Cleveland in HDR – The 6th City Collection

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:  Trinity Cathedral

This is an amazing church located in downtown Cleveland. When I first walked inside it reminded me a lot of Westminster Abbey in London.  It is an absolutely beautiful church and I will have some more photos of it in future blogs. Here is a history of the church from its website: “On November 9, 1816, a group of Episcopalians met in the home of Phineas Shepard on the West side of what now is greater Cleveland, to organize what was to become Trinity Parish. When in 1825 Trinity parish moved to the east bank of the Cuyahoga River, worship services were held in the upper story of the log house on Public Square, which also served as the public courthouse and jail. In 1829, the congregation’s first church building was consecrated by Bishop Philander Chase. It was the first church building within the Cleveland village limits. In 1855 the parish moved into a new, larger stone building of gothic design, which served the congregation’s needs until 1902. At the end of the nineteenth century, Trinity was the strongest parish in the diocese numerically and financially and was also rich in traditions of strong pastoral leadership and in service to the community and the larger church. In 1890, Trinity Church was offered to Bishop William A. Leonard as a cathedral to be maintained by the parish. At the same time, a new building site was sought in a more central but less commercial section of the city. Plans were begun for a building at Euclid Avenue and East 22nd Street, with Charles F. Schweinfurth of Cleveland as the architect. His plan eventually evolved into the present English perpendicular Gothic structure, begun in 1901 and consecrated September 24, 1907. From its early days, the Cathedral has served as an anchor in the Quadrangle neighborhood and in downtown Cleveland. However, near the century’s end, Trinity’s leaders realized that the original cathedral could no longer accommodate its growing congregation’s
needs. In 2000, renovation and expansion work began. The result was Trinity Commons, opened in 2002.”

For more information:

http://trinitycleveland.org/

Quote of the day:

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.- George Washington

Today’s Photo:  Mapleside Farms

It is easy to see why Mapleside Farms in Brunswick, Ohio was recently voted the most beautiful farm in America. This photo was taken shortly after a storm passed over the farm. The purplish tint
to the photo is really how it looked that evening. Families, including my own have been coming to this farm for generations to enjoy the food and the view. Here is a history of the farm from their website:

“The land where Mapleside Farms sits was first settled by the Tillotson family from Massachusetts. They were drawn there in 1817 by the area’s fertile soil. Elmer and Clara Eyssen bought the farm from the Tillotson family in 1927 and moved
their family from Lakewood way out into the country. At that time the land consisted of the current property plus many acres across Pearl Road as well as some property on Center Road/Rte. 303. In the earlier years of this beautiful farm, a large stand of maple trees on the side of the hill were used for maple syrup production and became Elmer and Clara’s inspiration for naming their land, Mapleside Farms.”

The farm was recently purchased by Greg and Kelly Clement who are both lifelong Brunswick residents and grew up with Mapleside as an important part of their lives. They have made many wonderful improvements while still keeping the original feel of the farm. I have no doubt that Mapleside will be enjoyed for many more generations.

For more information please visit their website:

http://www.mapleside.com/

Quote of the day:

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees, and flowers, and clouds, and stars.- Martin Luther

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

Hello everyone,

I have decided to start this blog so I can post the photos I take of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. It is my intention to post a new photo each day, Monday through Friday. Hopefully my photos can do the city I love justice and present it in a positive light. Cleveland is truly a beautiful city and a wonderful place to live. Please sign up so you can leave comments on the photos and offer any suggestions on how I can improve this blog. Thank you for taking a look at my work.

Today’s Photo:
North Coast Harbor

North Coast Harbor is located in downtown Cleveland on the shore of Lake Erie. It includes (from left to right) the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland Browns Stadium, and the Steamship William G. Mather Museum. The city’s tallest buildings can be seen in the background. The harbor was home to the Great Lakes Exposition during the summers of 1936 and 1937. The Exposition was used as a way to energize a city that was hit hard by the Great Depression and drew nearly 7 million people to the city during its two summers.

This Photo was taken from Voinovich Bicentennial Park.

Purchase this photo: Brent Durken Print Sales

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

Quote of the day:

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage
to pursue them.”-  Walt Disney