the local library in the ancestral hometown. We don't hesitate to write to the courthouse or the health department for vital records or to write to the archives for historical documents, but a wealth of information awaits you in the library in the town or county where your ancestor lived.
Of course, they have books, but more importantly they may have specialized books such as local histories about that town or county that may not be available anywhere else. There may be biographies of local figures or ordinary citizens that are of little interest outside of the area. Also very likely, there are phone books and/or city directories for the time period you are researching, even if there are none for that city in the larger repositories.
Often the local library has early editions of the local newspaper on microfilm-those newspapers with obituaries and news articles that you may need. Here is where you may find a fairly omplete collection of the local high school yearbooks. Historical maps of early landowners or Sanborn fire insurance maps identifying each structure in town are frequently held in that local library.
Depending on the librarian, the library may also maintain a vertical file, which can be a gold mine. Here are folders with ephemeral items of local interest such as church anniversary programs, news stories about local events, obituaries, photographs, scrapbooks, histories of local industries, histories of civic groups or organizations, and personal journals, diaries or papers. These are just some of the resources available in local libraries.
A simple letter of request will put you in touch will all of those resources and more. To the best of their ability, the reference staff (which is sometimes just one person) will address requests such as:
As with any request, limit your query to one or two specific questions. Inquire about the cost or make a donation. And always enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Most libraries will send materials for just the cost of the copies which is usually nominal (a dollar or less per page). But absolutely write a thank-you note for any effort they make on your behalf. It will increase the probability of their response to your second and third requests.
To aid in finding a library, each US library is listed in the American Library Directory. So, you can call a Cleveland library and request the address and phone number of the library in your ancestral home, or you can locate the library yourself on the Internet. Make friends with the librarian in your ancestral home ---soon. You won't regret it.