The Masonry and Ironwork of Cleveland
At some point in the Cleveland’s history, it must have been home to some of the finest stonemasons and ironworkers in the world.
Now that working stonemasons and ironworkers–craftsmen–are mainly a thing of the past, their legacy endures and continues to add character, beauty and sometimes even humor to the Cleveland streetscape.
I’ve been meaning to do this blog post since I began this blog early this year but until last week I was lacking a functional camera.
I shot these photos on my ride home from work, mainly in a six-block stretch of Superior and St. Clair avenues.
Start: The Archdiocese of Cleveland, E. 9th and Superior
Keeping watch
Next Stop: The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, E. 6th and Superior
These statues once contained machine-gun turrets, as armed guards protected the safe during the turbulent years of the 1920s and '30s.
Next door: The reading garden at the Cleveland Public Library Main Branch, guarded by children
Weather worn, the public library: 6th and Superior
Across the street: The arcade. One of America's first shopping malls.
Mall building has changed a lot since 1890.
A better view.
A really a lot better view.
The Federal Courthouse: East 3rd and Superior.
War Memorial Sculpture, Cleveland Mall
The Cleveland Mall was built as part of the City Beautiful movement under the guidance of famous Chicago architect Daniel Burnham. A complete history here.
The Mall is flanked by the Board of Education building and a statue of Abraham Lincoln.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument: W. 2nd and Superior, Public Square.
The May Company Building, formerly home to May Department Store, Euclid and E. 2nd.
Tower City, Public Square
Until 1964, Tower City was the tallest building in America outside of New York City. It was built as a train station and still serves as a stop on RTA’s rapid transit line as well as as a mall and movie theater.
The Society National Bank Building, precursor to Key Bank.
West Third Street
The county courthouse, Lakeside and Ontario
My personal favorite, the Rockefeller Building: W. 6th and Superior. Abraham Lincoln once spent the night in this building.
The Perry-Payne Building, W. 9th and Superior
U.S. District Court, Superior and Huron
Ok. That’s all for now. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. Most notably overlooked examples include the “Guardians of Traffic” on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge and, of course, the dozens and dozens of beautiful churches that pepper the city.
-AS
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