Cleveland in HDR – The 6th City Collection

Today’s Photo: The Greenbrier Suite

This is a photo of the 2 story Great Hall of the Greenbrier Suite. The Greenbrier Suite was secret residence of the Van Sweringen Brothers and it is located inside the Terminal Tower. That’s right, it is located on the 12th, 13th, and 14th floors of the Terminal Tower in downtown Cleveland.
This stunning home was built to rival the mansions located on Euclid Ave. It was built in English Gothic style with oak paneling and marble fireplaces.

Who are the Van Sweringen Brothers you ask?  Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen were two Clevelanders who created a $3 billion, 30,000-mi.
railroad and real estate empire. They also were the builders of the Terminal Tower and the real-estate developers of Shaker Hts.

For more information:

http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=VSOP

Today’s Quote:

“We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they’re called memories. Some take us forward, they’re called dreams.”  – Jeremy Irons

Today’s Photo: The Cleveland Trust Co. vault

This large vault, in the basement of Cleveland Trust Co., was where many Clevelanders once kept their most valuable possessions. If you look close you can see that there is actually a vault inside the vault. The metal for the massive main door came from the Carnegie Steel Company.

The Cleveland Trust Company was established in 1894. In 1903 Cleveland Trust merged with the Western Reserve Trust Co. and in 1908
it built a new headquarters bldg. at E. 9th and Euclid. This building is still there today but it is now called the Ameritrust Building. By 1977 The Cleveland Trust Company had 120 branches, $5 billion in assets and it managed $7 billion in trust funds for its clients. CleveTrust changed its name to the AmeriTrust Corp. in 1979 and became part of Society Bank in 1991. Three years later Society merged with KeyCorp making it the nation’s 11^th largest bank.

For more information about the Cleveland Trust Company please visit:

http://ech.cwru.edu/ech-cgi/article.pl?id=A8

Quote of the Day:

“And I sincerely believe, with you, that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity in the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale” – Thomas Jefferson

Today’s Photo: Lanterman’s Mill

This is a great place to take the family to learn about history. There is a historic mill and an awesome covered bridge. Here is the history of the mill from the Metroparks website:

“At the end of the 18th century the land surrounding a beautiful, natural waterfall, now known as Lanterman’s Falls, belonged to John Young, founder of Youngstown. In August 1797 Young’s surveyors, Isaac Powers and Phineas Hill, set out to explore the then unnamed Mill Creek.

Coming upon the Falls, the two men immediately recognized the potential of the site for a mill. Hill offered to purchase the 300 acres  surrounding the Falls. Young stipulated, as a condition of the sale, that Hill must build a saw- and gristmill on the site within eighteen months of the purchase. Hill agreed and contracted with fellow explorer Isaac Powers to construct the mill.

The first mill was built of logs from the site. Millstones were cut from granite boulders found in the area of what is now Fifth Avenue at Rayen  avenue. This mill operated from 1799 to 1822. In 1823 the original mill was replaced by a second mill. Built by Eli Baldwin, this frame structure served only as a gristmill. Baldwin’s mill operated until 1843 when a flood washed it away. A grinding stone from this mill can still be seen resting in the creekbed 500 feet downstream of the Falls.

The current frame structure was built in 1845-46 by German Lanterman and his brother-in-law Samuel Kimberly. German and his wife Sally Ann owned a large tract of land around the Falls. Lanterman’s Mill was the third mill constructed at the Falls and was used solely as a gristmill. It is believed that this mill was originally powered by an overshot wheel, the type presently being used, but was later converted to turbines prior to its closing in 1888. Lanterman’s Mill was a highly successful operation, utilizing three sets of grinding stones. Historians speculate that its downfall was due to the advent of roller mills which were much more efficient and less costly to run. After closing, the Mill stood in a state of disrepair until purchased by the Park in 1892. As an early Park facility, the building held a ballroom, a concession stand, and bathhouse for swimmers. Swimming continued in the Pool of Shadows until 1917. The upper floors were used for boat storage during the winter.

In 1933 the first floor was converted into a nature museum, then into the Park’s historical museum in 1972. Lanterman’s Mill was entered in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior in 1976. During the years that the Mill served as a nature museum, generations of area residents spent countless hours viewing the hundreds of mounted birds, mammals, and other natural history exhibits. Thousands of civic and school groups toured the Mill, while captivated Park visitors made it the subject of poems, songs, photographs, and paintings.

The renovation of Lanterman’s Mill was no small feat. Many obstacles had to be overcome during the costly and painstaking renovation which began in 1982. Historical records and original blueprints depicting the operation of Lanterman’s Mill were nonexistent. An archeological dig was organized by Dr. John White, professor of anthropology at Youngstown State University, yielding valuable artifacts and the location of the original raceway, proving the existence of an earlier water wheel.

As research continued, the Park searched for an expert gristmill renovator to tackle the complicated project. Lorin Cameron and his sons from Damascus, Ohio, were commissioned after the Park learned of their superior restorations of Gaston’s Mill in Beaver Creek State Park and Garretts Mill in Garrettsville, Ohio.

With research and expert talents in hand the Park now only lacked funding for the project. The Florence and Ward Beecher Foundations made the restoration a reality with a $600,000 grant to the Mill Creek Park Foundation. The work could now begin.

Work commenced in the Camerons’ Damascus workshop. Although much of the needed antique machinery was purchased, the Camerons had to craft by hand many of the fittings, elevator shafts, and housings–not to mention the massive four-ton water wheel. While the Camerons worked on the machinery, the mill underwent a complete structural facelift. Footers and beams were replaced; connections were reinforced; a new roof was installed; and new windows, doors, and siding completed the transformation. Now the Camerons could transport the components of the inner workings to the mill. The wheel, marked piece by piece and disassembled, was rebuilt in its present location.

Exterior improvements included a new observation deck and walkways. An additional course was placed upon the existing log dam, ensuring an adequate supply of water to the Mill. More than a century after its closing, Lanterman’s Mill runs again. Cross the Mill’s threshold, and transport yourself into a bygone era, rich with the remarkable legacy of early settlers.”

For more info:

http://www.millcreekmetroparks.com/ParksFacilities/nbspnbspnbspnbspLantermansMill/tabid/1522/Default.aspx

Quote of the day:

“I have not failed.  I’vejust found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — Thomas Edison

Today’s Photo: The Hanna

If you have never seen a play at the Hanna Theater in Playhouse Square you are missing out. The atmosphere is great and everything is modern.  The Hanna Theatre opened March 28, 1921, and would go on to host such stage and film luminaries as Al Jolson, Katherine Hepburn, Henry
Fonda, Ethel Barrymore, Ginger Rogers, Helen Hayes, Mary Martin and Yul Brynner. In 2008, the Hanna underwent a renovation to add a thrust stage, re-work its seating to 550 and become the main performance base for Playhouse Square’s long-time constituent, Great Lakes Theater. Few people know that the famous Tom Hanks got his first acting job right here in Cleveland with the Great Lakes Theater Festival.  He worked 3 summers with Great Lakes making $45 per week.  Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in the country, behind only
New York City.

For more info: http://www.playhousesquare.org/default.asp?playhousesquare=62&objId=2

Quote of the day:

Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards – the things we live by and teach our children are preserved or diminished by how
freely we exchange ideas and feelings.- Walt Disney

Today’s Photo: Fall moves in.

This photo was taken at a small pond in Medina County. It’s getting colder out but the colors are amazing!

Today’s Quote:

All art is but imitation of nature -Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Today’s Photo: In Bloom

This photo was taken in early spring near Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio. To me it looks like the trees are reaching for the sun.

Today’s Quote:

At present, I am mainly observing the physical motion of mountains, water, trees and flowers. One is everywhere reminded of similar movements in the human body, of similar impulses of joy and suffering in plants – Egon Schiele

The Detroit–Superior Bridge, also known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge is a 3,112 long through arch bridge over the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. The bridge was completed in 1918, at a cost of $5.4 million. It was the first fixed high level bridge in Cleveland and its completion, the bridge was the largest steel and concrete reinforced bridge in the world. While the bridge’s upper level is for road traffic, the lower level was intended for streetcars. It was built with four sets of these tracks. Each end of the bridge has underground streetcar stations for the trams. While the steetcars no longer run some of the old tracks and streetcars remain. To walk under this
bridge is to step into the past.

Today the lower level of the bridge is used for “Ingenuity,” a large-scale, weekend-long performance event. It is my hope that his space can be transformed into something that can be used by Clevelanders year round.

Purchase this photo: Brent Durken Print Sales

http://brent-durken.pixels.com/

For more info:

http://www.facebook.com/ingenuityfest

http://www.facebook.com/#!/cleveland.bridge?sk=info

Quote of the day:

We believe that if men have the talent to invent new machines that put men out of work, they have the talent to put those men back to work. – John F. Kennedy

Today’s Photo: Cleveland Skyline from the top of the Terminal Tower

Did you ever wonder what the city would look like if you could climb to the top of the Terminal Tower, go past the observation deck and climb outside onto the roof? Now you know.  This is one of my older HDR photographs but it is still one of my favorites. It is amazing how peaceful it is to see so far but hear only the wind.  Here is the information on how you can get up to the observation deck and see an awesome view of our city.

Beginning, Saturday April 30th, 2011 and continuing through Sunday, December 18th, 2011, the general public will once again have the opportunity to go up to The Terminal Tower Observation Deck, and experience the breathtaking views of Downtown from this magnificent Cleveland landmark. The Observation Deck will be open on Saturdays from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 pm – 4 pm. Guests may now make reservations and purchase tickets on-line General admission cost will be $5 (plus a handling fee) per person with free admission for children 5 years of age and under. Based on availability, walk-up tickets may be purchased at Tower City’s Guest Services desk, located on Level 1, on the day of the tour only. For reservations and tickets visit websites below.

Terminal Tower Observation Deck Tour tickets:
http://www.eventbrite.com/org/570713222?s=3414901

Quote of the day: Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today’s photo: Thunderstruck

Thanks to my brother and sister in law I had the opportunity to take my family down to the Cleveland National Air Show this year. I hadn’t been down to see the show since I was a kid and I have to say I was pretty impressed by the whole thing. Everyone was friendly and we were able to talk to a lot of the pilots and ground crews about the aircraft. My kids loved going inside the planes and tanks that were on the ground. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds were of course everyone’s favorite. It’s amazing just how good those pilots are. To watch them fly that close and that fast is jaw dropping and just really cool. I will
be going with the family again next year for sure.

Quote of the day:

“America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” – Abraham Lincoln

Today’s Photo: The Italian Garden

This is a photo of the fountain located on the upper level of the Italian Garden. The Italian Garden was on October 12, 1930 before a crowd of 3000 local Italians. It is just one of the over 30 gardens that make up the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.  The gardens are located along M.L.K. Blvd and East Blvd, not far from Wade Oval.

I am ashamed to say that I didn’t know this wonderful place even existed until a few years ago. I love walking though the gardens and looking at all of the statues, plants, flowers and fountains. They tell a story of all the different immigrants that came to America and to Cleveland. Some of my own ancestors that came from Germany, Switzerland, and Ireland were living in Cleveland by the 1840’s. In fact my grandmother lived in a house on the corner of Ansel Rd. and Ann Ct., right across from the gardens and the Hitchcock Center for Women. She said the center used to be a seminary and she would walk in the gardens when she was a teenager. All Clevelanders should visit the gardens at least once, they are beautiful and will make you proud of Cleveland and all the immigrants that helped built this city.

For more info on the
gardens please go to the website:

http://culturalgardens.org/default.aspx

Or visit on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cultural-Gardens-Of-Cleveland/178974030093