USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Centennial history of Cleveland > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
Several Eastern colleges had admitted women under certain restrictions, they had their annexes, but here was established the first co-ordinate col- lege for women in the country to stand as an equal with the others forming this prosperous University. It owns commodious and delight- fully-situated building was opened for use in Sep- tember, 1892, but was not formally dedicated un- til October 24, 1893, when there were the names of 85 students enrolled.
The colleges of the University are constantly gaining in popular favor, and demand greater facilities for their steadily increasing number of students, Adelbert having 142 students, the Col- lege for Women 108, and the entire University somewhat over 500. The University and the Case School of Applied Science have been power- ful factors in the growth and welfare of the east- ern part of the city. They are institutions of which every citizen may well feel proud.
One after another of the religious societies have
101
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
removed to new and larger buildings far distant from their former sites, the general trend being eastward, or toward the light, rather than, accord- ing to the general rule of westward, with the sun.
Business houses have enlarged their quarters by removing to some of the many elegant build- ings which have been springing up in every direction.
The Society for Savings Building was among the first of the noticeably elegeant structures erected. Its first story, which is occupied by the society for bank purposes, is 25 feet in the clear, above which rise 9 stories occupied as offices. The Society for Savings was incorporated March 22, 1849, and formally organized on the 18th of the following June. At first its office was a room 20 feet square on Bank Street, where it opened its door for depositors on Wednesdays and Sat- urdays from 5 to 7 o'clock P. M. during the sum- iner, and from 4 to 6 o'clock in the winter. In 185) the Society "Resolved" to pay the Secretary and Treasurer the surplus earnings of the Society after paying dividends and expenses, which sum amounted to $50.
At the end of 23 years its depositors numbered 484. From this small beginning the Society has so prospered that it now owns and occupies one of the finest bank buildings in the country.
The Arcade, connecting the two main thor- oughfares, Euclid Avenue and Superior Street,
102
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
the Garfield, a veritable sky-scraper, the Cuya- hoga, the Mohawk, the New England, the Perry- Payne, the Hickox, the Permanent, and many others are buildings which are a credit to the bus- iness enterprise of Cleveland.
As the years rolled on the steady increase of traffic across the river caused a demand to be made for larger bridges than were in use at the beginning of this period. The first to be built was the Superior Street Viaduct, formally opened on Friday, December 27, 1878, when the Mayor, the city officials and invited guests escorted by var- ious military and civic organizations, accompan- ied by bands of music marched through the streets to the new viaduct 3,211 feet long, constructed of Berea sandstone and iron, spanning the Cuya- hoga River. It had occupied four years' time in building, and cost upwards of $2,000,000, and was at length in readiness to be accepted by the Mayor in the name of the city. At the eastern terminus of the bridge the procession halted. The Mayor and attendants, escorted by Col. Albert Barnitz, marshal of the day, and his staff, crossed to the west side where the contractors and another division of the procession awaited them. As the Mayor officially accepted the via- duct from the contractors, cannons stationed on the bridge belched forth a National salute, and then after returning to the eastern end, the en- tire procession marched across the new bridge
103
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
through some of the principal streets on the West Side and back to the old Tabernacle, where they listened to an oration, and finished the day's fes- tivities by a banquet at the Weddell House in the evening.
From the little pontoon bridge of about 1836, and the covered wooden one on stone piers and abutments, of a little later date, improvements have been going on until the dark water of the Cuyahoga rolls sluggishly on beneath bridges of great strength and solidity, and two magnifi- cent viaducts of marvelous workmanship.
As a younger generation came more to the front in the work of the city, the sons and daugh- ters of the pioneers, and others who were early settlers here, were drawn more closely together in a bond of the deepest interest and sympathy. Meeting from time to time to talk over the good old times, made more fascinating by each depart- ing year, in 1879 they organized The Early Set- tlers' Association, which has now reached a total membership of 1,059, beside an honorary mem- bership of 29. 97 of the members have been of Connecticut birth, and 195 of foreign birth. 29 were born during the latter part of the last cen- tury, and of these, Mr. John Doan, of Euclid, is the only surviving one. The Society holds its annual meeting on the 22d of July, when every elderly member equal to the exertion of attend-
104
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
ing is sure to be present to once again clasp the hands of his old-time companions.
With the rapid inrush of foreigners the charita- ble societies have been obliged to enlarge their work. New, suitable and generally-tasteful buildings have been erected over the city for vari- ous classes of needy men, women and children. Hospitals, homes, orphan asylums, temperance rooms, kitchen-gardens, kindergartens, and so on have been erected to meet the ever-increasing demand, and each and all are under the careful managment of the innumerable societies which have been formed within the past 25 or 30 years.
The various temperance societies, which are the outgrowth of the Temperance Crusade of 1874, have done a wonderful work throughout the city, not such as can be reported in full, nor such as speaks for itself, but such as quietly reaches out to help the unfortunate of every class. "The Open Door," The Friendly Inn, the read- ing rooms, evening schools, and other branches under their supervision, are well conducted and faithfully carried on. The Bethel, The Men's Home, The Home for the Friendless, and the rest of the 225 or more benevolent institutions are deserving of praise, but the charity which perhaps appeals the strongest to the heart of most people is that of the Cleveland Day Nursery and Free Kindergarten Association, which has been the special work undertaken by the Young
105
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
Ladies Branch of The Women's Christian Asso- ciation, organized March 15, 1882. During the April following, a Day Nursery was opened on Perry Street with the names of 7 children en- rolled. Other nurseries were soon started, and within a year's time the Society was in possession of a building given them by Mr. Joseph Perkins, and since known as the Perkins Day Nursery.
ยท
The Nurseries were opened to working women as a safe place for their little ones, while they were out earning, affording the tenderest and best of nurses at the low rate of 5 cents per day. It is the aim of the Society to reach the mothers through these tiny missionaries, and again, through them to better the conditions in the mis- erable homes of a large class of ignorant people.
In many cases the Society has been amply re- warded by the changes thus brought about.
In April, 1886, a higher branch of education was opened to this class of little folks by the es- tablishing of the first Free Kindergarten with an average daily attendance of 10 children during the first year. The work has been so earnestly and faithfully carried on that now the Society has 6 Nurseries and 10 Kindergartens, with an en- rollment of 1,229 in the former, and an average daily attendance of 250 children in the latter de- partments. In this way the Society reaches 666 families directly, and at least twice that number indirectly. Donations amounting to $17,000
106
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
have been received the past year, enabling the Society to enlarge its work as demanded by a steadily-increasing foreign population. It is to be hoped that the kindergarten methods of train- ing the minds of the little people will soon be- come a part of the Public School System of Cleve- land.
Again, during this period, our country has been called to mourn the loss of its Chief Mag- istrate, another martyr to the mistaken zeal of a political fanatic. On the 2d of July, 1881, news. came of the assassination of President James Abram Garfield, and then followed weeks of anxi- ety, full of fears and hopes, until on the evening of September 19th the message came telling that the painful struggle for life was over, and the weary one was at rest.
The entire Nation mourned his loss; but Cleve- land's grief was like that of a mother sorrowing for her idolized child. Business was suspended. Every house put out its emblems of woe, and everywhere throughout the day was heard
"The sobbing of the bells,"
"The passionate toll and clang"-of
"Those heart-beats of a Nation."
In accordance with the President's expressed desire his body was brought to Cleveland to be laid at rest in Lake View Cemetery. The recep- tion of the funeral cortege on Saturday, Septem- ber 24th, of the body lying in state on Sunday
107
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
within a catafalque erected on the Square, guarded by a detachment of the "Grays," who had so recently attended the inaugural of him, they now watched over in sadness, the grand and im- pressive services on Monday, the five-miles long procession of at least 25,000 men belonging to military and civic organizations, and the solemn service at the cemetery in the drenching rain, are well remembered by many of us.
On Memorial Day (May 30), 1890, the mem- orial mausoleum, "Erected by a grateful Country in memory of James Abram Garfield, twentieth President of the United States of America; Scholar, Soldier, Statesman, Patriot; born Nov., 1831, dec'd A. D. Sept. 19th, 1881," was dedicated with impressive ceremony. This structure stands on a high bluff of land in Lake View Cemetery, where thousands visit it annually. It is visible from various points, often far distant from the cemetery, and however the beholder may feel regarding its exterior appearance, the decora- tions within will be found to be of a high order 2 of art.
The mausoleum should be an incentive to the hundreds of students who view it daily; for to them it should be a constant reminder of these words, once uttered by the man whose memory it commemorates: "Some men, undoubtedly, have greater talents than others, but no matter how gifted a man may be, he must work for all
109
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
that he desires to accomplish; he must first gather the knowledge he wishes to impart. It doesn't grow in his brains; he must store it there himself."
On the 4th of July, 1894, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument on the Public Square was dedicated, and whether we, like the majority of our soldiers and sailors, "view it with a lover's eye," and see in it all that the very worthy archi- tect designed should be seen in this peculiar structure, whether we approve or disapprove of its style of architecture, we may fully appreciate the motive, and all that it is intended to commem- orate, and honor the noble men and women whose names are carved in marble or stone within this costly memorial.
One thousand surviving soldiers, having re- ceived honorable discharge from service, are now enrolled as members of the 8 Posts of the Grand Army of the Republic at Cleveland. At their regular meetings and annual encampments they help to perpetuate the deeds of valor of many an honored comrade whose grave is unknown, but whose memory is cherished by the survivors of those troubled times.
In 1891 The Young Men's Christian Associa- tion completed its present building on the corner of Prospect and Erie Streets, which cost about $274,000, and has an assembly room with seating capacity for 900. The society has enlarged its work by establishing branches in various sections
109
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
of the city, having now a total membership of some 3,300 men, 2,400 being members of the central institution.
While business and homes have been rapidly pushing eastward, the tide of progress has not been limited to any one direction. To the west, along the lake shore, have been erected many palatial homes, having picturesque grounds, in- to which the less-favored people are privileged to look and sometimes drive. In every direction the city reaches out for more room, and goes on improving what she already possesses.
It would be a hopeless task to undertake to notice the many changes which have taken place within the present quarter of a century. Possibly Willson Avenue presents as fine an illustration of the typical enlarging of the city and of public opinion as any one distinctive feature. During the third quarter of this century it was a quiet woods, the favorite resort of picnics. Two by two the Sunday School children were marched out from the city to enjoy the delights of country air and healthful breezes, and to play hide and seek among the big forest trees along this wooded road.
The shade and silent gloom have given place to a constant rush and whirl of busy life. The broad road is opened from the lake on the north to Broadway on the south. It is crossed and re- crossed by various lines of Steam Railroads, and
110
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
traversed its entire length by electric ones. Com- fortable homes of every grade of society border this beautiful avenue, where reside Jews and gen- tiles, the rich and the poor, the high and the lowly, the learned professor, the rich merchant, the skilled mechanic, and the common workman. The Baptists, Methodists, Hebrews and Roman Catholics have each erected elegant buildings in close proximity, the sects being kindly disposed one toward the other, and with minds so en- larged as to enable them to discern good in each and all.
Tifferith Israel Temple, cor Willson and Cen- tral Avenues, is a magnificent structure, such as any city may be proud to own. In 1895 this soci- ety removed from its old place of worship to its more elegant and costly one. A little earlier their neighbors, the Ursuline Sisterhood, re- moved from their old convent to their new abode, corner Willson and Scovill Avenues, where they occupy a light, bright and convenient edifice, al- most perfect in every detail.
On the corner of Willson Avenue and Prospect Street stands the Epworth Memorial Church, a structure that would have horrified the early brethren of this denomination, who held it little short of a sin to spend money in decorating God's house of worship. A Methodist sister, who opened the first Sunday School in this country, once apologized for her people occupying such
111
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
a fine church edifice as they worshiped in, by stat- ing that they didn't build it, only bought it as it was at a very low price.
But the Epworth Society built theirs with mal- ice aforethought, and made it wonderfully con- venient, with its walls disappearing as by magic, its theater-like seats, and various other contriv- ances for comfort, beauty, and service. In con- formity with the spirit of the age, this Society has broadened and enlarged its views, as well as its surroundings, having now one of the most con- venient and unique houses of worship in the city.
There are upwards of 190 churches within our city limits, nearly all being fine edifices. The Institutional Church is the latest innovation in religious circles, and bids fair to accomplish a great work.
It is to be regretted that in a city like this art and music, those heavenly twins, have been so sadly neglected, but within the past few years both have taken a fresh start, and today we have no reason to feel ashamed of either branches of art as carried on in our midst, only to regret that home talent is not more fully appreciated.
In 1876 The Cleveland Art Club was formed, meeting in a small room for study and work. In 1889, on the 4th of November, it was incor- porated, having then 12 members. This club aims "to foster and encourage the taste and study of the fine arts in all its branches," and to "aid,
112
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
assist, educate and instruct its members in mat- ters pertaining to a proper and correct knowledge of the fine arts." This it has done for many now well-known artists, among whom may be mentioned Herman Herkomer and his sister, Ber- tha, George C. Groll, F. W. Simmons, F. C. Gottwald, and others, who have gone forth to distant cities and countries, where as painters, illustrators and designers they are winning fame for themselves and honor for the club.
In 1882 The Cleveland School of Art was opened for the purpose of educating women in industrial art work. It was originally intended to be managed by and for women only. After various changes the school was established in the Kelly mansion on Willson Avenue in June, 1892, where, under the supervision of Miss Georgie Norton and a corps of competent teach- ers, it has come to be known as an ably conducted and very creditable art school open to both sexes, and doing really excellent work.
There are many musical societies in this city, the most of them formed of foreigners, but a few of native talent. The Choral Society is well known both at home and abroad from the ex- cellent music it has brought out at various times, and the Arion Quartet is of marked excellence. The church choirs are generally of a high stand- ard, and through the Fortnightly, which is in its third season, the people of Cleveland have been
113
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
able to hear some of the master musicians, and many concerts of a high order. The musicians are many, but for some reason the art does not flourish here as elsewhere, although the prospect brightens every year. Wilson G. Smith, J. H. Rogers, Johann Beck, and others are composers of great merit at home, while abroad we have many of our former citizens earning fame for them- selves. "Rita Elandi," Miss Amelia Louise Groll, who used to sing in the Old Stone Church, Ella Russell and Marion Manola, are well-known fav- orites on the operatic stage, and Eugene Cowles is one of the famous Bostonians.
The Dramatic Stage has received from here such favorites as Effie Ellsler, Clara Morris, Joseph Haworth, James O'Neil, and others.
The period has brought about many changes in the way of amusements and entertainments. Four theaters have been built for the nightly en- tertaining of the public, the Opera House being the popular favorite, where are to be seen every season some of the best actors and actresses of the dramatic world.
At the beginning of the present century six cit- ies in the United States had a population of over 8,000 souls, and one had reached 75,000. This was nearly two centuries after the arrival of the James- town settlers in Virginia. Cleveland has reached a population of upwards of 333,000 in 100 years, a rapidity of growth unparalled by any city of its
114
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
age east of it. There are cities west of it of even more remarkable growth, but they were founded in the interests of lake or railroad traffic, or be- cause of some urgent need, while Cleveland sprang into existence to open up a new, wild and unknown country, hence its growth is the more remarkable.
There are some 2,300 manufactories established here, and Cleveland has the name of being the headquarters of the largest shoddy mills in Amer- ica, the largest electric light carbon works, and the place where the largest telescopes are made. It has also attained the honor of making more than half the chewing gum consumed by the Ameri- can people, one firm manufacturing a ton a day. These facts have often been stated, but there is seldom any mention made of a very important branch of Cleveland's industries, that of salt-making. - There is one establishment, probably the largest private concern in the coun- try, which makes several thousand barrels of salt daily. They have 7 wells about 2,000 feet deep, from which they procure brine which is nearly 100 per cent. salt. 30 boilers are constantly at work pumping this brine into the great pans where it crystalizes. This firm manufactures most of its own barrels, some 2,500 per day, and the bags needed for the finer grades, a dozen or more sewing-girls stitching up daily about 5,000 bags apiece. There are older salt works here, but this is the largest.
115
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
Among the younger industries may be men- tioned that of the flower trade, which has devel- oped within this period, and centers about Euclid and Erie Streets, the latter thoroughfare being frequently termed Floral Row, from its numerous stores in which hot-house plants and flowers are most tastefully displayed. Floriculture has greatly developed within the past 10 or a dozen years. At the beginning of the century there was but one commercial florist in the United States, and 80 per cent. of the whole business has developed within the past quarter of a century. In 1840 there were known to be two florists in the State of Ohio, where there are now 393 of them, selling annually $1,051,058.85 worth of cut flowers. Last autumn (1895) The Cleveland Floral Association was formed, holding its first exhibit during the Chrysanthemum season.
There are many well-known florists in Cleve- land, and it is estimated that the retail trade amounts to at least $50,000 annually. The whole- sale trade supplies Ohio, most of Indiana, and various portions of several other states. About one-half the orchids sold in the city are raised here, the rest being brought from New York. Flowers do not bring the prices here that they do at the East, especially in New York City, where, during the winter, the American Beauty Roses bring as high as $25 per dozen. They range from $15 to $18 here, while pinks, those
116
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
faithful bloomers, sell from 35 cents to 75 cents per dozen.
Our citizens are becoming more and more lib- eral in their purchases of flowers, decorating their homes on all occasions, whether of joy or sorrow, and many families spend at least $100 per month during the winter season in thus bringing some of the beauty of summer into their own homes. The hot-houses are to the wealthy what the parks are to the poorer classes, much prized luxuries, furnishing beauties of Nature to rest and refresh the weary. And thanks to the generous donors, Cleveland possesses two parks of rare beauty; Gordon Park, of 122 acres beside the lake, the gift of the late W. J. Gordon, on which he had already expended upwards of half a million dol- lars, and Wade Park, of 74 acres, given by the late Jeptha H. Wade, are too well known and appreciated to require further notice. These, with other parks of lesser magnitude scattered over the city, amounting to a total of 1,100 6-10 acres, afford healthy resorts open to all classes, where the eye may be feasted on beauties of Nature.
Electric Railways, with their "Broom-stick trains," have entirely done away with horse-cars within, and for miles without, our city limits. No horse-cars have run since July, 1893, the witches having taken full possession of all the lines, where their red-hot wires and brilliant sparks are often more suggestive of Pluto's regions than of public convenience.
117
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
A rival class of witches are those of "the wheel," the bicyclists, who rush madly in where others fear to go, seemingly willing, like "Puck," to "put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes." In our grandmother's day it was con- sidered an arrant boldness for a woman to be seen driving through the streets in an open buggy. Now they go spinning along on their wheels at- tired in their pretty costumes-bloomers ex- cepted-as free and cheery as the birds them- selves.
The placid "twining-vine" of early days will- ingly accepted the views of the sterner sex with- out questioning the fallacy of them, or if she did so, she discreetly remained silent. The woman of the period has come to think, reason, and speak for herself. While endeavoring to keep abreast of the times, the women of Cleveland have or- ganized innumerable clubs, of a literary or in- structive tendency, wherein they do good and thorough work, according to their respective lines of study.
The few Men's Clubs are generally of a social or business nature. Cleveland is decidedly a City of Women's Clubs, and it is to be hoped that the day is not far distant when clubs will be at- tended by men and women, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, for it is high time this divi- sion of the sexes should cease. If men of busi- ness have not the leisure in which to carry on the
118
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
study requisite for active membership in literary clubs, extend to them a hearty welcome as listen- ers, and surely the women, wives, sisters, and friends, will be pleased to grace with their pres- ence club suppers and other social festivities if privileged to do so.
Cleveland is fast becoming a literary city, hav- ing many journalists, magazine writers and nov- elists in her midst who are well-known at home and abroad. She also publishes 112 newspap- ers, magazines and periodicals.
The century is drawing to a close. A few brief months and the memory of the past, like a golden- clasp, will be all that is left to unite the old and the new centuries. Here and there are now stand- ing evidences of a life which has been a family mansion or a quaint old store, but they, too, will soon be swept away by the ravishes of time. They will not stand for ages like those memori- als of a people, unknown to us, who constructed the 10,000 or more mounds for which Ohio is famed.
One of these stands in our midst today, between Seelye and Sawtell Avenues, a priceless relic of the past, which it is greatly to be feared will soon give place to some modern structure, unless measures are taken to preserve it. There were many mounds in the Cleveland of early days, but this is the only one left untouched, and it will be
119
ENLARGING-1871-1896.
an irreparable loss if the money value exceeds the historic value of these few feet of land.
The mound is a silent reminder of a people who trod this land long before the advent of the white settlers, a treasure bequeathed to us through gen- erations of human beings, and one it will event- ually be to our credit and renown to save for future generations to behold. Would that proper measures for its preservation might be a part of our grand Centennial Celebration!
Great as our city is in many ways, the cry is still for "Greater Cleveland," and we naturally ask what marvelous changes may be expected during the coming century? In what shall this much-talked-of greatness consist? Shall the ris- ing generation see our water-front of 7 or 8 miles built up with docks and warehouses, where ves- sels of heavy burthen shall load and unload their valuable cargoes? Shall they see our Chamber of Commerce doing all its proposed good work for the city in a building of its own of ample propor- tions and elegant architecture? Shall they see in reality the new post-office and court house which we see in our mind's eye? Shall they draw in- spiration from works of art within the magnifi- cent Art Building we have so long heard about? Shall they have furnished for them, what we so much need, a larger and more suitable Public Library Building, where may be found records and reports of every organization, society and
120
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
trade in the city, beside such valuable works as they are fast accumulating?
Shall they be enabled to study into the customs of the past by viewing the treasures within the pleasant, commodious building owned by the Western Reserve Historical Society? Shall it be vouchsafed to them to breath a pure, smoke- less atmosphere, and to see the city streets kept clean by squads of men such as are now often supported in idleness in asylums or reformatory institutions at public expense? Shall they see fewer great churches and many greater congre- gations of true worshipers? See greater charity between the sects, or better yet-no sects and creeds? See greater honesty in political, busi- ness and social life? Greater equality of sex and greater respect for what is pure and good? In other words, shall the greatness of the Greater Cleveland be numerical, moral or both?
Its history during the past has been through- out worthy, and its growth phenomenal. May the new century, so soon to begin, prove one of peace and prosperity to
"The beautiful city, the Forest-tree city,
The city upon the Lake Shore."
3078
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.