The newsletter of the Cleveland Restoration Society, NEO's voice for historic preservation. We believe in the future of our built heritage, from our neighborhoods to our monumental landmarks. 
MAY 2021 PRESERVATION NEWS & EVENTS
Have you RSVP'd? Join us & celebrate outstanding historic preservation projects
Cleveland Restoration Society and AIA Cleveland present the 2021 Celebration of Preservation Awards, which will premiere on Thursday, May 20th at 7:00 pm on the Cleveland Restoration Society Facebook and YouTube Channel.
Questions? Email Stephanie Phelps.
Thank you to our sponsors
Capital Level Sponsors
jamieson ricca logo 2018
Pillar Level Sponsors
Cornice Level Sponsors
Eight properties gifted to Cleveland Restoration Society on historic Newton Avenue
Cleveland Restoration Society recently acquired eight properties on historic Newton Avenue. These properties were gifts to the organization from Jerry Maddox (1942-2019), a friend of Cleveland Restoration Society and long-time resident of Newton Ave.

Drive down Newton Avenue and right away you will understand why this special street is landmarked both locally by the City of Cleveland and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The block is lined with bungalows which are decorated with architectural features pulling from Colonial and Classical Revival designs that are often found on larger, high-style homes. The effect is charming, the homes are well-kept, and the cohesive design of the block makes one appreciate this gem of a street. Jerry Maddox was the person behind the effort to nominate Newton Avenue to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and likely the local designation as a Cleveland Historic District that same year.

Jerry acquired Newton Avenue houses because he deeply appreciated their architectural significance, and he wanted to ensure their survival. He was very worried that Newton Avenue would be consumed by institutional expansion. The houses on Newton Avenue were constructed between 1910 and 1923, developed by the Marquard companies who became well-known for their designs of small homes with details found in larger and more expensive homes. These Marquard homes have many wonderful interior features such as solid wood doors with varying designs and decorative trims; wood windows with divided lights in different patterns such as diamonds and ovals; and leaded glass windows, some clear and some with color. Interior features include elaborate wood trim, ceiling beams, paneling, built-in cupboards with leaded glass window and doors, and fireplace alcoves with built-in benches. 

Owning these historic homes is an important new step for Cleveland Restoration Society. Since 1999, we have owned our headquarters building, the historic Sarah Benedict House on Prospect Avenue E. Now, we add to our property management portfolio these eight historic homes. It is our overall goal to honor the character of the street, the long term residents, and the architectural heritage of the houses themselves. By keeping rents affordable for existing tenants, we are doing our part to make a socially-responsible investment in Cleveland. We expect that these homes will return value to the organization while it expands our capacity to preserve Cleveland’s heritage.
Support for the Newton Avenue houses is provided by generous grants from The Cleveland Foundation, The Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation, and The Catherine L. & Edward A. Lozick Foundation.
Don't forget to register for our upcoming Heritage Home Program virtual presentations
Our Heritage Home Program's virtual informational presentations will be going on every month this spring and into the summer! We have a full schedule planned through August.
 
Anyone interested in registering for one of our upcoming presentations can register online below.
RFP for Warrensville West Cemetery in Shaker Heights
The City of Shaker Heights is seeking proposals from qualified Preservationists, Architects, Landscape Architects, Historians, and/or Archaeologists to prepare a Historic Preservation Master Plan for Warrensville West Cemetery, with two add alternates to include other city burial sites. The Plan for the cemetery (and burial sites) will identify existing resources and create a framework to preserve, protect, and maintain the burial grounds' historical, archaeological, architectural, and cultural value, will increase the sites' attractiveness, and will assure that maintenance and security are properly guided. The chosen team will create a historic preservation plan with input from the City, stakeholders, and the community at large.

Proposals must be emailed in PDF format (file size <15 MB) no later than June 2, 2021, at 12:00 noon to Kara Hamley O’Donnell, Principal Planner, City of Shaker Heights.
Celebrate #PreservationMonth
May is #PreservationMonth! Here are just a few ways to celebrate.
1. Prioritize inclusion in preservation and check out resources like Inclusive Historian
2. Go for a ride on the African American Civil Rights Trail. Bike Cleveland put together a map of the three civil rights trail marker sites, that have been announced so far, in Cleveland
3. Visit a historic site. And don't forget to post a photo on Instagram and tag @ClevelandRestoration
4. Read the National Trust for Historic Preservation daily updates for Preservation Month as they share 31 ways to save, celebrate, and discover places that explore the breadth of American history that #TellTheFullStory
6. Download the Cleveland Historical app and go one of their tours
8. Support a local restaurant that is housed in a historic building
10. Listen to a preservation podcast like PreserveCast
Historic Preservation Solutions to Build Back Better
The Biden-Harris Administration has identified several immediate priorities including COVID-19, economic recovery, racial equity, and climate change. The National Trust recently published "Historic Preservation Solutions to Build Back Better." This new report demonstrates the role historic preservation plays in promoting economic growth, confronting racial equity challenges, and responding to the climate crisis.
Events calendar
Tuesday, May 11th • 5:30 pm - 6:40 pm
Parallel Paths and the Policies that Divided Our Built Environment and Separated Races
Online Event
NOMA Cleveland & AIA Cleveland

During the presentation on Parallel Paths and the Policies that Divided Our Built Environment and Separated Races, Richard Rothstein will argue with exacting precision and fascinating insight how segregation in America-the incessant kind that continues to dog our major cities and has contributed to so much recent social strife-is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state, and federal level.

Rothstein will demonstrate how the government and our courts upheld racist policies to maintain the separation of races. This presentation is not a tale of Red versus Blue states, but rather the story of America in all of its municipalities, large and small, liberal and reactionary. This event will present a hard-hitting argument condemning federal, state, and local governments for devising laws that enforce segregation.

This event is free. Click here for more information.

Wednesday, May 19th • 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Environmental Legacy of Cleveland’s Roaring Twenties
Online Event
Western Reserve Historical Society 

Earth Day provides us a good opportunity to think about how far we have come in dealing with our destruction of the natural world and, of course, how far we have yet to go. On May 19, Senior Historian John Grabowski will look back 100 years and discuss the incredible impact the “Roaring Twenties” had on Cleveland’s environment.


Wednesday, May 26th • 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
History of Cleveland Heights
Online Event
Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library

As we celebrate the 100th birthday of the City of Cleveland Heights, we will look back on our community's path from rural farmlands to streetcar suburb to an inner ring city. Cleveland Heights has developed into a community that celebrates its diversity, cherishes its architecture and art, and looks forward to another 100 years as vibrant home to our citizens.

No registration required. Zoom Meeting ID 835 1846 2905 or use this link to access https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83518462905.



Monday, May 31st • 10:00 am
2021 Memorial Day Ceremony
6901 Woodland Avenue, Cleveland • Access from Quincy Avenue
Woodland Cemetery

Celebrate Memorial Day at Woodland Cemetery. The Memorial Day Celebration honoring Brigadier General John J. Elwell will include a 21 gun salute by the 7th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, cannon salute from the 19th Ohio Light Artillery and more! Volunteers are welcome to decorate graves.


Thursday, June 3rd • 7:00 pm
The History of Lower Lake
Online Event
Doan Brook Watershed Partnership

Learn about the natural and cultural history of Lower Shaker Lake in the Doan Brook Watershed. The Brook has coursed through Northeast Ohio since the retreat of the glaciers. Lower Lake itself was created 185 years ago when the Shakers dammed Doan Brook to operate a sawmill for several decades until the colony dissolved in 1889. In 1896 the Rockefellers and other developers deeded the land to the City of Cleveland as part of the Shaker Parklands. Learn about the rich history of Lower Lake from when it was a forested brook, to its regional use as a Canoe Club 1907-1976, to its designation as an Audubon Important Bird Area.

Cleveland Foundation logo
OAC logo
Generous project support is also provided by The Louise H. and David S. Ingalls Foundation.

The African American Civil Rights Trail project is supported through a grant from the African American Civil Rights grant program as administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. This project is also made possible in part by Ohio Humanities, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a grant from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.