Winter 2015
Issue No.96
Facade
A Publication of the Cleveland Restoration Society
96
Photo courtesy of the Cleveland Public Library Photography Collection
Oral History Project Records Unique
History of Cleveland’s Ward 1
Beehive School, now demolished.
2 I Façade 96
Students of Beehive School, 1948. Photo courtesy of LaMar Harrell
By Michael Fleenor
For the last several years, the
Cleveland Restoration Society
has been working with Cleveland
Councilman Terrell Pruitt to promote historic preservation in the
City’s Ward 1. This area includes
the Lee-Harvard, Lee-Seville and
Miles Heights neighborhoods of
southeastern Cleveland. Our work
has included architectural surveys
of the ward’s main commercial
thoroughfares and of two distinctive residential neighborhoods.
The ward is noteworthy both for
its mid-century modern architectural fabric and its uniqueness as
a move-up neighborhood for African Americans that competed
with the suburbs in the 1950s and
1960s.
As part of the Councilman’s de-
sire that neighborhood history be
recognized, recorded, shared, and
considered when planning for future development and place-making, CRS undertook an oral history project. Over several months,
Michael Fleenor, CRS Director of
Preservation Services, and Felicia
Hall, former Director of Administration, interviewed community
members and recorded these interactions on video. What came out
of these interviews was a fascinating story of a remarkable community built and sustained by hard
work and the pursuit of the American Dream.
For a number of years, CRS
has focused on surveying and promoting historic designation of resources important to the African-
Serving the Preservation Community of Cleveland Since 1972
Michael Cummins
Chair, Board of Trustees
Photo courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University
Facade 96
Editor
Kerri Broome
Staff
Kathleen H. Crowther
President
Thomas A. Jorgensen
Chief Operating Officer
Ann Bish
Business & Finance Manager
Kerri Broome
Director of Development & Publications
Elizabeth Cardarelli
Heritage Home ProgramSM Assistant
Jobadiah Christiansen
Membership & Technology Assistant
Colin Compton
Heritage Home ProgramSM Associate
Michael Fleenor
Director of Preservation Services
Margaret Lann
Heritage Home ProgramSM Associate
Dean Pavlik
Preservation Construction Manager
Richard Stanovich
Preservation Construction Specialist
Cleveland Restoration Society
Sarah Benedict House
3751 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2705
(216) 426-1000
www.clevelandrestoration.org
The views expressed in this publication are
those of their authors and not necessarily
those of the Cleveland Restoration Society,
its trustees, or its membership.
The Cleveland Restoration Society is an
official partner of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation.
The Cleveland Restoration Society is
supported in part by the residents of
Cuyahoga County through a public grant
from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
2 I Façade 96
E. 174th Street, south of Tarkington, 1960.
American Experience in Cleveland.
Many African Americans settled in
the Cedar-Central neighborhood,
which includes the neighborhood
we now know as Fairfax. Exclusionary sales and rental practices
and covenants restricted African
Americans to this area through
much of the twentieth century.
Before the community grew and
movement of upper class residents
east opened up the Hough and
Glenville neighborhoods, an alternative existed toward the southeast
in the Village of Miles Heights.
The Village of Miles Heights,
centered at Miles and Lee Roads,
originally covered much of the
area that is today considered Ward
1. Miles Heights, incorporated in
1927, was integrated, with a third
of its 1,500 residents being African
American. The police force and
village council were integrated;
and when the mayor unexpectedly
died in 1929, the village elected a
Jamaican immigrant, Arthur Johnston, as mayor. Johnston was the
first African American to hold the
office of mayor in both Cuyahoga
County and the State of Ohio. After
some controversy, the village was
annexed into Cleveland in 1932.
The desire of village residents to
have the community annexed into
the City of Cleveland was in part
due to the need for paved roads,
sewers and better services.
For several of the participants
in CRS’s oral history project, life
in the neighborhood began at the
Lee-Seville Public Housing Complex. Built in 1945, Lee-Seville was
one of several public housing projects built around the city to house
soldiers returning from World War
II. The housing project was expanded in 1946 with what were
known as “tin tops,” prefabricated
structures made of aluminum. This
project was unique in that it was
located near a semi-rural African
American settlement outside the
crowded Cedar-Central neighborhood, where the majority of African Americans in Cleveland lived
at that time. This also corresponded with what has become known
as The Great Migration—the
movement of African Americans
in search of jobs and opportunity
from America’s rural South to cities of the Northeast and Midwest.
Several individuals interviewed
for the Ward 1 Project had just
moved to Cleveland when they
moved into Lee-Seville. One gentleman tells of riding the train with
higher-income African-American
buyers. The design of the homes
is mostly in a minimal traditional
style, but also includes Cape Cods
and ranches. Their features meant
the homes could be priced near
$35,000. Bussey Construction advertised the neighborhood solely
in the Call and Post, the AfricanAmerican newspaper. CRS recently
nominated this area for designation as a Cleveland Landmark Historic District. It would be the first
historic district in Cleveland with a
mid-century period of significance
and the first originally settled by
African Americans.
To the north of Miles Heights
and Lee-Seville is the Lee-Harvard
neighborhood. This area had been
settled by Eastern Europeans, but
African American families began
to move to the neighborhood in
the late 1950s and early 1960s.
This neighborhood of tree-lined
streets and relatively new homes is
hard to distinguish from the neighboring Shaker Heights. Many of
the individuals interviewed for
the Ward 1 Project related moving
from Glenville or Mount Pleasant
to Lee-Harvard, or from going
Myrtle Avenue houses including the residence Arthur Bussey built for himself,
on the left, 1959.
Photos courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University
his mother from Mississippi, carrying only a sewing machine and a
chifferobe. His father and brother
had come north earlier. Their new
neighbors brought them other
needed items. The housing project
had a community center that held
activities for children. At that time,
neighborhood children attended
Beehive School, one of the few
integrated schools in the city. The
neighborhood still felt very rural,
with two forests where children
played. One was located in what
is now Kerruish Park at E. 170th
Street and Tarkington, one of the
largest parks in the City of Cleveland. Another resident remembers
that, as a child, he would leave
home in the morning and play all
day “in the woods.” Everyone had
large families, “so you would have
supper wherever you were at supper time.”
While a few businesses existed
at the intersection of Lee Road and
Miles Avenue, and closer into the
project - Oatman’s Store, Fisher
Foods, and Eli’s Deli - residents
mostly had to travel by bus to E.
130th Street to do their shopping.
The Lee-Seville Homes, from
the beginning intended to be temporary, were torn down in 1956.
The close-knit community has
continued their strong bonds by
periodically gathering at the Miles
Heights Reunion.
In the surrounding neighborhood, residents who were able to
move out of the public housing
complex built their own homes. As
one of the few areas open to African Americans, this neighborhood
also saw development specifically
targeted to the community. Off of
Lee Road, south of Harvard Avenue on the streets Myrtle Avenue
and Highview Drive, a neighborhood of distinctive brick homes
was developed by Arthur Bussey,
of Bussey Construction. Bussey
built the homes in this neighborhood, including his own, to attract
Ward 1 residents have long been known for community activism and voter
turn-out. This 1969 meeting was about a proposed Lee-Seville public housing
project.
Façade 96 I 3
Photos courtesy of Cleveland Ward 1 Council Office
Police Auxiliary Halloween Party
from renter to homeowner. While
this move was one of pride and
confirmation that one had joined
the middle class, the transition
within the neighborhood was not
always smooth. One interviewee, a
teenager in 1959 when his family
purchased a home, recalled making the long drive out from Glenville to visit their new home and
to bring plants. They had closed
on their new home several months
before but had not yet gotten the
key from the previous owner. After several unsuccessful attempts,
they realized they would not be receiving the house key. His parents
put him through the milk chute to
open the door, and then his father
went to the hardware store so that
he could change the locks.
While the transition of integrating a neighborhood was not
always easy, the new residents did
not dwell on these injustices. They
got busy. The Lee-Seville Miles
Citizens’ Council was formed in
the early 1950s, followed by the
Lee-Harvard Community Association and the Concerned Citizens of
Southeast Cleveland. These organizations lobbied for investment
in the neighborhood schools, they
4 I Façade 96
Auxiliary police officers
actively helped the City Building
and Housing Department with
code enforcement, and they were
instrumental in keeping liquor establishments out of the neighborhood. One of the most impressive
projects of the Lee-Harvard Community Association was an auxiliary police force that still serves
as a great model today, at a time
of renewed interest in community
policing.
Mr. A.D. Polunas, who owned
car dealerships in the neighborhood, donated the use of a small
used car lot and office to the group.
Association volunteers remodeled
the office and also gained the use
of two cars from a taxi company.
Volunteers not only patrolled the
neighborhood and reported suspicious activity to the precinct office, they hosted coffee breaks to
get police officers interacting with
residents. Auxiliary officers sponsored holiday gatherings for neighborhood children, repaired bikes
and held bike rodeos, so neighborhood children interacted with the
police officers who patrolled their
neighborhood. This effort eventually expanded with additional federal funds, but folded when those
funds were no longer available.
The ward Councilman still utilizes
this space as his ward office.
Today, Ward 1 continues to
have the best voter turn-out in the
entire City of Cleveland. From our
brief time spent with the committed, hard-working residents who
have built and maintained these
neighborhoods, this comes as no
surprise.
The stories gathered as part of
the Ward 1 Oral History Project
will be used to help build the identity of these neighborhoods, both
through community branding and
place-making activities. The stories
will continue to be shared on our
website, and the digital files will be
housed in a permanent repository
that is yet to be identified. E
Your Advocate for Preservation
By Michael T. Cummins
Chairman, Cleveland Restoration Society
tional Trust prepared us well for
discussion of the bill as part of the
Fly-In. However the purpose of the
meetings was much broader than
just discussion of that worthy legislation. The purpose was to raise
awareness of historic preservation
in general and to demonstrate the
level of commitment to preservation felt by the senators’ and representatives’ constituents. In that, I
think we succeeded.
The Leader Building, on the corner
of East 6th and Superior Avenue in
downtown Cleveland, was completed
in 1913 for the Cleveland Leader newspaper. The building is currently being
converted to a mix of commercial and
residential units with the help of tax
credit financing.
Photo by Michael Fleenor
In July, the Cleveland Restoration
Society had the opportunity to join
the National Trust for Historic
Preservation in their Congressional “Fly-In” days. The National
Trust organizes a whirlwind day of
meetings with House members and
senators to discuss historic preservation and emphasize the importance of their continuing support.
CRS President Kathleen Crowther,
Trustee Chad Arfons and I traveled to Washington, DC and represented Cleveland in the Ohio
contingent. Representatives from
preservation groups in Columbus and Cincinnati completed the
Ohio team. The Cleveland group
visited the offices of Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman and
Representatives Michael Turner,
Marcia Fudge, Jim Renacci and
Marcy Kaptur.
I am happy to report that our
congressional representatives are
all great supporters of historic
preservation. Our job was easy –
we were preaching to the choir.
The congressmen and staff members that we talked to were knowledgeable about preservation matters and genuinely supportive.
The National Trust has proposed a bill to improve the historic
tax credit and address some of the
impediments to its efficient use.
The Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act provides more favorable
treatment of small projects, an easier test to qualify as substantially
rehabilitated, more favorable treatment of state tax credits and other
enhancements to the tax incentives
available for historic projects. The
bill is well thought out and the Na-
Façade 96 I 5
Photo by Jaime Benjumea
In July 2015, the World Heritage Inscription of the San Antonio Missions, including the historic Alamo, was announced.
These eighteenth-century missions represent the largest collection of Spanish colonial architecture in the United States.
Global Heritage From a Local Perspective
By Kathleen H. Crowther
Over the last few years, I have had
the opportunity to broaden my horizons through international travel.
As an undergraduate student at
Case Western Reserve University,
I majored in Art History. This required the selection of a second
language, and I chose French.
I spent one year at the Sorbonne
in Paris in the late 1970s, which
was life changing. Fast forward
nearly three decades of time,
mainly spent working as the president of the Cleveland Restoration
Society. Although I had promised
myself that I would return to Paris,
I had not.
In 2007, I finally returned to
the City of Light. It reignited my
desire to gain a larger world view
of heritage and conservation and
to deepen my understanding of
Cleveland heritage within this context. And so, it was at this time
that I began my independent study
6 I Façade 96
of global heritage. Understandably, in Cleveland we concentrate
our efforts on preserving our local landmarks. To make our case,
we must prove economic viability,
which is often a tough order to fill
if a landmark is deteriorated or located in a low-property-value area.
Not often do we win an argument
based on the values of beauty, cultural legacy, or sturdy and scarce
materials like old growth lumber,
brick, and stone. But these arguments are routine in Europe, and
I think especially in France, where
the demonstration of a passionate
belief is accepted on the same level
as rational thought.
Global heritage is, in one respect, the ultimate appreciation
of cultural diversity. In fact, its
core purpose is to promote world
peace. Places that represent human
achievements in tangible form are
recognized through World Heritage inscriptions, routed through
an intensive nomination process
which culminates at a hearing of
UNESCO, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in New York
City. Once the inscription or designation is achieved, the site is formally listed. This process can take
years. It requires the involvement
of technical experts, a good dose of
global support, and even political
backing. Often published academics are on the team. Listing often
results in increased global tourism.
An association of heritage professionals was created in 1965 as an
independent body to advise UNESCO on World Heritage inscriptions and to monitor the integrity
of the inscribed sites. Known as the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), it is
the only global non-governmental
organization with a mission of
conserving and protecting cultural
heritage places.
Rome, photo by Kathleen Crowther
Each country that participates
in ICOMOS maintains a chapter.
In the United States, it is called US/
ICOMOS, and the executive director is Andrew Potts, a Washington
lawyer with expertise in heritage
and U.S. tax incentives for landmarks and real estate. The organization has over 700 members, and
meets annually for a conference,
among other convenings. Its most
recent effort was to obtain the
World Heritage inscription of the
San Antonio Missions in Texas.
Consider becoming a member and
learn more about US/ICOMOS at
www.usicomos.org.
I have had the opportunity to
participate with US/ICOMOS and
it has been a wonderful experience
for me. I now serve as an American
member on an International Scientific Committee called CIVVIH.
The committee’s focus is the heritage of urban centers. It is composed of members from around
the world and is an interesting mix
of academics, architects and highly
specialized experts in restoration
and construction. The committee
meets once a year, except on the
third year, which is reserved for the
General Assembly of ICOMOS.
By visiting World Heritage Sites,
we learn to appreciate the history
and culture of people and places
otherwise unknown to us. World
Heritage Sites are markers of humankind’s greatest achievements,
usually tangible works of architecture and art, but also intangible
traditions such as dance and song.
These places are often revered but
always highly esteemed by local
populations. It is a source of pride
that their rich traditions are recognized by the rest of the world. To
visit a World Heritage Site in a distant land is to understand that place
personally and to feel oneness with
the people there. The language of
smiles and friendliness transcend
words as we stand in awe of this
place. This promotes world peace!
Thus the opposite of apprecia-
Façade 96 I 7
8 I Façade 96
Photo by Marc Deville/Gamma-Rapho
tion of World Heritage Sites is the
intentional destruction of them.
The destruction of monuments
hurts the souls of people, hurts
their pride and hastens the loss of
the memory of these great places
in future generations. The cultural achievements of a place are
debased as worthless, holy places
are desecrated. These actions create generations of resentment and
anger because the offense cuts to
the bone.
Even more appalling is the gruesome slaughter of heritage professionals whose life work has been
to preserve and share their monuments with the world. All of the
professional heritage world was
shocked by the murder of archaeologist and historian Khaled al
Assaad in Palmyra on August15,
2015. Others have been savagely
treated. They are being remembered as the Monuments Men
and Women by ICOMOS, which
mourns their loss (ICOMOS’ September 2015 statement is printed
here).
Stateside, US/ICOMOS trustee
Ronald Lee Fleming calls for the
re-instatement of the Monuments
Men and Women. You know that,
in WW II, these heritage professionals on the Allies’ side worked
to avoid the needless destruction
of the museums and world monuments of the enemy. The big idea
behind it, aside from their enlightened view to protect world heritage sites, was that at the conclusion of the war, it would be easier
to mend relations if their heritage
was not intentionally destroyed.
Fleming makes an excellent case
for the creation of a twenty-firstcentury Monuments Men and
Women force. Such a force could
protect World Heritage Sites from
destruction during times of war. It
would also demonstrate our appreciation for the different cultures
of the world, an important step toward world peace. E
Khaled al-Asaad in 2002
ICOMOS supports the Monuments Women and Men of Syria and Iraq
September 2, 2015
The on-going crisis and fighting in
the Middle East are giving rise to humanitarian consequences of an unprecedented scale since the World
Wars. The number of victims, refugees and displaced persons is growing day by day, not to mention the
acts of torture, rape, enslavement
and the eradication of the traditional cultural diversity of the region.
Public opinion is also moved by
the increasing destruction of the
cultural heritage of the region that
bears witness to early human exploits, the common roots of different civilizations and their mutual
enrichment.
The
war
ruthlessly
strikes
throughout Syria and Iraq. Thus, the
old city of Aleppo, an endangered
World Heritage Site, has become
a front line where fighters deploy
all possible means of destruction,
from Molotov cocktails to TNT barrels, and including mortars, rockets,
tanks, so called “hell cannons” and
tunnels packed with explosives or
simple small arms.
The looting of archaeological
sites and the illicit traffic of their
treasured objects, such as Apamea,
Doura Europos and Mari, finance the
continuation of the savagery of this
war and irretrievably erase the pages of our history that scholars could
still have written.
Wilful destructions, such as
those perpetrated in Hatra and
Nimrud, display an ideological perversion and unbridled vandalism
enabled through massive means of
destruction. Palmyra is being held
hostage and its ancient jewels demolished one by one.
In the face of these daunting challenges, the defenders of
heritage, such as the Iraqi lawyer
Samira al Nuaimi, tortured and executed by IS (Daech) in Mosul on
22 September 2014, have risen up
and resisted. The General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in
Syria has already paid a heavy price
losing fourteen of its staff, including
Bassim Hasan, Conservator of the
Bosra Museum, shot by a sniper on
26 May 2014, Abdallah al Humaid,
guard at a site on the Euphrates,
slain in front of his family by IS
(Daech) on 23 July 2014, Qassem
Yehya, Deputy Director of Laboratories killed at work in Damascus
by a mortar shot on 8 August 2015,
and of course Khaled al Assaad, a
dedicated scholar, an elderly academic, whose particularly brutal
killing in Palmyra on 15 August
moved the world.
ICOMOS, the premier international professional organization in
the field of heritage protection and
conservation, expresses its deepest
sympathy to the families of these
victims, who were martyred for doing their duty, and to recognize and
pay tribute to the dedication of the
men and women in Syria and Iraq
who, like them, continue to courageously struggle to safeguard the
heritage of their people and humanity, thus contributing to ensure
a more harmonious future for generations yet to come.
In Memoriam
Olive Deany Tabor
Olive Deany Tabor, one of the three
founders of the Cleveland Restoration Society, died on March 22,
2015. In her day, Olive was an involved citizen in Cleveland’s political affairs and community improvement efforts. I attended her funeral
at Mt. Zion Congregational Church
and was honored to say a few
words about her. Also honoring her
life were the Honorable Judge Patricia Ann Blackmon (Eighth District Court of Appeals, Cuyahoga
County); George L. Forbes, Esq.
(president of Cleveland City Council from 1974 – 1989 and past president of the Cleveland Chapter of
the NAACP); and Cordell Stokes,
son of the late Cleveland mayor
Carl Stokes.
Olive was a professional woman,
wife and mother. She was known to
have a distinctive presence, called
the “Olive flair.”
Early in her life, Olive was a
seamstress. The wonderful early
pictures of her show her elegant
sense of style. She looks like a professional model. Apparently no
event was complete without Olive
attending to the finishing touches to
ensure elegance and propriety.
Olive joined forces with Professor Tom Campbell and Maxine
Levin to form the Cleveland Restoration Society in 1972. At that
time, the idea of an independent
non-profit organization dedicated
to historic preservation was new to
Cleveland and it was well-received.
The trio worked together to give
voice to the many Clevelanders
who were upset by the routine destruction of cherished landmarks.
It was Olive Tabor’s vision that this
mission would include the opportunity to beautify Cleveland’s older
and historic neighborhoods. Ol-
Courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library, Cleveland State University
By Kathleen H. Crowther
ive herself lived in East Cleveland
and admired the beautiful homes
and historic churches, libraries and
schools that graced the suburb.
Olive served as a trustee to the
Cleveland Restoration Society
throughout her entire life after
founding the organization. During
the 1970s, she served as president
of the organization, and was on the
Executive Committee for many,
many years. It was through the
steady guidance and tremendous
gift of time and talent that Olive
gave to the organization that it has
grown to become the organization
it is today. I can recall that over
thirty years ago, Olive attended
board meetings, organized tables
for the annual Community Luncheon, and spoke her mind about
how things should be done. In the
1980s, she was conferred the title
of Honorary Life Trustee, which
was well-deserved.
Olive had a wide network of
contacts and knew who to call. She
was politically active. When she
called, things happened! George
Forbes recalled that Olive and her
husband were Republicans, something that was out of the norm
in the African American community. He knew, however, that as a
Democratic candidate for Cleveland City Council, for him to win
he had to ask for her support. Mr.
Forbes recalled how apprehensive
he was as Olive was known to ask
very tough questions.
I recall that Olive was a strongminded woman, organized and
professional. These skills must
have been honed during her career as a bailiff for Judge Lillian
Burke. (Judge Burke also served
on the Cleveland Restoration Society’s Board of Trustees for many
years and became distinguished as
an Honorary Life Trustee.) I recall
Olive ably assisting Judge Lillian
Burke at one of the Judge’s famous
fancy luncheons for the Board at
her home.
Olive also dedicated her time
and leadership skills to other
community organizations including Forest City Hospital, Karamu
House, the Women’s City Club and
the Cleveland YWCA. While we
are saddened by the loss of her life,
we are encouraged by what she left
behind and the example she gave to
us. From the vision of Olive Deany
Tabor, today the Cleveland Restoration Society works across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. She was
delighted with our staff of professionals, the fact that we have even a
small endowment and a headquarters building. Olive also appreciated our outreach into Cleveland
neighborhoods, one of her original
reasons for becoming involved. I
am also proud that our organization was started by a diverse group
of founders and trustees. That legacy continues to this day. E
Façade 96 I 9
The fetching beauty of
its interior is still intact,
but the infrastructure
and exterior, if not
repaired and restored,
can cause damage to
the rotunda, its dramatic ceiling, statuary,
and the tall stainedglass windows.
10 I Façade 96
James A. Garfield
and the Enduring Meaning of His Soon-To-Be Restored
National Memorial at Lake View Cemetery
By Judy Comeau-Hart
Executive Director
Photos courtesy of Lake View Cemetery Foundation
Lake View Cemetery Foundation
James A. Garfield was an up-fromthe-bootstraps fellow. Born into
abject poverty and having lost his
father at a tender age, Garfield
somehow scaled the heights of
leadership, serving in many capacities during his 49 years on earth.
We know him as a popular President of the United States and Congressman of many years, but he
was so much more.
As a child and young man he
was wise to choose continuing
education as a means of feeding
his endless curiosity while allowing for personal growth, goals,
and confidence. Not many people
in today’s world know that prior
to the Congress and Presidency, he
became a skilled lawyer, lay minister, professor, and ultimately the
president of Hiram College. He
was also a highly decorated Civil
War general.
The Garfield Memorial at Lake
View Cemetery in Cleveland was
opened in 1890 and has since been
the Cemetery’s most towering and
recognizable icon.
The Memorial draws tens of
thousands of visitors to Lake View
Cemetery each year. They enjoy
reflecting about the structure’s
history and taking in the majestic
views of Cleveland and the Lake
Erie shoreline from the Memorial’s observation deck. At 125
years of age, the Memorial continues to stand as a touchstone
for Cleveland, though it clearly
has seen better days. More than a
century of wear and water damage
has begun to severely deteriorate
the sandstone structure, and it is in
urgent need of repair and restoration. With the support of the community, Federal and State governments, foundations, corporations
and institutions, the Memorial will
continue to be a source of pride
and enjoyment for generations to
come.
The fetching beauty of its interior is still intact, but the infrastructure and exterior, if not repaired
and restored, can cause damage to
the rotunda, its dramatic ceiling,
statuary, and the tall stained-glass
windows each commemorating
one of the first thirteen colonies,
plus Ohio. Noted Connecticut architect George Keller designed the
Memorial in the late nineteenth
century and his work is universally
regarded as a marvel of elaborate
artistic external and internal decoration. The Garfield Memorial is
a splendid example of High Victorian Gothic architecture, some
experts saying perhaps the best in
all of Ohio.
Five panels adorn the upper
exterior of the Memorial’s porch.
Through the artistic application
of 100 life-size figures, Garfield
is shown teaching, as a Civil War
general, as an orator, taking the
Presidential oath, and lying in
state.
In the crypt are the bronze caskets of Garfield and his wife Lucretia. An American flag covers the
President’s casket.
All of these pieces of art and
history must be kept safe from the
elements.
Lake View Cemetery is 146
years old and was built over 285
acres of glorious natural rock formations, streams, ponds, valleys
and hillsides with thousands of
trees of numerous species and ever-abundant wildlife. Resting with
President Garfield at Lake View are
John D. Rockefeller, former Secretary of State and Lincoln adviser
John Hay, industrial entrepreneur
and U.S. Senator Marcus Hanna,
women’s social reform activist
and U.S. Representative Frances
Payne Bolton, first black mayor
of a major U.S. city Carl Stokes,
African-American inventor of the
three-way traffic light and the gas
mask Garrett Morgan, crime-stop-
Façade 96 I 11
12 I Façade 96
The Rotunda of the Garfield Memorial, featuring much ornate stained
glass.
Photo by Kerri Broome
Photo courtesy of Lake View Cemetery Foundation
per Eliot Ness, Cleveland Orchestra organizer and internationally
renowned concert pianist Adella
Prentice Hughes, and founder of
Western Union Jeptha Wade, to
name a few of the notables.
But also resting at Lake View
are ordinary folks and families of
every stripe, religion and persuasion who contributed to their communities in quieter but nonetheless
important ways. One hundred seven thousand persons are interred
at Lake View Cemetery, and over
the next 100 years, the Cemetery
expects to be the resting place for
another 100,000 souls on more
than 67 acres of yet to be developed land. Lake View provides a
parkland setting, along the lines of
the historic and vast garden cemeteries in France and England.
Seed money for the restoration
has been provided by a $1,000,000
grant from the Ohio Legislature.
Other early capital for the project
is expected from private and institutional sources. A public campaign is expected to begin in late
spring 2016. Total cost of the comprehensive restoration and repairs
are estimated at more than $12.6
million.
Once done, the famous Garfield
Memorial will stand towering over
Lake View Cemetery and be available for Clevelanders and visitors
from around the world to view and
enjoy for many years to come. E
What’s Next for the
Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit?
By Joyce Barrett
The Ohio Historic Preservation
Tax Credit is likely the most valuable tool Ohio has for creating cities for the twenty-first century, and
building the hip cool urban environments which are in demand by
young educated workers and the
business that court them as employees.
Last June, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee surprised Ohio
communities with the news that
they were planning to suspend
and study the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program. Of
course there was lots of speculation as to where this came from,
and what the motivation was. But
clearly, it showed that our lawmakers did not know how the program functions nor how impactful
it has been.
#1 OHPTC is the ONLY Ohio
credit that has economic impact
associated with it. Out of all the
tax credit programs Ohio has, this
is the only one that, as part of the
application process, must demonstrate its effect on Ohio’s economy.
#2 OHPTC is paid out only after full completion of the project.
The full investment has been made
before the credit is assigned AND
one-third of the financial impacts
have been realized through income
and sales taxes paid during the
construction phase. What a great
return on investment!
#3 OHPTC can be used in ev-
Tax credits make many projects possible, including the creation of The 9 complex at East 9th and Euclid Avenue, which
includes a Heinen’s grocery store in the former Cleveland Trust rotunda.
Façade 96 I 13
14 I Façade 96
What is next? We all have to
spend more time educating our
elected representatives. This means
more construction site tours, ribbon cuttings, and meetings with
your representatives and senators.
The General Assembly has assigned the Ohio 2020 Tax Policy
Study Commission to review the
Severance Tax by October 1, 2015,
the Historic Tax Credits by October 31, 2016, and all other credits
and the concept of transitioning an
income tax to a flat tax by October
Below and right: Built in 1930, the
five-story 100,000 square foot Fairmont Creamery building in Cleveland
originally served as a distribution
center at the time of the nationalization of the dairy industry. Vacant
since the 1980s, the building is now
fully occupied with residential units
and retail and office space.
Photos by Diana Wellman, Naylor Wellman
ery Ohio city. It applies to big and
small cities, with impacts that enliven our cities with loft housing,
cool restaurants, and businesses
that are prioritizing place as a way
to recruit their employees. Eighty
percent of the OHPTC awarded
projects were vacant before rehabilitation.
#4 Ohio Development Services
Agency is in the process of completing a second Economic Impact
Analysis. Heritage Ohio commissioned the first one in 2010, which
estimated a $7:$1 return. Current
information may not show as high
of returns, but at that time fewer
projects were completed. In 2015,
the first 100 OHPTC projects have
been completed and will give a
more accurate picture.
In June, the outcry was heard
from every corner of the state.
The coalition of individuals, organizations, and communities were
heard, and the Senate Finance
Committee rescinded its proposal.
All was left as before, though not
without a few scars and project
halts.
1, 2017. The commission members
will include the chairs of Ways and
Means for both the House and the
Senate (Rep. Jeff McClain and Sen.
Bob Peterson). The House has also
named Rep. Kirk Schuring and
Rep. Jack Cera to the study committee. As of yet, the Senators have
not been named.
Heritage Ohio will be working
on a larger project to educate the
members of the general assembly
as to:
• Why buildings have been sitting
vacant for 20 to 30 years;
• The financial risk of redevelopment and surprises associated with
historic buildings;
• The nature of lending on deval-
ued properties;
• That credits assigned are not
equivalent to a lottery win, but
used to pay the projects bridge
loans, contractors and suppliers;
and
• How utilizing historic buildings
gives us a richer environment for
the future.
The OHPTC is a popular program, because the results and
economic impacts are visible. We
think this program will be around
for years to come, as the demand
is still very high. No legislation
can rest on its laurels. We all need
to promote the projects that are
having such a positive impact on
Ohio. E
Joyce Barrett is the executive director of Heritage Ohio, our state’s
official historic preservation and
Main Street organization. Heritage
Ohio fosters economic development and sustainability through
preservation of historic buildings,
revitalization of downtowns and
neighborhood commercial districts, and promotion of cultural
tourism. Learn more at www.heritageohio.org.
Façade 96 I 15
Winterization Tips
By Mary Ogle
Although today was a warm fall
day with a dew point of 70, we all
know that eventually the temperature will drop and the snow will
fly. So, while the weather is still accommodating, it’s the perfect time
to go out around your house to see
what areas need some attention
and prepare for Northeast Ohio’s
wintery weather. Here are some
handy tips for homeowners to get
your house ready for the coming
months.
Secure the Exterior Envelope
Review the roof for missing or
damaged slate, tile, or asphalt
shingles. If you have a specialty
roof, do not walk on it; try to observe condition from the ground or
from a window.
Ice dams are very common in
our area. These are most often
caused by inadequate insulation
and ventilation of attic spaces. As
warm air rises into attic spaces, it
causes the accumulated snow to
melt, run down the roof, and refreeze along the eave lines. These
ice dams can cause water to backup into the interior of the home.
One way to help prevent ice dams
is to install heat cables. You can
also purchase a roof rake to clean
the snow off the roof manually, if
the dams are occurring in an area
you can reach.
Check the chimney to ensure
the flashing and caulking is not
cracked, the cap is not broken and
cage is present. Also, look for missing bricks or failing mortar joints.
After most of the leaves from
any adjacent trees have fallen,
clean the gutters and downspouts
of debris and make sure the hangers are secured. Double check that
all connections are made and that
all downspout crocks are not damaged or clogged.
Repair or replace deteriorated
wood siding, shingles, and carpen-
try elements. Follow up by priming
and painting bare wood. Be sure to
take care of the painting before the
temperature drops below freezing
at night.
Disconnect hoses, turn off spigots and put away water barrels.
Assess the landscaping. Protect bushes from road salt and ice
dams. Trim trees to prevent heavy
limbs from breaking off and landing on the house.
Eliminate Air Infiltration
Windows can become drafty over
time, but they can often be repaired in a cost-effective manner.
If you have storm windows,
use them. If you don’t have them,
get them. Additionally, storm windows age and will require replacing or upgrading eventually.
Check to make sure the window
locks operate to help prevent air
infiltration.
On the exterior, ensure that all
caulking is intact and that each
window is properly glazed and
painted.
On the interior, weatherstripping can be used to help with air
infiltration. Weatherstripping can
be applied quickly and easily
around drafty windows and doors
for minimal cost and often be reused for several seasons.
Check the fireplace for a properly operating damper and intact
flue liner and fire box.
Damaging icicles can be minimized by proper preventative measures and
maintenance.
Photo by Cleveland Restoration Society
TECH TALK
16 I Façade
Façade 96
96
Insulation and Ventilation
Insulate pipes that run on outside
walls with wrap insulation to help
prevent freezing; wrap hot water
lines to help keep water warm as it
travels through house.
Before considering replacement
windows, consider insulation. The
Department of Energy reports
most homes lose up to 30% of
their heating and cooling through
the roof and sill plate, compared to
only 10% through windows and
doors. Depending on the layout
and construction style of the home,
insulation can be added in various
ways and with various materials.
Consult an insulation company or
the staff of the Cleveland Restoration Society’s Heritage Home ProgramSM to determine the best option for your specific home.
It is often advisable to have the
furnace or boiler inspected and serviced by an HVAC company prior
to winter. At minimum, change the
air filter.
Get a CO2 monitor.
Change smoke detector batteries as needed.
Restored double hung window with weatherstripping (above).
Insulation being added to framing (below).
Consider an energy audit – It’s not
An energy audit is a comprehensive assessment and grading of a
house’s energy efficiency. The audit will locate where energy loss is
occurring and provide recommendations on how to stop it. Some
energy audit programs also offer
rebates on work associated with
improving energy efficiency.
Call the Heritage Home ProgramSM at (216) 426-3116, or
(855) 897-1949 toll free, for a site
visit to help prioritize your winterization projects. The expert staff
members of the Heritage Program
can give you advice of materials,
projects, and contractors. It’s never
a bad time to think about making
your house more energy efficient
and comfortable. E
Photos by Margaret Lann
too late!
Façade 96 I 17
Photos by Anthony Hiti
Slovenia in Cleveland
By Anthony W. Hiti, AIA
If one listens closely, the strains
of an old accordion playing can
still be heard at the corner of East
69th Street and St. Clair Avenue.
In 1921, Anton Mervar, an immigrant from Slovenia, established
a shop at that location, where he
handcrafted beautiful diatonic
and chromatic button accordions.
These impressive instruments provided the musical accompaniment
18 I Façade 96
to the wave of Slovenian immigrants who settled in the rapidly
growing St. Clair neighborhood.
After a long day’s work in the
foundries and factories, Mervar’s
accordions filled local taverns with
lilting polkas that, along with a
glass of wine and shot of slivovec
(plumb brandy), brought back
memories of the far-away homeland. The great polka artists of
Photos clockwise, from top left: The
Slovenian National Home; St. Vitus
Church; Maksim Gaspari’s stage curtain inside the Slovenian National
Home; one of the accordions made
by Anton Mervar.
the day — Hoyer, Lausche, Trebar, Pecon, and the “Polka King”
Frankie Yankovic — all played
Mervars. Considered the “Stradivarius” of button accordions,
Mervars are extremely rare and remain highly coveted by musicians
worldwide, to this day.
Like Mervar, Slovenian immigrants flocked to the St. Clair
neighborhood seeking employment
in Cleveland’s booming steel and
manufacturing industries. Other
craftsmen and merchants opened
businesses along St. Clair to provide essential services and entertainment for the hardworking residents of the community. Today, the
vestiges of those businesses can still
be seen along St. Clair Avenue…
Smrekar Hardware, Zak Funeral
Home, Slapnik Florist, Azman &
Sons Meats and Sheliga Drug.
Slovenians, a South Slav people
from the Central European region
between the Alps and Adriatic Sea,
have a population of just over two
million people. Part of the Austrian
Hapsburg Empire for centuries and
later a constituent republic of Yugoslavia, Slovenia became an independent nation in 1991. It is quite
remarkable that such a relatively
small ethnic group established such
a thriving and prominent presence
in Cleveland. In fact, the Slovenian
community grew so rapidly that, by
the 1940s, Cleveland had the third
largest population of Slovenians
anywhere in the world. Today, it
is estimated that over 80,000 Slovenian-Americans and their descendants reside in greater Cleveland.
As in many of Cleveland’s eth-
nic neighborhoods, the heart and
soul of the community was the
parish church. In 1893, the early
immigrants established the Slovenian parish of St. Vitus to serve the
spiritual, cultural and educational
needs of the community. Originally worshipping in a small wooden
church, the parish constructed the
current
Lombard-Romanesque
structure at 6019 Lausche Avenue,
designed by William Jansen, in
1932. With its landmark twin bell
towers, imposing scale and exuberant terra cotta ornament, the
church remains the largest Slovenian parish in the United States.
In recent years, the church has undergone an extensive interior and
exterior restoration and the magnificent Holtkamp pipe organ was
carefully rebuilt.
The primary social and cultural center of the neighborhood
is the Slovenian National Home
complex, a designated Cleveland
landmark, located in the 6400
block of St. Clair Avenue. This
mixed-use facility, constructed
in 1923-24, contains retail storefronts, professional office space
and residential apartments, along
with a library, gymnastics studio,
rehearsal rooms, bar and underground balinca (bocce) courts. The
core of the Home is the amazing
auditorium that has hosted opera,
choral and orchestral concerts, as
well as banquets, weddings, political rallies and polka dances. The
highlight of this magnificent space
is the stunning stage curtain painting depicting “Mother Slovenia”
created by one of Slovenia’s leading artists, Maksim Gaspari.
A largely hidden jewel of the
complex is the Diemer Mansion, a
Victorian Italianate structure that
was originally on the site prior to
the construction of the Slovenian
National Home. The nearly intact
interiors of the residence now serve
as the office and clubroom of the
Home. The mansion also houses
an extraordinary private art collection representing important Slovenian artists that resided there from
the 1920s through the 1940s.
Today, the once bustling storefront of Mervar’s accordion shop
at 6919 St. Clair Avenue is empty
and shuttered. However, throughout the old neighborhood, there
are signs of revitalization that are
repurposing the St. Clair community with new dreams rooted in its
rich past.
At East 55th and St. Clair, the
Hub 55 project is establishing a
farmers’ market along with a new
cafe and brewery. The original
Sterle’s Country House has been
updated with a modern take on
traditional Central European cuisine. The Cleveland Flea, a marketplace of local businesses, artisans
and food vendors, attracts 12,000
visitors to the neighborhood each
month. Upcycle St. Clair, a project
of the St. Clair Superior Community Development Corporation,
is building innovative businesses
that transform throwaway items
and discarded construction materials into new, useful and beautiful products. At Norwood and St.
Clair, St. Martin de Porres is developing a $26.5 million state-ofthe-art high school that will incorporate the historic copper-topped
Kausek Building (1909) as part of
the facility.
On September 24, 2016, the
Cleveland Restoration Society will
celebrate the rich heritage of the
Slovenian Community and shine a
spotlight on the ongoing transformation of the St. Clair neighborhood by hosting its annual benefit
in the Slovenian National Home.
Look for more information early
next year and save the date. E
Façade 96 I 19
Renewed Support for Sacred Landmarks
By Douglas Hoffman, AIA and
Religious institutions are repositories of invaluable information
about the life of the community
they serve. In many urban areas
where populations and community
identity have shifted with time,
religious buildings are iconic reminders of the historic past, yet
with care can continue to actively
support present day religious and
secular community uses. Restored,
they can become beacons for a
more promising future. These
buildings and the communities
they serve help keep neighborhoods stable, when everything else
may seem in transition.
Unfortunately, many religious
structures are at risk due to a combination of age and inadequate
or deferred maintenance that has
caused some to deteriorate. Records may be poorly maintained,
or even destroyed by those unaware of their significance. In addition, changing demographic patterns may leave an institution with
a congregation whose resources
are not sufficient to maintain the
building or its programs.
Although the Cleveland Restoration Society has operated a
Sacred Landmarks Assistance
Program since 1996, we have often found that congregations with
whom we work have needed a
greater level of assistance than we
are able to provide. Thus, the Sacred Landmarks Support Initiative
was created in 2014 to strengthen
and expand CRS’s ability to assist congregations more effectively by harnessing a wider extent
of resources than was available
through the Sacred Landmarks Assistance Program. Through the Sacred Landmarks Support Initiative
(SLSI), CRS is leading an effort to
identify Greater Cleveland’s most
20 I Façade 96
Photo by Cleveland Restoration Society
Jobadiah Christiansen
St. John’s Episcopal Church, near W. 25th Street and Detroit Avenue, was completed in 1838.
significant sacred sites and provide guidance on how to maintain
them, protecting these treasures
for future generations.
CRS initially reached out to
trustees with specific areas of expertise, such as architects and
contractors, and then sought out
others whose skills could benefit
sacred landmarks, such as historians, urban planners, and stained
glass artisans, to be members of the
SLSI committee. By collaborating
and integrating various skills under one umbrella, CRS could meet
the goal of the initiative, which
was to stem the tide of deteriorating sacred landmarks through the
introduction of technical assistance, planning and guidance.
The first order of business when
the committee began to meet was
to develop a list of the most significant sacred landmarks in the
region. Significance was derived
from the style, scale, and design
of architecture, the interiors or the
religious furnishings they house including paintings, frescoes, tapestries, stained glass, pipe organs and
religious artifacts, and the historical role each has played within its
community. The SLSI has identified
a group of thirty-seven historically
significant religious buildings and
narrowed that list to ten, based on
The congregation of Liberty Hill Baptist Church chose the color scheme of
their sanctuary from the beautiful Tiffany stained-glass windows that remain
from Anshe Chesed - The Euclid Avenue Temple.
of this effort, especially Greg Frost
of Frost Architectural Preservation and Janet Lipstreu of Whitney Stained Glass, who have given
hours of their time evaluating these
buildings, developing reports, and
giving technical assistance on masonry and stained glass issues. E
SLSI Committee Members
Douglas Hoffman, AIA, chair
Tim Barrett
Dennis Burnside
Sandy Ellis
Michael Fleenor
Greg Frost
Anthony Hiti, AIA
Janet Lipstreu
Nora McNamara
Rev. Brad Purdom
Jim Wamelink
Robert Weeks
Fr. Michael Leahy studied
churches in Italy before returning to Lakewood to
oversee the construction of
St. James from 1925 to 1935.
Photos by Greg Frost
a combination of the significance of
the building and need. The group is
now focused on seven buildings, all
at different stages in the process.
St. John’s Episcopal (1836)
is the oldest standing church in
Cleveland. Although the church
is currently closed, the Diocese is
committed to keeping the building
for community uses and a Friends
of St. John’s group has formed to
open the doors again. Liberty Hill
Baptist Church (originally Anshe
Chesed - Euclid Avenue Temple,
1912, 1932) is an enormous complex that boasts Tiffany windows.
Another large complex, Cory United Methodist Church (originally
Cleveland Jewish Center/Anshe
Emeth Synagogue, 1921) is significant both for the magnificent
building, but also for the congregation’s connection to the Civil
Rights Movement. East Mount
Zion (originally Euclid Avenue
Christian Church, 1905 – ’08)
is a Richardsonian Romanesque
landmark with a striking new addition. St. Stephen’s (1873) has interior woodcarving that is so fine,
it was officially recognized at the
World’s Columbian Exposition
in Chicago in 1893. St. Colman’s
Church (1914) is a major west side
landmark because of its classically
inspired limestone façade and 130foot bell towers. St. James in Lakewood (1925 – ’35) is one of the
most magnificent churches in the
region, both for the variety of fine
stone used for its Norman Sicilian
Romanesque exterior and for the
rich decoration of its interior.
Through regular meetings and
hours of volunteer work, the SLSI
has made an impact on Cleveland
religious structures after only one
year. Extensive site visits and reports have already been conducted
and presented with several congregations in order to help them meet
their needs. We are so thankful to
the volunteers who have been part
Committee members look
over the sanctuary of East
Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Façade 96 I 21
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
DOUG
HOFFMAN
I believe we all have
a civic responsibility
to volunteer in ways
that give back to the
community.
22 I Façade 96
Douglas R. Hoffman, AIA has
been a trustee of the Cleveland
Restoration Society since 2010.
The former managing partner
of the Cleveland office of Weber
Murphy Fox, Doug has practiced architecture for forty years,
specializing in corporate, higher
education and religious facilities.
Early in his career he became the
youngest denominational architect
for the United Methodist Church.
Doug is a past president of the
American Institute of Architect’s
Knowledge Community on religious art and architecture and he
taught architecture at Penn State
University from 1995 to 2000. He
is the author of Seeking the Sacred
in Contemporary Religious Architecture (Kent State University
Press, 2010).
Doug joined Weber Murphy
Fox in 1999. He has worked on
a number of high profile sacred
landmarks, including the restoration of the Church of the Covenant
in University Circle. In 2011, Hoffman led the adaptive use of a former United Church of Christ into
Baldwin Wallace University’s striking new Boesel Musical Arts Center, combining several disparate
buildings into one interconnected
facility. Doug has a Bachelor of
Architecture from Miami University and an MS in Architecture from
Penn State.
Doug initiated CRS’s Sacred
Landmarks Support Initiative and
has recruited members and volunteers from the many artisans
and associates he has cultivated
in his years working with sacred
landmarks. He has also opened a
dialogue with Partners for Sacred
Places to explore how we might
better utilize and promote their
services. In addition to his volunteer work for CRS, Doug is the
vice chair of the board of directors
for the Beck Center for the Arts in
Lakewood.
Why do you volunteer for the
Cleveland Restoration Society?
I believe we all have a civic responsibility to volunteer in ways that
give back to the community. Since
I started my architectural career
working as a volunteer assisting
non-profit organizations unable
to afford architectural services, it
seems only appropriate that I can
now assist religious groups manage their historically significant
buildings. Through CRS’s Sacred
Landmarks Support Initiative
launched this past year we have
assisted eight different congregations through assessment and consultation on their primary building
needs. Our volunteer work has
helped them to organize their plans
for maintaining these architectural
treasures that anchor neighborhoods throughout Cleveland.
What do you enjoy most about
your association with CRS?
I enjoy learning about the history
and heritage of historic buildings,
their founders and the narrative
they convey about Cleveland’s
growth. I especially like working with teams to preserve the
best, assisting rehabilitations with
good counsel, and/or recommending creative alternative uses when
buildings have been abandoned.
Do
you
volunteer
with
other
groups in the community and, if
Circle in their restoration of the
main sanctuary. I am especially
proud of the outcome, which has
been recognized with awards from
CRS, the local and national AIA,
and the Victorian Society of America. We restored the floors, pews,
walls, balcony and chancel, as well
as fabricating historical reproductions of the original Ralph Adams
Cram designed chandeliers and accommodating a new pipe organ in
the balcony. Another feature was
the back lighting of the rose window over the main entrance, which
provides nightly comfort to cancer
patients in the Seidman Center
across the street at University Hospital.
so, are their missions similar in
Severance after the work was completed was very memorable.
What impact do you think CRS
and its programs have had upon
our community in the past three
decades?
I believe CRS has been a beacon of
hope for restoration projects and a
significant player in focusing attention on the richness of Cleveland’s
heritage. Additionally, the work
CRS has done in research and support in the African-American community is significant and a model
for heritage groups throughout the
country.
What do you think will be the
greatest challenges and opportu-
purpose to CRS?
What’s your favorite Cleveland
nities that CRS faces in the next
My work with CRS is primarily
utilizing my architectural skills,
while my other community volunteerism is motivated by my interest in the arts. For several years I
chaired the Board of the Ingenuity
Festival of Art and Technology.
This organization is dedicated to
finding the creative spark that exists when art, technology and performance intersect, and using that
spark to motivate research, new
artforms and new knowledge. I
am also actively involved with the
Beck Center for the Arts, a nonprofit organization home based
in Lakewood. Beck Center educational offerings include art, music
and theatre, plus the ability to perform on one of several stages. The
Beck is also known for its high
quality professional theatrical performances, attracting people from
all over Cuyahoga County and beyond.
building or neighborhood?
five years?
Trying to isolate one favorite is difficult because Cleveland is so rich
in architectural heritage. I enjoy
the revival of Playhouse Square
and am fascinated by the beautiful performance venues there. I
am a subscriber to the Cleveland
Orchestra and marvel over Severance Hall every time I attend. As
an avid urbanist, I am thrilled by
the resurgence of downtown and
the amazing transformation of
Ohio City. Tremont, the Warehouse district and the Flats were
already transformed when I relocated to Cleveland, but even those
neighborhoods continue to grow
and evolve.
Interest in historic preservation efforts wax and wane in the broader
community, so CRS will also be
challenged in keeping that lamp
lit, and garnering support for saving buildings. This will be especially true as we begin to understand
the value of mid-century modern
buildings, currently overlooked
by many who would just as soon
erase that chapter of architectural
history. Another challenge will be
preserving cultural heritage sites
that may not include architecturally significant buildings, but instead are treasures for the ethnic
or racial heritage they embody. We
need to be sensitive to these sites
and find ways to enhance their
meaning for the neighborhoods
and communities they represent. E
Do you have a favorite historic
preservation project in Northeast
Ohio?
I recently worked with the Church
of the Covenant at University
What’s your favorite Cleveland
memory?
Before moving my business here in
2001 I did a few tours around the
city and landed at the West Side
Market. After spending an hour or
two in the market I decided I could
live here for a long time. The Orchestra was performing downtown
because Severance was being restored, so the first performance in
Façade 96 I 23
details
The Cleveland Restoration Society welcomes seven new trustees to its board for the 2015 – 2016 year:
Chad Arfons is a Member of McDonald Hopkins, focusing his practice on real estate and commercial finance. He specializes in project development and financing using capital campaigns, federal,
state and local grants and loans, historic preservation tax credits, renewable energy tax credits, and
new markets tax credits. Chad counsels developers, investors, nonprofits, and institutions of higher
education in real estate acquisition, financing, leasing, development, construction, management, and
disposition. His extensive experience also includes representing financial institutions and borrowers in financing transactions. In addition to CRS, Chad volunteers his time with Historic Gateway
Neighborhood Development Corporation and Greater Cleveland Mortgage Bankers Association. He has a J.D. from
Tulane University Law School and a B.A. from The University of Akron.
Gary Fischer, AIA NCARB is owner of Fischer & Associates Architects Inc. He is passionate about
preserving and maintaining the architectural heritage of Northeast Ohio. With over twenty-eight
years of experience, Gary brings a wealth of knowledge to multiple project types. His practice focuses on commercial architecture, historic preservation, adaptive reuse and planning. Other projects
include the design of public park environments and light manufacturing. He is a founding partner of
the architecture firm Arkinetics. He serves on the City of Lorain’s Board of Building Standards and
Design Review Board and volunteers for a number of organizations, including Lorain Palace Theatre,
Mighty Goliath Productions, Charleston Village Association, Lorain Historical Society, and Lorain County Historical
Society. Gary is a native of Lorain and he has a B.S. in Architecture from Kent State University.
Denise Huck recently retired after thirty-five years at General Mills. She began her professional career
as a dietician in Pittsburgh, later moving to Cleveland to work as an assistant regional marketing manager at General Mills, and then account manager. Denise has a passion for architecture and historic
preservation and is a member of the City Club of Cleveland, Rails to Trails, and the National Trust for
Historic Preservation. She also volunteers for the Animal Protective League and the Cleveland Sight
Center and is a former board member of the Women’s City Club. Originally from Pittsburgh (go Steelers!), Denise has a B.S. in Nutrition Science from Pennsylvania State University.
Rick Kirk is the Director of Operations at Hyland Software, were he has served in a leadership capacity
since 2000. He is responsible for managing all real estate needs for the company, including design and
development of the Westlake, Ohio campus and the sixteen offices globally. In addition, he manages
indirect spending for travel and entertainment, facilities, and work space planning. In addition to CRS’s
board, Rick serves on the Business Development Council for Team NEO. He has been on the board of
directors for the West Side Catholic Center and was head coach of the Bay High School varsity hockey
team. Rick holds a B.A. in Personnel and Industrial Relations from the University of Cincinnati.
Jeremy Paris is the first executive director of Cleveland’s Group Plan Commission. In this role, his focus
is connecting Clevelanders by reinvigorating signature downtown public spaces and linking Lake Erie to
the city’s core. Prior to joining the Group Plan Commission, Jeremy was an advisor to Cuyahoga County
Executive Edward FitzGerald and helped lead a collaborative planning process for the Great Lakes Expo
of 2016, an event to celebrate the unveiling of Cleveland’s revitalized downtown and waterfront. He
also served in Washington, DC as Chief Counsel for Nominations and Oversight for the Senate Judiciary
Committee, working for Chairman Patrick J. Leahy. Jeremy received his J.D. from Harvard Law School
and his B.A. from Yale University.
Gordon M. Priemer is president and owner of Jamieson Ricca Co., a commercial window company
that was established in 1969 and specializes in commercial, architectural, historic and institutional
window replacement. Gordon is a lifelong Clevelander, attended St. Ignatius High School and Fordham
University in New York. Gordon is proud of the many historic window replication projects Jamieson
Ricca has undertaken throughout the years and has had the privilege of working on including the rehabilitation of historic Goodyear Hall in Akron, St. Luke’s Hospital revitalization in Cleveland, and the
complete window replacement of University Hall at the University of Toledo.
Dan Siegel is principal of Integrity Realty Group and a partner with Siegel Jennings Co. He concen-
trates his practice on state and local taxation. As the owner of retail space and multiple apartment
buildings, he is uniquely attuned to the concerns of property owners and investors. Dan has a J.D.
from Cleveland Marshall College of Law and a B.A. from Miami University.
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CRS also has two new
staff members at the
Sarah Benedict House:
Dean Pavlik also joined CRS
in July, bringing forty years
of hands-on construction expertise to our Heritage Home
ProgramSM as Preservation
Construction Manager. Dean
uses his practical experience to
consult with homeowners who
are participating in the program
to answer their questions on a
variety of home improvement
topics, from basic maintenance
to detailed project planning.
He works as an intermediary
between contractors and homeowners. For the last fifteen
years, Dean has worked mainly
on historic residential rehab
projects in the Shaker Heights
area.
The sixth annual Beer and Brats
@ the Benedict benefit was held
on Friday, June 12, 2015 in the
beautiful Sarah Benedict House
Volunteers’ Garden. The festive
mood was set by Pat Tamburro,
l’Accordeoniste. Our appreciation
goes to sponsors CRS chair Mike
Cummins, past chair Joe Marinucci, vice chair Gordon Premier, and
trustee Hannah Belsito for hosting
this fun event, and to our co-sponsors, City Beautiful and the Cleveland Young Professional Senate.
Photo by Cleveland Restoration Society
We welcomed Jobadiah Christiansen to our staff in July 2015
as Membership & Technology
Assistant. He provides administrative and program support
and keeps CRS’s websites updated. Job has a B.A. in History
from Calvin College, with minors in Archaeology and Music,
and an M.A. in History from
Kent State University, where he
studied the local history of his
hometown of Greenville, Pennsylvania. Job has a passion for
preservation and archaeology,
which he has cultivated during
several seasons of fieldwork at
the Roman-Byzantine site of
Umm el-Jimal in Jordan.
Façade 96 I 25
Haibo Huang and CRS President Kathleen Crowther
CRS Vice Chair Gordon Premier speaks on behalf of the
Nominating Committee and introduces the slate of new
trustees and officers.
26 I Façade 96
events
Photos by Rob Erick
The Cleveland Restoration Society’s Annual Membership Meeting was held on the morning of Tuesday, July
14 in the beautiful public rooms of the Sarah Benedict
House. Attendees heard a summary of the organization’s activities over the prior twelve months, learned
about the work for the future, and voted in a slate of
new trustees (see page 24 for Details). Following the
meeting, all present had the chance to meet each other,
talk to staff and board members, and enjoy refreshments.
Photo by Rob Erick
Photos by Kerri Broome
On Saturday, July 25, 2015 the Cleveland Restoration Society
hosted a SNOOP! of The 9. Over twenty-five attendees walked
through The 9 complex and saw why it was one of the 2015
Celebration of Preservation award winners, from the public
theatre to the rooftop terraces and the gold reception hall and
vaults turned night club in the lower level. The tour finale was
in the old bank rotunda, now home to Heinen’s Market, where
the group checked shopping off their Saturday to-do list.
events
Façade 96 I 27
events
Photos by Rob Erick
Cleveland Restoration Society’s
“event”ful summer continued with
a SNOOP! of Church of the Saviour
UMC on Lee Road in Cleveland
Heights on Saturday, August 22.
This long-established congregation
once met in a one-room schoolhouse but now is housed in a 1928
building designed by architect
John W. C. Corbusier. The tour
group was led by Carol Broadbent,
business manager at the church,
through the entire complex. Additional technical information
was provided by Michael Nagle
of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates
Inc., who was project architect for
the renovation.
28 I Façade 96
Photos by Michael Fleenor
Our September membership event was a SNOOP! of League Park, held on Saturday, September 12. Approximately thirty tour goers braved the elements to visit the revived ballpark in Cleveland to see where legends like
Cy Young, Satchel Paige, Babe Ruth, and Joe DiMaggio once played. The tour was led by August Fluker of
City Architecture, Inc. and baseball historian and author Morris Eckhouse, who serves as administrator of the
Baseball Heritage Museum. Most of the tour was spent in the Baseball Heritage Museum due to the weather,
but a few attendees inspected the historic field.
Façade 96 I 29
Photos by Jobadiah Christiansen
events
Rounding out the calendar of tours
for the fall was our Scoop SNOOP!
of Fairmont Creamery and Mitchell’s Homemade Ice Cream Ohio
City Kitchen & Shop on Saturday,
October 10.
CleHistorical-Facade-Ad.pdf
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9/14/15
10:57 AM
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clevelandhistorical.org
30 I Façade 96
Historic Tax Credit Renovation Projects
C O M PL E T E D PR O J E C T S
The Atrium Office Building fka The
William Taylor & Sons Dpt. Store
The Hanna Annex
The Residences The Residences
at Hanna
at 668
$65 Million
Done 2008
100% Occupied
$22 Million
Done 2012
100% Occupied
FU T U R E PR O J E C T S
The East Ohio Gas Building
Residences
at 1717
$65 Million
Done Spring 2015
100% Occupied
The Leader Building
$61 Million
Starts August 2015
Ends 2017 | 243 Units
65,000 SF Commercial
w w w. Ka n d D. co m
The Halle Building
$60-$70 Million
Starts 2018 | 240 Units
60,000 SF Commercial
Preserving Cleveland’s landmarks
for future generations.
Sherwin-Williams is proud to support the Cleveland Restoration
Society’s 2015 Celebration of Preservation.
©2015 The Sherwin-Williams Company
Façade 96 I 31
Cert no. BVC-SFICOC-US 07000140
Facade 96
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Cleveland, Ohio
Permit No. 1258
Cert no. BV-COC-071007
© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.
The global benchmark for responsible forest management.
The FSC Logo identifies products which contain wood from well
managed forests certified by Bureau Veritas Certification in accordance
with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council.
The SFI® program is a comprehensive system of principles, objectives
and performance measures developed by foresters, conservationists
and scientists, that combines the perpetual growing and harvesting of
trees with the protection of wildlife, plants , soil and water quality.
Cleveland Restoration Society
Sarah Benedict House
3751 Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115-2705
Our classrooms don’t have walls, but our projects do.
Historic Preservation at Ursuline College prepares
tomorrow’s leaders to make sustainable and unique
contributions to their world by preserving cultural
memory and its lessons. Join us online us online or an
upcoming webinar. Register at ursuline.edu/gradevents
Thursday, September 24 at 6 pm
Thursday, October 8 at 1 pm and 6
Thursday, November 19 at 1 pm
pm
Notice of Special Meeting of Membership
Please join us for a Special Meeting of the membership of Cleveland Restoration Society on Tuesday,
January 6, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. at the Sarah Benedict House, 3751 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. The
purpose of the meeting is to consider and vote on changes to the Code of Regulations of CRS that would
allow the Board of Trustees to expand the number of trustees and appoint new trustees in between annual
meetings of the membership. To see the proposed changes to the Code of Regulations and to register for
the meeting, visit www.clevelandrestoration.org.
32 I Façade 96