10 days in Cleveland, Ohio!

April 04, 2016

10 days in Cleveland, Ohio!

10 days in Cleveland with my daughter Cathryn and my Dad.

What a great trip! We haven't been back in over 17 years. There have been quite a few changes from the last time we were there!

The West Side Market located at 1979 West 25th Street Cleveland, Ohio 44113 is just a few blocks from my grandparent's house. I went to this market many times in my youth! It's now open on Sundays starting today!! Here's a pic and a little history from the website:

My dad, moi and Cathryn at West Side Market 1979 West 25th St in Cleveland

"Since opening to shoppers on November 2, 1912, the West Side Market - Cleveland’s oldest continuously operating municipally owned market, has anchored the historic Ohio City neighborhood. Built to replace the Pearl Street Market, located on the opposite corner since 1840, it was one of three public markets in Cleveland that included the Broadway Market and the Central Market. All three served Cleveland’s growing immigrant population in the early 20th century. Only the West Side Market remains.

Championed by Mayor Tom L. Johnson and designed by renowned local architects W. Dominick Benes and Benjamin Hubbell, the grand 241′ x 124′ structure has 44-foot high Guastavino tile vaulted ceiling, and a clock tower, which stands 137′ tall. The tower was historically fashioned with a clock designed and manufactured by the Seth Thomas Clock Company. Construction commenced in 1908, the cornerstone was laid in 1910, and on October 31, 1912, Mayor Newton D. Baker hosted the Market’s dedication ceremony. The total construction cost was $734,890.72. Originally, there were 109 stands inside selling meats, dairy products, bread, groceries and ethnic specialty foods. Produce was sold from curb stands until the outdoor produce aisles were erected a few years later.

In 2008, the West Side Market was designated as one of “10 Great Public Places in America,” by the American Planning Association and continues to offer an authentic and culturally diverse shopping experience. The West Side Market celebrated its Centennial in 2012.

In honor of the Centennial year, historic images from the Market’s past have been installed above the vendor stands in the Market house. Images from these banners have been provided by the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State and The Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio."

My grandparents house off of West 25th was where I spent many holidays, summer vacations and good times with my family; especially my cousins, aunts and uncles. I couldn't wait to get there. My grandma and grandpa would be crying and waiting on the porch when we arrived and crying and waving goodbye on that porch when we left. Wonderful memories of that house, the basement, the garden in the back yard and the neighbors. Here's a couple of pics of Cathryn and I in front of the house:

My grandparents house in Cleveland

My cousins Roseann and Michael took us all over town! From downtown to Lake Erie and Wickliffe to Lake View.

Downtown we stopped at Old Stone Church in the soon to be finished renovated Public Square. It's a historic Presbyterian church and is the oldest building on Public Square. It is also the second church built within the city limits. It's a Cleveland Historical Landmark as well and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

The Old Stone Church has stood virtually unchanged to this day, and is the last remaining church designed by the Heard and Porter architectural firm. The only major modification was the 1998 addition of a steeple that replicated the original, part of a $2.4 million renovation project, which also included cleaning the Berea sandstone (which had turned black from air pollution) and conservation of the La Farge window.