Legacy to the Rescue
The 1920s were an instrumental period in
American history, and this coincided with
unparalleled growth in Shaker Heights.
In 1920, the Village of Shaker Heights had a
population of just over 1,600 residents. Aside
from a few farmhouses, there was nothing east of
Warrensville Center Road and only a few dozen
houses east of Lee Road. By 1930, the “village”
had grown to nearly 18,000 residents – a 1,000
percent growth rate in just 10 years.
Today many of the homes built during that
period of extraordinary growth are about to
celebrate a 100-year anniversary. While some
communities might see aging houses as a liability, in Shaker
Heights it is one of our greatest assets. As Thomas Jorgensen,
the chief operating officer of the Cleveland Restoration Society
(CRS) explains, “What ties everything together is city planning
and architectural guidelines,” providing a legacy that will
continue to make Shaker Heights a community of choice for
future generations.
This legacy extends to the quality of materials and
workmanship in the houses built during this era. It is not an
exaggeration to say that many Shaker Heights homes could
not be replicated today and play an important part in the
character of the community.
While many homes have been well maintained and will
easily keep their owners warm, safe, and dry for another
century, not all are so lucky. Small lapses in maintenance, like
exterior paint and caulk every few years, can eventually lead
to significant issues.
The bigger issue for both the homes (and neighbors) is
outright neglect. Or worse. The Colston home saw a period of
piecemeal deconstruction when the owner started
selling fixtures and the radiators directly out of
the house. The resulting lack of heat led to water
damage, mold, and decaying plaster that could
have resulted in demolition.
Without the legacy of planning, historic
preservation, architectural guidelines, and
quality materials and workmanship, the Colston
House would be a vacant lot today. Fortunately,
over the past several years there have been
successful examples of similarly neglected
homes being restored. Several, including one on
Parkland and another on South Woodland, went
on to win numerous accolades, including the
City’s Preservation Award and the annual AIA
Cleveland/Cleveland Restoration Society Historic
Preservation award.
36 SPRING 2018 | WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
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