“This whole city’s black and white… tell me what is your color… could it be the same as mine?”
“City of Black and White” – Matt Kearney (2009)
And everything returns eventually… from last January, where Lexington Avenue dead-ends into East 47th Street. A snowy day then, like it was from time to time today, here in Cleveland.
Hoping everyone had a wonderful, Blessed Thanksgiving!
Photo taken January 23, 2014
“Some legends are told… some turn to dust or to gold… but you will remember me… for centuries…”
Above Left: From “Architectural Reviewer” September 30, 1897 (courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery Collection.) Above Right and Directly Below: From the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery Collection
“Centuries” – Fall Out Boy (2014)
Top three photos taken October 17, 2014
[10 photos]
He left his inspiring, and still enduring mark on this town… Charles Frederick Schweinfurth, born on September 3, 1856 in Auburn, New York– became one of the most preeminent architects in Cleveland, Ohio during the late 19th and early 20th Century.
Schweinfurth designed and lived in the building pictured above– a very modest, yet captivating castle-like home on E. 75th Street (Ingleside Avenue)– from 1894 until his death in November of 1919. He was the architect for at least 15 of the grand mansion residences on “millionaires’ row” that once populated Euclid Avenue and advanced Cleveland’s international reputation as “the showplace of America.” Most of these beautiful homes to the wealthy and high society power players of the time, today exist only in photographs.
Magnificent residential designs were but one of Charles Schweinfurth’s architectural contributions in helping “build” the City of Cleveland during the latter half of his life.
A few other surviving examples of the architect’s mastery include: Calvary Presbyterian Church, The Cuyahoga County Courthouse (with Lehman and Schmitt), and Trinity Cathedral, considered to be his finest accomplishment. He also designed bridges, including many that exist throughout the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, as well as several buildings which are now a part of Case-Western Reserve University.
This house on E. 75th Street, which utilizes “rustigated” Ohio sandstone, looks quite a bit different today, from when it was built. The structure hasn’t changed much, but over the years it’s surroundings have evolved. The street became a neighborhood. Other houses were built, and other streets were added. Decor was added to the exterior, and changed, and changed again. And many of the neighboring houses were eventually demolished. A designated Cleveland Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Schweinfurth house still remains.
From “Men of Ohio in Nineteen Hundred” published: Cleveland, The Benesch Art Publishing Co., 1901 (Courtesy of the Hathi Trust Digital Library.)
A Photo I took of the Charles F. Schweinfurth designed Samuel Mather mansion, on the campus of Cleveland State University, December 13, 2013
Schweinfurth designed Euclid Avenue mansion. Demolished. From “Architectural Reviewer” September 30, 1897 (courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery Collection)
Schweinfurth designed Euclid Avenue mansion. Demolished. From “Architectural Reviewer” September 30, 1897 (courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery Collection)
“You are pulled from the wreckage of your silent reverie… You’re in the arms of an angel… may you find some comfort here.”
“Angel” – Sarah McLachlan (1998)
The above Photo taken November 10, 2014
One of the many historic homes that have been saved from demolition by the Cleveland Restoration Society and local community involvement. The organization took over the dilapidated, condemned property from the City in 1996 to ensure that the Cleveland Landmark would not be destroyed. In 1998, Cleveland residents James Graham and David Dusek purchased the home and embarked upon a visionary, expansive restoration project that has resulted in the wonderful rebirth of this beautiful century home.
The house adorns the corner of South Boulevard and East 98th Street, at the western edges of Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood, near East Avenue and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens. Built in 1903 as a “summer home” for wealthy Cleveland businessman, Edwin Potter, it was one of many grand houses built in that area by architect George Kauffman and The Kauffman Architectural Company.
“The Potter Home” is a modern day success story in amongst too many sad cases of beautiful, historic old structures dying into “forgotten-ness.” The Cleveland Restoration Society and other agencies and private citizens like Mr. Graham and Mr. Dusek, truly are the “arms of an angel” to Cleveland history, architecture, and culture and to the many structures that they have saved from the wrecking ball.
An excellent interview with James Graham and David Dusek, inside this house, and a bit more about it and the neighborhood can be found in this video:
“…you’ll see a smilin’ face… a fireplace.. a cozy room… a little nest that’s nestled where the roses bloom…”
“My Blue Heaven” – Frank Sinatra (1950)
[10 Photos]
A very unassuming, almost hidden piece of urban property at 4806 Euclid Avenue in midtown Cleveland…
Built in 1898 as an extended-stay housing option for visiting business executives from other cities, “The Esmond” also served as the ideal turn-of-the century “swanky” bachelor pad for single businessmen working in the hustle-bustle world that was Cleveland, Ohio in the early 1900’s.
The building was designed by architect John Eisenmann, who also co-designed with fellow architect, George H. Smith, the Cleveland Arcade. Eisenmann is also credited with designing the official flag of the State of Ohio that flies today in the buckeye state (and He was a graduate of the University of Michigan, of all things!)
Through the years The Esmond has continued to serve as a fashionable apartment building, and still offers extended-stay bed and breakfast suites to visitors to the city.
Photos taken October 31, 2014
Ramification Photography 