Distinguished Homes of Shaker Heights, Ohio

by lakeerieartists

Shaker Heights, Ohio is celebrating its centennial this year, and the city has a lot of interesting history and architecture to show for it.

Shaker Heights, an eastern suburb of Cleveland, Ohio is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year (2012) with year long celebrations, commemorations, and events. The city has a long history which includes the interesting foundation of Shaker Heights, built by the Van Sweringen brothers, Oris Paxton and Mantis James. It was their vision of a community that formed what Shaker Heights is today, an affluent suburb that is a hub for Cleveland's eastern rapid transit system.

Shaker Heights is a beautiful suburb with huge leafy trees, the Shaker Lakes system, and plenty of spaces for walking, and strolling through the woods. And much of the beauty is due to the large homes, and landscaping around them.

Distinguished Homes of Shaker Heights Book

Distinguished Homes of Shaker Heights, Ohio
Distinguished Homes of Shaker Heights...

Shaker Heights Homes--100 Years of Local History

While the Van Sweringens created a encompassing vision for Shaker Heights, including the rapid transit system, Shaker Square (the second oldest shopping center in the United States), and the garden community concept, it is the architecture of the large homes that Shaker Heights is especially known for.

Many of the homes in Shaker Heights are almost as old as the community itself, and they are unique in architecture, most having been built in the Tudor Jacobethan, Colonial, or Georgian Revival styles, each one sitting on a large plot of land that is landscaped to show off the home to its best advantage.  Many of the homes have turrets, stained or leaded glass windows, wooden beams throughout, or solid wood paneling covering the interior walls.  Since homes were often heated by fireplaces, large fireplaces are in every communal room in homes with ornate carved fireplace mantels. 

Portfolio of the Distinguished Shaker Heights Homes

If you want to learn the history, and see pictures of the distinguished home of Shaker Heights, the best way is to pick up the book, Distinguished Homes of Shaker Heights by Richard N. Campen.  Originally published in 1992, the book has just been reprinted for the 3rd time, and is filled with interior and exterior photographs taken by Campen, showing off the distinctive architecture and design of these lovely homes.

The home on the cover of the book, shown above, is the home that the Van Sweringen brothers built for themselves.  I pass this house every day when I come to work, and I can tell you that the photograph does not do it justice. It is a castle of a home.

Distinguished Homes of Shaker Heights is divided by architect, so that you can learn about each architect's vision for the homes they designed.

Shaker Heights on the Map

Updated: 03/10/2012, lakeerieartists
 
Thank you! Would you like to post a comment now?
6

Comments

Only logged-in users are allowed to comment. Login
lakeerieartists on 03/10/2012

@Mladen These homes are beautiful and the area that they are in is also quite beautiful with small lakes, lots of old trees, and character. :)

Mladen on 03/10/2012

Old homes are perfect places for living. I would like if I had chance and MONEY to buy something like this. These houses simply have souls, history, a story to tell!

lakeerieartists on 01/29/2012

Brenda, they do a home and garden tour every year, and I have gotten to see the inside of some of them. Simply gorgeous. Makes my mouth water every time. If only. :)

BrendaReeves on 01/29/2012

I love old homes. I wish I could tour them.

You might also like

Offbeat Cleveland

by Judith Glynn. Visitors to Ohio's city on Lake Eire get a whimsical slice o...

Travel Cleveland Ohio

Whether you are visiting friends and family in Cleveland, Ohio or are just co...


Disclosure: This page generates income for authors based on affiliate relationships with our partners, including Amazon, Google and others.
Loading ...
Error!