It's funny when talking to my grandparents (who are of that generation that saw their cities torn apart for highways) that they have, still, a huge faith in "progress".  I think most people of that era saw anything new as being necessarily better, "progress", and you dare not stand in its way.  Highways and mass production were the future.  We are of course similar today, with that faith in progress being more directed towards computers, biotech, and the like.

Fantastic...these are always fun to dig up and share.

very great find.

 

funny this 1880 view of the flats was pretty much the same as my memories of it from hanging around bars/clubs there as a teenager, just before it became it's infamous 80's party hearty bar scene. some things didnt change too much -- it still had the same kind of gritty feel and look 100 years later.

 

"Levels of nostalgia are directly related to the success with which the past has been destroyed."

Hard to believe that's Shaker Square in that pic with no mature trees.  Great pics, though the last one makes me a little sad.  Hard to fathem all the neighborhoods that were lost or disected in the name of "progress".

Hard to believe that's Shaker Square in that pic with no mature trees.  Great pics, though the last one makes me a little sad.  Hard to fathem all the neighborhoods that were lost or disected in the name of "progress".

 

Thats the same thing I thought, but what really struck a cord with me is seeing my building but seeing nothing across the street.

 

 

 

 

 

I remember after the rebuilding of the train lines they planted those tiny ever greens, now  24 years later, they're mature.

 

 

 

I don't see a single tree in the Industrial Valley photo.  That's pretty amazing. 

Very awesome.

 

 

Great photos!

Awesome photos.  Boo so many changes that have occurred to this city.  My personal favorite was the mini-downtown around 105 & Euclid.  I think that would be a much needed asset to UC.

Awesome photos. Boo so many changes that have occurred to this city. My personal favorite was the mini-downtown around 105 & Euclid. I think that would be a much needed asset to UC.

 

You can thank the Clinic, for tearing down those buildings, as well as pretty much everything else in the surrounding area.

 

The Cleveland Clinic... one of the best economic things to ever happen to the city.... and one of the absolute worst things from a planning perspective.

Man that is terrible.  Which of the current buildings were some of the originals?  Park Lane Villa, Tudor Arms, Judson park?

Fast forward… 1985… From my own lens… Wow I’m feeling old…

 

Fast forward 1985 From my own lens Wow Im feeling old

 

 

Great pic! I'm gonna hafta go to this same spot and take a pic of what it looks like now, just for comparison sake.

I guess this thread is as good as any to add these.

 

The first is of my Grandmother standing on her front porch on W 105th just north of the West Blvd, Parkhurst, W105th intersection; probably late 1930's shortly after the home was built.  They moved from W11th and lived upstairs with 6 children, used the attic as a dormitory!  They rented out the lower level.  My parents lived there in 1950 when they were married and moved shortly after I was born in 1953.

 

 

This is the home today, courtesy of Google.

 

Where was the Cleveland Arena?

 

Around 36th and Euclid I believe.

I guess this thread is as good as any to add these.

 

The first is of my Grandmother standing on her front porch on W 105th just north of the West Blvd, Parkhurst, W105th intersection; probably late 1930's shortly after the home was built.  They moved from W11th and lived upstairs with 6 children, used the attic as a dormitory!  They rented out the lower level.  My parents lived there in 1950 when they were married and moved shortly after I was born in 1953.

 

 

This is the home today, courtesy of Google.

 

 

Good housing stock!

It's currently just a big patch of grass - until about a year ago, there was a project by Cleveland Public Art occupying the site. The same artist who designed the Irish Hunger Memorial in NYC designed a series of 8 "urns" that were modeled from the windflow off Lake Erie. They were meant to be a temporary installation (for 2 years):

 

 

 

Actually, there are some indigenous grasses such as big&little bluestem, implemented into the public art project--representing Ohio's natural heritage, which I thought was a nifty addition to promote more such island plantings in preference to energy consuming turf grass--which is basically an eco-dead zone.

 

 

By the way, does anyone have any photos of the old Erieview Plaza? This spot also had fountains.

 

HERE!

 

http://www.toweraterieview.com/Tower%20History.htm

 

I swear, the internet is right out there for everyone to use.  That wasn't said to be mean, but sheesh, how hard is it to do a search?

MTS, what you didn't mention, by virtue of your red stars, you have a clearer understanding of how the internet works!  Plain old yellow star people can't even begin to appreciate that which they are missing!  It is only one of the numerous perks of being a Premium Member!

I LOVE these threads with old photos of Cleveland.  This thread was started so long ago I didn't even know it existed.

I suppose I could post links to my vintage photo threads as to make this an all encompassing historic photo thread.

 

 

 

It's a slow day in the office so I've been playing on the internet half the day. I found this pic of Public Square from 1912 on Wikipedia. Yes it's huge (I thought it was too interesting to shrink it down), just scroll to the right.

yeah we've  had this set of photos here before.  When MayCo. was the largest Department store in Ohio.

Cool pic.  So does that mean the may company facade was put on after this picture, or am I not seeing this correctly?

 

I love how the Society for savings building towered over everything then.  Now it is a cute little brother to Key tower.  (OK what I think is the county admin building is bigger, but you get what I am saying)

That pic shows PS in 1912.  The May Co. Building (the one we all know facing Euclid) was constructed in 1914.

It took me a minute to figure that out as well. I almost thought that they had a side entrance that I didn't know about. Great picture!

It is interesting to see what buildings were there before the Terminal Tower was constructed.

Its funny because one of the only buildings remaining from that picture (The Park Building) is also one of the least attractive from that picture (least ornate anyway).  Still a beautiful building.

AWESOME pics...it's so irie because most of the people in these pictures are dead haha.  But wow...it absolutely amazing to look back.  How have things changed, look at the way people dressed back then.  I thought that was just the movies impression of back then? LOL

Removed off-topic and inflammatory commentary by Dirty Sandpit, and associated replies to that. One can offer constructive commentary and criticism against a particular city or locale, but if you can't back up your statements with facts, or if you post it where it is clearly off-topic, then it will be removed. Back on topic, please.

What did I miss? Lol.

i almost wish public square still looked like that 1912 pic and the terminal tower complex was built somewhere else. where i have no idea, i guess south of the old central market or out east along the lake or something? the point being can you imagine how utterly charming the square would be if all those period buildings were still all around it?!!

i almost wish public square still looked like that 1912 pic and the terminal tower complex was built somewhere else. where i have no idea, i guess south of the old central market or out east along the lake or something? the point being can you imagine how utterly charming the square would be if all those period buildings were still all around it?!!

You mean the end of the mall, where Burnham suggested it go, and where many of us think the North Coast Transit Center should go?

Burnham's plan included a train station but never included anything remotely as iconic (or tall) as the Terminal Tower.

look at this forgotten little detail...there was art nouveau style scrollwork on the seats at league park.

 

 

 

 

http://www.historicballparks.blogspot.com/

 

 

i wish league park was still around...i'd take that park over the jake any day

AWESOME pics...it's so irie because most of the people in these pictures are dead haha.  But wow...it absolutely amazing to look back.  How have things changed, look at the way people dressed back then.  I thought that was just the movies impression of back then? LOL

 

I look at photos like this and loved how it seemed people dressed up a bit to go downtown to do business.. Even the common folk clothing had some style. In those days...if you had a few good sets of clothing outfits, they lasted. More of a quality thing over quantity, so it seemed.

 

These days...  sloppy is too common. Love these styles!

AWESOME pics...it's so irie because most of the people in these pictures are dead haha.  But wow...it absolutely amazing to look back.  How have things changed, look at the way people dressed back then.  I thought that was just the movies impression of back then? LOL

 

I look at photos like this and loved how it seemed people dressed up a bit to go downtown to do business.. Even the common folk clothing had some style. In those days...if you had a few good sets of clothing outfits, they lasted. More of a quality thing over quantity, so it seemed.

 

These days...  sloppy is too common. Love these styles!

 

Holy Higbee's Batman, we agree on something!  :-o  :-o  :-o  :-o

I love the fact that because of the lack of automobiles and the streetcars service in that 1912 picture there are people everywhere in the streets...

Here is a photo that demonstrates a sort of an 'extra downtown' this sort of area was pervasive in the city and they were very functional to the needs of residents, ie; bakery, fruit, hardware, clothiers, shoes, and other things... If there is a place for such photos please excuse the misplacement. The ends on the left and right were sliced off a bit, but you can see the density, pedestrian orientation and small setbacks to get the idea.

 

Compare this photo with the same place today. Yikes...all emptiness!

Awesome.  This photo is really cool because it shows a dense urban walkable environment, but the auto age is starting to make its mark (ie: parking lots, SOHIO sign, gas station, etc...)  The two seemed to live harmoniously for a small period of time.

What I cannot understand is why we went to huge seas of pavement for parking lots with huge setbacks for the buildings..... If the time came to accommodate both pedestrian and auto traffic, when building anything newer at the time on the photo.......and even today, why not maintain the close setbacks and place the parking in rear, instead...with entrances in the back...sort of how Lakewood has it at that drugstore on Detroit... 

 

Was it a Discount Drug Mart or something? It has been a while since I lived near there, but that is the idea,....the auto traffic is accommodated while the curb/urban appeal preserved. This HUMONGOUS 300 foot setback and giant sea of pavement suburban model is so utterly unnecessary. 

 

Another thought is how disability UN-friendly the huge setback scene really is. The fact that those places (like in the burbs) have an army of handicap parking spaces that still requires a distance to walk for anyone who is legitimately disabled.....SOOOO, this model in the photo is actually better for the disabled....and the suburban model, where we seem to have so much 'disability' is not the way to go. 

What I cannot understand is why we went to huge seas of pavement for parking lots with huge setbacks..... If the time came to accommodate both pedestrian and auto traffic, when building anything newer..and even today, why not maintain the close setbacks and place the parking in rear, instead...with entrances in the back...sort of how Lakewood has it at that drugstore on Detroit... Was it a Discount Drug Mart or something? It has been a while since I lived near there, but that is the idea,....the auto traffic is accommodated while the curb/urban appeal preserved. This HUMONGOUS 300 foot setback and giant sea of pavement suburban model is so utterly unnecessary.

 

I know many people who complain that parking in the rear feels unsafe and sketchy because it is hidden from plain view of the main street. I call bollocks on it, but maybe this has a little to do with it.

^Granted, but I think it is all in how we can improve such a design. I am sure that the back can be made to look just as appealing and friendly as the front...Basically, the back is for the car crowd, the front is for the pedestrian crowd. Some lighting in the back and I think all can be designed to work perfectly.

Would anyone be interested in turning this thread into a Cleveland historical photo thread? Some of us have lots of historical photos of the city, but there are others who have maybe one or two and might be reluctant to share them because they don't want to start a whole new thread for it.

 

Perhaps I could change this to "Share your Cleveland historical photos here"?

 

And yes, I have a few photos I'd be willing to contribute every so often... ;)

Would anyone be interested in turning this thread into a Cleveland historical photo thread? Some of us have lots of historical photos of the city, but there are others who have maybe one or two and might be reluctant to share them because they don't want to start a whole new thread for it.

 

Perhaps I could change this to "Share your Cleveland historical photos here"?

 

And yes, I have a few photos I'd be willing to contribute every so often... ;)

 

DO IT!

Cool pic.  It looks like Cleveland's jaywalking habits were still prevalent back then, lol.

Would anyone be interested in turning this thread into a Cleveland historical photo thread? Some of us have lots of historical photos of the city, but there are others who have maybe one or two and might be reluctant to share them because they don't want to start a whole new thread for it.

 

Perhaps I could change this to "Share your Cleveland historical photos here"?

 

And yes, I have a few photos I'd be willing to contribute every so often... ;)

 

I'm for that.