There are some fascinating books on the histories of Cleveland from the latter 18th century through 2000, Bay Village, Aurora, Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Westlake, Cleveland department stores, Black Clevelanders, the Flats, and some others I can't remember.  Each book has dozens if not hundreds of pictures of various families, architectures, and events. 

 

I spent about three hours today surfing through a few of these books.  I probably most enjoyed the Cleveland department stores one and was  disappointed by the Flats book, which inexplicably ignored the party days of the last 20 years.

 

The series is somewhat depressing as well.  I mean, it's one thing to hear stories about Cleveland being a far more prominent city, but when you see the pictures of crowded streets bustling with stores and people....then yeah, the series is somewhat heartbreaking as well. 

 

A great read. 

 

 

The "Cleveland's Downtown Architecture" one was authored by Shawn Patrick Hoefler, AKA MayDay. If you're nice and respectful to him, you might even be able to persuade him to sign your copy. :-)

I've got one on brewing in Cleveland.  Fascinating.