Mark Twain called Euclid Avenue, aka Millionaires' Row, "The grandest, most beautiful street in all the world." Twain lived with the Severance family on Euclid for awhile.
Why are so many beautiful items from the Victorian era being destroyed and she responded accordingly. To quote my great grandmother age 99..."The youth have no wisdom".
I guess it's our American perspective of new and better. My Italian sister in law tells me 800 year old buildings are considered new in Italy, that it's comical to Europeans that we think a hundred year old building is old.... I also think, with our lack then, of architectural perspective, we are challenged to see things in a more contemplative way, or perhaps our lack of contemplation causes us to destroy old beauty.🌹
Government employees and elected public servants that have no vision, ideas , creativity, passion, work ethic, care for history or traditions. But these same dumb shlt public servants will travel to Europe to see the grand old buildings and architecture.
I agree. My Dad was from Cleveland, and I remember visiting as a child to see my grandfather and aunt there. Later as an adult, I moved there for 3 years around 2007 for work. My first year I tried living downtown and was miserable, it was the most ugly run down city I'd ever lived in, and I grew up around the world as a military brat. The second year I moved to Tremont which was emerging and felt at home. Loved the people and friends I made in Cleveland, but hated the city. As an outsider, I could see where everything went wrong over the years, and quickly realized if I lived there full time I'd be on the west side :)
So sad how all around the county, a lot of these beautiful homes were torn down. I suppose developers can make more money turning the lots into row houses, officer buildings, shopping centers, etc.
Were they supposed to keep them there forever so you and your Asian buddies could take selfies in front of them? Obviously, the financial landscape of Cleveland took precedent over upkeeping these old ass mansions. Money talks and bullshit walks.
I love these videos! I consider myself well versed in Cleveland history, but after listening to your stories, I realize there’s so much I don’t know about our beautiful city! I hope you keep the videos coming!
Never knew these mansions ever existed until viewing this clip. Shame, if they were still around, this could be one more jewel in the crown which is this wonderful city, that sadly, the rest of the world does not see that way.
My father speaks of walking past those mansions when he was a little boy. He even has that illustration of all the mansions shown in this video on his wall.
if Euclid Avenue was such a beautiful street 100 years ago, just think how much more beautiful it must today. I can't wait to take a trip there and appreciate its splendor.
Gregory, for the minor fee of $5000 I can give you a tour of splendiferous Euclid Avenue! The tour is fabulous! Best part is, when you show up I frisk you.......if you don't have a gun I give you one for the tour!
What amazing architecture. First time on this site. I read about 50 comments before posting this. Amazing that only a few put their thinking caps on. Folks, not one of these were built when they said! Ok I’m crazy right? All you have to do is look up census reports of 1860-1920 thereabouts. There were only 25,000 people in Cincinnati in late 1800’s. A few comments were wondering how they could build such gorgeous buildings in a few years. They didn’t! They were discovered after some catastrophic event It’s called Mudflood. Think about it, with horse and buggy, hardly any railways yet...but we’re supposed to believe all the marble, granite, bricks, glass, lumber, cement, etc. was around for each one of these to be built...all around the same time. Plus you would need all the talented tradesmen for each. Anyway, food for thought.
They would never tear down Historical buildings or mansions in Chicago or the entire State. The Water Tower Still stands today from the Great Chicago Fire.
Fine beautiful homes I am sure, but they offered nothing to the betterment of Cleveland, If you go up further on Euclid Avenue now you run into the new Millionaires Row called the Cleveland Clinic....hospitals and medical centers that reminds me of casinos in Las Vegas.
That's unfortunately the case in most US cities. The rich built homes close to downtown. As cities got more crowded and cars became common, the rich moved further out. It was all about the burbs and downtown, the old residential neighborhoods crumbled for the most part.
@@kyle857 Rich pockets needed to preserve these architectural delights! So many millions and billions go to waste on cheap, boring, uncreative and void of character "buildings". These are/were works of art. Thank you so much! I'm grateful my Daddy took me as a kid, to what was left of the area and told me about it. He was from PA, but met my Mom and settled down here.
The U.S. has such a short history compared to most nations. Tearing down mansions, statues, etc is just so sad. There is hardly a nation on earth without a problematic history. Trying to erase that history erases the lessons that should be learned.
I’m from Columbus, Ohio. I’ve had a deep love of Greenlawn Cemetery since my 7th grade advanced English teacher took our class there for a field trip. Although much of it is preserved, it has constantly been the victim of vandalism. Destroying stained glass, mausoleums, grave markers that were all beautiful, historic and irreplaceable. I can’t wrap my head around the wanton destruction of not only history, but our communities. These beautiful mansions shouldn’t have been torn down, historic statues should not be torn down. No one should have to protect a cemetery from vandals. Sad state we’re in. Whatever was, well it was. Trying to erase what was is nonsensical.
These mansions were torn down because the owners left them and there aren't many people who are rich enough to live in mansions like these. As far as statutes, no one will forget all the horrible things the confederacy upheld. We don't need those to continue teaching our roots in slavery. Good riddance to the statues I say. Though it is sad to see these gems replaced by commercial buildings.
My old neighbor died 30 yrs. ago and she said when she was a child her family would drive down there to stroll that street on nice evenings and Rockefeller would be outside and welcome people to his home. She said she would sit on his lap and he always gave the children dimes to open a savings account. I never did understand why no other wealthy people in the city did not come together and form a heritage organization to save these buildings as other major cities have done. What a shame!
Well I’m sure the Great Depression had a major part in that. Most people weren’t doing well. My mom grew up dirt poor. Her childhood friends family lived in a car. Bad times
@@bluelunadogTaxes skyrocketed and they were surrounded by downtown commercialism and pollution from the factories they created. By the end of the 1800's it was already in decline and most mansions were demolished by 1923 - before the Great Depression and the millionaires moved east of the city to Wade Park, Cleveland Hts. and Shaker Hts. according to historical records. A foundation would have been able to save them but no one took any interest in the matter.
It’s now in a very bad area. It’s scary to walk through Rockefeller park during the daytime. Garbage & Litter is EVERYWHERE. I was just in this area 2-3 weeks ago. First thing I noticed was the litter everywhere
My aunt live in East Cleveland big beautiful house been in it for 23 yrs now and this house was in good shape when she brought it. Still have steam heat and the metropolitan lights on the walls which have a turning knob to turn the lights on in all the rooms except for the dinning room and living room those are just the flick on switch lights that most homes have nowadays. And still have the skeleton keys to the bedroom doors and the 2nd entrance door. And my aunt didn't touch the the wallpaper on the walls they don't even make wallpaper like this anymore its very sturdy and strong and all dark wood in the house as well and we have the old security door in the kitchen that the pervious lady had put up in the 50s. The lady that lived in this home her family built it in 1908 and everyone think its a mini mansion but its not it have 4 big spacious bedrooms.
@@standamangaming1353 two of them are on the main campus of the Cleveland clinic. One Mather Hall at Cleveland State University. And the fourth one is a Children's Museum.
Luckily we have two (full) streets of mansions from the 1800's all in pristine condition in Michigan. If you want to live here, the mansions have to be restored to its original state; you are not to change the facade of the building and proper yearly maintenance.
Cleveland is a shithole now.. I was born in 80.. went downtown with my dad alot growin up.. He had alot of "meetings"🤨 down there and we'd be in flats area and go to the powerhouse and hit power play hooters etc.. They keep tryin to polish the turd.... i dont see it. Plus gotta watch where ya go or your on an episode of 48 hours.. wish i could go back and see downtown wayy back in the day. Oh well nothin gold shall stay.
The best and most historic part of Euclid Avenue is the entrance to Lakeview Cemetery, where all these people now reside. I never get bored of that place.
@Ricky World if only we could hear of the torture that is going on inside the graves of the deceased. Try looking up the punishments of the graves. It changed my entire mindset about cemeteries
I didn't like cemeteries until I went through Lakeview. It's truly a beautiful, peaceful, classroom of a sort. There's an abundance of history that alot of individuals that will never hear about. My father (Navy Veteran) is buried there along with his younger brother. Thank you for this history lesson.
This is a wonderful tribute. Thank you for being so kind in your rendition of the undoing of history. Few would ever have known how beautiful this street was before it was abandoned.
Thank you very much for sharing this information! I moved CLE from Shanghai three years ago. I love this city! People are friendly here, the city is full of legends. Though the winter is longer, we can still have some snow fun! Let’s make Cleveland great again!
It’s great to here people from China to so love our country. I moved from HK to the the states in my childhood and I must say the states is where my heart is. Take care and be blessed!
I spent a lot of time in Mather mansion during an art class that I took at CSU. We were in the basement which was a large area that had a humongous bar in it, where you can imagine high class formal balls taking place 100 years ago.
What kills me about these old magnificent avenues is that WHY did they have to turn it into commercial? Why couldn't a commercial avenue be started somewhere else? It happened in every town and city in America. So sad. Especially one as Grand as this was.
Those houses were substantial never to be built today. Imagine how thick those walls were and the stone that was used to build them. a lost treasure. Property taxes has taken the freedom and rights to property away from the creative people who built those homes. Historical preservation has rights must be respected.
Without property tax capitalism will always end with one guy owning everything. Kind of like Monopoly the board game. Wealth once upon a time created would last in perpetuity without tax.
@@CommieCat individuals already own everything who do you think collect the taxes it is not the government it is individuals that collect people's taxes
We moved here to Cleveland in 1978 and I started taking the bus down Euclid Avenue regularly in the early 90s. There were so many dead, empty buildings lining the street then. I moved to Cincinnati for a few years and came back recently only to find the old buildings gone and a whole bunch of glitzy, expensive-looking new construction. You never know what's going to happen.
The four Millionaire’s Row mansions that ARE still standing to this day, and for some reason weren’t mentioned, are; Mather, Stager Beckwith, The Drury, and the HW White mansion. - all still on Euclid Ave.
@@margaretgonzalez8565 Most likely the families couldn't afford the upkeep and land development companies buys them up and makes a bunch of little houses in it's place. It's not easy keeping everything going on these old homes. My sister had a huge brick home with 14ft walls 5 fireplaces 9 bedrooms 6 bathrooms and the upkeep was too much for her. She raised her family there but as the kids grew up it was just too much space. It was an awesome house but cost so much to heat and cool down.
I was born in 1953, and my father owned a roofing company on E. 55th, near Carnegie Ave. I don't know if any of those grand mansions were still standing back then. But I have vague and fleeting memories of many old mansions we'd pass as we drove down to his small factory building, on Saturdays, to visit him. I do recall many smaller mansions, that were already in major decline, in the late 1950s. They had been turned into slum rooming houses, chopped up into small suites. I moved away from Cleveland in 1977. But as a youth, I took art classes on Saturdays at both the Art Museum and later at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Thanks to the Internet I have been amassing great historic photos, of the many iconic buildings that used to be standing, and of the ones, still standing. I throughly enjoyed your video.
It's a shame, that whole stretch of former mansions on Euclid from downtown to University Circle ended up a no-man's land of deserted factories and struggling neighborhoods, one of the most blighted areas of Cleveland by the early 2000's. The former east side blue-blood areas of Cleveland and Shaker Heights beyond University Circle avoided the lake, which in any other city would have been prime real estate (look at Chicago up to Evanston.) The new money from 1980 on went to the lakefront neighborhoods of the west side. To this day, the east side, beautiful as it is, feels like the Miss Havisham of Cleveland, with a sadness and stifling heaviness. That east/west cultural and financial divide is something the city has never been able to get past and left the downtown development areas battered after the various recessions.
@@bleacherz7503 Totally agree. Friends of mine there say when Cleveland was being developed the lake was a mess, combo of cesspool and transportation hub so everything and everyone stayed away from it. Shows you how far back that mentality goes. In defense of those old industrial cities, St. Louis was the same...thus the ring of wealthy old neighborhoods moving away from the riverfront. As the Industrial revolution kept going, the rich would move further and further away from the smells and noises. I suspect the same happened in the Cleveland and Shaker Heights neighborhoods, since they are older. Interesting also that the old waterfront Flats renovation even crashed and by 2007 everyone moved up to the warehouse district.
It’s like when was this place ever thriving? Spending time in Sandusky Oh I seen it over and over. Big homes empty in bad neighborhoods with giant brick factories completely empty and without use. It’s hard to imagine a time when that city was doing so well. Where did everyone go? Why the abandonment?
@@donaldbrown55 when crack touched down in the 80s this neighborhood along with others started to decline. I wasnt alive during the 'mansion' era but i hear the construction of the interstate required demolition of the homes.
Wow, I lived in Westlake, right on the border with Bay Village, and worked for Castle Glass in Warrensville Heights. During all that time, I never heard of Euclid once being such a grand avenue. I thought Shaker Heights was always where millionaires had their mansions, I worked in the humongous house In Shaker Heights that Bob Hope once called home....I moved in '02, and miss Cleveland, but I met some of the hardest workin, Pittsburgh Squeeler hatin, down to earth people from towns like Medina and Chagrin Falls, to little neighborhoods like the Tremont area and East Cleveland....enjoyed the vid, I subscribed 🇺🇸✌🏻
Wish background music wasn’t so loud, at times overtaking the voice of the narrator. Otherwise very informative piece of American history not found in textbooks.
I remember reading somewhere, the reason they started moving off Euclid Avenue was because they were unhappy that the street car rails being built would come through their neighborhood. I could be wrong though.
So imo,there is no doubt something off with these old STUNNING mansions,why would they all have to be torn down and its like this all over the U.S. with these very old mansions,who imo were not built for these people,they were already there,cuz for starters u are not building ANYTHING like that with NO electricity,these homes would be damn hard to reproduce today,in fact they couldnt be,just because of the creative styles,only if they were literally duplicated could they be built!!I believe something happened in the early to mid 1800s in the U.S.,dk what??but there is just no way these places could've been built then,at least with the narritive given to us about electricity and Tech being what they say it was in the 1800s, we are talkin horse and buggy days,C'MON man??but none the less ABSOLUTELY breathtaking homes!!
What is the point of spending millions to build a mansion when in the next century the mansion is only going to be torn down. No respect for the culture, the history, all the historical figures who visited, and those owners who resided in these beautiful buildings. In 15 years, I have restored a mansion which was built in 1825 for the first mayor of the city, and I have no regrets ... none. A legacy for those in the future, as many pass and gaze at the splendor of this mansion and a true asset to the community.
These owners could care less about anyone but themselves. So living in these homes then tearing them down later is like us throwing trash away. That was their home and when they left so did it.
Four of these mansions still stand today. One of them is the Cleveland Children's Museum and the third floor ballroom now houses large kids play structures but you can still see the crown molding and chandelier in this expansive grand room. Quite amazing. It's currently closed because of COVID but I hope it isn't permanent like many other lately.
It's fascinating to see the history of Cleveland the way It truly was , I find myself trying to recognize landmarks that I may have encounterd along the way I hear wade park ave was another millionaire row 👍👍👍 Please show more of these
Well that sucks. Why can't the old spirit of our country's development be preserved. Build those confounded commercial monstrosities elsewhere. I for one would have created QUITE the outburst.
I used to walk along the beach and see these mansions from the rear. Some of this same kind of architecture made it's way to the suburb of Shaker Heights. Large houses but they were made of wood generally, not brick. For almost every house you had to add, "and it was torn down." Why? I hope in the future we realize that once you tear something down you can never replace it. They could have made that whole street into a "living museum" where the residents did the things they used to do in the olden days.
I wish there were pictures of the interiors of these beautiful mansions. What a shame and a waste. But I think about some of the homes of today’s elite, what they spend on them and it just seems a waste to me, because sooner or later they’ll end up the same way most likely.
I noticed that all of these homes were built of stone. It's ironic that in 1910 a 30,000 sq ft stone mansion was $3million and in 2021 you can get a 2200 sq ft scrape off home in San Francisco for $3million.
USED to be beautiful. Now downtown Cleveland and Euclid avenue look like slumville in many ways. I hate downtown Cleveland. I hate all the huge ugly buildings. What was once beautiful is not beautiful anymore. GREED is the cause of the ugliness.
It’s astounding to me people could watch a video like this and not just be left wanting real answers to the holes in the narrative. I also love how weathered they all look in the photos where they are supposedly new. This same video could also be made about my city of Detroit. Hundreds of grand mansions and gilded age buildings torn down by the parasites who’s job is to destroy the old world of these ancient advanced cities.
You know why we mooncalf about Yurrip and the UK? Because there are 400 year old buildings with 5 year old paint on them. They don't tear down their history every 10 years and replace it with strip malls with check-cashing joints and nail salons.
Let’s talk about all the black people who built these homes like my grandfather was one he has always talked about this but how in history he and many other blacks have been left out of history of these homes
@Ricky World The neighborhood was improved by diversity and inclusion! And if you are a Clevelander I have a question for you on a related topic.........When can we stop calling slavic village, slavic village? It hasn't been slavic in two decades it's very dangerous false advertising.
@Ricky World I know what happened and so do most people who have common sense. But if I or u say what happened. Utube will take the comment down for being a racist. Which I’m not just speaking the truth. But today u can’t tell the truth.
I will never understand why we Americans are so quick to tear down beautiful buildings. Very sad.
Because those with financial fortitude don’t care about the same things as those that live on free services.
@@kevinblank5585 I thought it was because they didn't like the wallpaper.
to lie and cover our true history
Why are so many beautiful items from the Victorian era being destroyed and she responded accordingly. To quote my great grandmother age 99..."The youth have no wisdom".
I guess it's our American perspective of new and better. My Italian sister in law tells me 800 year old buildings are considered new in Italy, that it's comical to Europeans that we think a hundred year old building is old.... I also think, with our lack then, of architectural perspective, we are challenged to see things in a more contemplative way, or perhaps our lack of contemplation causes us to destroy old beauty.🌹
As a Clevelander, it’s always bummed me out that they tore this down. 😭
Government employees and elected public servants that have no vision, ideas , creativity, passion, work ethic, care for history or traditions. But these same dumb shlt public servants will travel to Europe to see the grand old buildings and architecture.
Same! #216
I agree. My Dad was from Cleveland, and I remember visiting as a child to see my grandfather and aunt there. Later as an adult, I moved there for 3 years around 2007 for work. My first year I tried living downtown and was miserable, it was the most ugly run down city I'd ever lived in, and I grew up around the world as a military brat. The second year I moved to Tremont which was emerging and felt at home. Loved the people and friends I made in Cleveland, but hated the city. As an outsider, I could see where everything went wrong over the years, and quickly realized if I lived there full time I'd be on the west side :)
I live in Cleveland and never heard of this lol
Times have changed
They don't build them like this anymore. So it's bonkers that they tore down these historic mansions like they were temporary movie sets for the 1%.
So sad how all around the county, a lot of these beautiful homes were torn down. I suppose developers can make more money turning the lots into row houses, officer buildings, shopping centers, etc.
Were they supposed to keep them there forever so you and your Asian buddies could take selfies in front of them? Obviously, the financial landscape of Cleveland took precedent over upkeeping these old ass mansions. Money talks and bullshit walks.
@@blackdonte24 Like it or not those homes were a part of our history.
@@LittleTut yea ugly shopping centers
@@blackdonte24 u be racist
When I was homeless I actually slept in the back of the church on 22nd. Thank God I'm no longer homeless!
God Bless you jerry.
@@garybrown6819 thank you! God bless you and your family as well.
I thank God for that too, and pray you never will be again.
Amen brother glad your doing better 🙏
That's a cold city to be outdoors in
Thank you for preserving some nostalgic history!😍
Now look what we have to show for our modern progressive Cleveland society!
@I'm Learnding good point
I love these videos! I consider myself well versed in Cleveland history, but after listening to your stories, I realize there’s so much I don’t know about our beautiful city! I hope you keep the videos coming!
This is great! As a 50 year Clevelander it was really interesting! Keep it up!
Never knew these mansions ever existed until viewing this clip. Shame, if they were still around, this could be one more jewel in the crown which is this wonderful city, that sadly, the rest of the world does not see that way.
Just thrillingly fantastic! Thank you🏚️
My father speaks of walking past those mansions when he was a little boy. He even has that illustration of all the mansions shown in this video on his wall.
Yes on slides I love thise
I would like to drive over there to check these beautiful places out.
I’m from Cleveland and went to college at Cleveland State, where the admin building is the former Mather Mansion! Thanks for this history!
if Euclid Avenue was such a beautiful street 100 years ago, just think how much more beautiful it must today. I can't wait to take a trip there and appreciate its splendor.
Those mansions are gone. They were taken out by highway I-90.
@@gerryhoops2643 I was being sarcastic.
I see what you did there🙄🙄🙄
Gregory, for the minor fee of $5000 I can give you a tour of splendiferous Euclid Avenue! The tour is fabulous! Best part is, when you show up I frisk you.......if you don't have a gun I give you one for the tour!
It's definitely a sight to behold 😂
Wow. I would love to see those mansions on Euclid today, instead of all the buildings. This is a wonderful history lesson.
man those must have been some times...its ashame nobody will ever be able to revist any of these people, places or times.
I actually was at that last party and I also started that final toast, TK Kirkland......
And i left an 'upper decker' in the master bathroom that night!
Room of solid black ivory. Incredible
Wow I’m happy and sad at the same time
Love the video and material! The audio could use some limiting and compression though. Cheers
What amazing architecture. First time on this site. I read about 50 comments before posting this. Amazing that only a few put their thinking caps on. Folks, not one of these were built when they said! Ok I’m crazy right? All you have to do is look up census reports of 1860-1920 thereabouts. There were only 25,000 people in Cincinnati in late 1800’s.
A few comments were wondering how they could build such gorgeous buildings in a few years. They didn’t! They were discovered after some catastrophic event It’s called Mudflood. Think about it, with horse and buggy, hardly any railways yet...but we’re supposed to believe all the marble, granite, bricks, glass, lumber, cement, etc. was around for each one of these to be built...all around the same time. Plus you would need all the talented tradesmen for each. Anyway, food for thought.
They would never tear down Historical buildings or mansions in Chicago or the entire State. The Water Tower Still stands today from the Great Chicago Fire.
I grew up at the Hall-Sullivan place before it was closed 1999 or 1998.
Thankyou
Quite a few of these mansions are still intact in East Cleveland for your information. If you want to talk history get it correct. Speak the truth.
Back in those days you knew how rich they were by the amount of smoke stacks for a house. Three fire places in one house 💲💲💲💲💲💲up the ying yang.
NEWER... MORE MODERN... MUST HAVE NEWER!!!!!
Fine beautiful homes I am sure, but they offered nothing to the betterment of Cleveland, If you go up further on Euclid Avenue now you run into the new Millionaires Row called the Cleveland Clinic....hospitals and medical centers that reminds me of casinos in Las Vegas.
What year did they tear this all down?
So much of America’s history has been lost and forgotten in the name of progress what a evil Country we live in now
Why were they torn down??
Isn't Mather Mansion still around as a building owned by Cleveland State University?
That's unfortunately the case in most US cities. The rich built homes close to downtown. As cities got more crowded and cars became common, the rich moved further out. It was all about the burbs and downtown, the old residential neighborhoods crumbled for the most part.
No pics of construction???🤫👁👌
A few of the homes should have been preserved for historic reasons.. Big mistake!
4 of them were. One is on Cleveland state university’s campus, one is a museum, and 2 are on the Cleveland clinic campus
That costs a lot of money.
@@kyle857 Rich pockets needed to preserve these architectural delights! So many millions and billions go to waste on cheap, boring, uncreative and void of character "buildings". These are/were works of art. Thank you so much! I'm grateful my Daddy took me as a kid, to what was left of the area and told me about it. He was from PA, but met my Mom and settled down here.
Should’ve become a historic district and everything else built around it....
Something
now its all mostly gone ..Cleveland state university all over..
@@markbeazley6432 that’s terrible…
The U.S. has such a short history compared to most nations. Tearing down mansions, statues, etc is just so sad. There is hardly a nation on earth without a problematic history. Trying to erase that history erases the lessons that should be learned.
I’m from Columbus, Ohio. I’ve had a deep love of Greenlawn Cemetery since my 7th grade advanced English teacher took our class there for a field trip. Although much of it is preserved, it has constantly been the victim of vandalism. Destroying stained glass, mausoleums, grave markers that were all beautiful, historic and irreplaceable. I can’t wrap my head around the wanton destruction of not only history, but our communities.
These beautiful mansions shouldn’t have been torn down, historic statues should not be torn down. No one should have to protect a cemetery from vandals. Sad state we’re in. Whatever was, well it was. Trying to erase what was is nonsensical.
Very sad indeed is the destruction to our cities; our history. Without it, many are choosing to repeat it. So sad.
They are destroying it so they can repeat it.
The problem is the amount of money that it would cost to keep up any of these homes, You can learn all the history you want to learn in books. .
These mansions were torn down because the owners left them and there aren't many people who are rich enough to live in mansions like these. As far as statutes, no one will forget all the horrible things the confederacy upheld. We don't need those to continue teaching our roots in slavery. Good riddance to the statues I say. Though it is sad to see these gems replaced by commercial buildings.
This is so sad. They weren’t even around very long.
My old neighbor died 30 yrs. ago and she said when she was a child her family would drive down there to stroll that street on nice evenings and Rockefeller would be outside and welcome people to his home. She said she would sit on his lap and he always gave the children dimes to open a savings account.
I never did understand why no other wealthy people in the city did not come together and form a heritage organization to save these buildings as other major cities have done. What a shame!
Well I’m sure the Great Depression had a major part in that. Most people weren’t doing well. My mom grew up dirt poor. Her childhood friends family lived in a car. Bad times
@@bluelunadogTaxes skyrocketed and they were surrounded by downtown commercialism and pollution from the factories they created. By the end of the 1800's it was already in decline and most mansions were demolished by 1923 - before the Great Depression and the millionaires moved east of the city to Wade Park, Cleveland Hts. and Shaker Hts. according to historical records. A foundation would have been able to save them but no one took any interest in the matter.
A lot of wealthy people these days live in suburbs in their McMansions. They don’t care about beautiful architecture or history. Sad but true!
It’s now in a very bad area. It’s scary to walk through Rockefeller park during the daytime. Garbage & Litter is EVERYWHERE. I was just in this area 2-3 weeks ago. First thing I noticed was the litter everywhere
gave the children dimes while he extorted millions...how touching
It's a shame some of these mansions couldn't be saved. Euclid Ave. looks a lot different now
It’s too bad they looked like masterpieces.
Once the grand mansion is gone, no going back. Now your history is in photos. Very sad.
My aunt live in East Cleveland big beautiful house been in it for 23 yrs now and this house was in good shape when she brought it. Still have steam heat and the metropolitan lights on the walls which have a turning knob to turn the lights on in all the rooms except for the dinning room and living room those are just the flick on switch lights that most homes have nowadays. And still have the skeleton keys to the bedroom doors and the 2nd entrance door. And my aunt didn't touch the the wallpaper on the walls they don't even make wallpaper like this anymore its very sturdy and strong and all dark wood in the house as well and we have the old security door in the kitchen that the pervious lady had put up in the 50s. The lady that lived in this home her family built it in 1908 and everyone think its a mini mansion but its not it have 4 big spacious bedrooms.
“All things will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”
- Jesus
Too bad we only have the four mansions left. Some of them could have been boutique hotels,retail spaces and even museums,like the Dunham Tavern.
Where's the four?
@@standamangaming1353 two of them are on the main campus of the Cleveland clinic. One Mather Hall at Cleveland State University. And the fourth one is a Children's Museum.
@@msangthrope5396 thanks, I'll be checking them out this weekend
Luckily we have two (full) streets of mansions from the 1800's all in pristine condition in Michigan. If you want to live here, the mansions have to be restored to its original state; you are not to change the facade of the building and proper yearly maintenance.
It might be 3 soon...the Allen-Sullivan house was sold and will likely be torn down soon.
I love videos like this, thank you. The history is so interesting.
Crazy that it Euclid Ave looked so beautiful. Now it looks like crap 😔. Lived in Cleveland my entire 40 years of life.
Cleveland is a shithole now.. I was born in 80.. went downtown with my dad alot growin up.. He had alot of "meetings"🤨 down there and we'd be in flats area and go to the powerhouse and hit power play hooters etc.. They keep tryin to polish the turd.... i dont see it. Plus gotta watch where ya go or your on an episode of 48 hours.. wish i could go back and see downtown wayy back in the day. Oh well nothin gold shall stay.
You should try living elsewhere. It's a big world out here pal.
@@blackdonte24 oh for sure. 👍
@@blackdonte24 Ya.. wanna move to the coast. Once all this corona shit fkn goes away if it ever does..
@@johnnymichaelangelo9264 I watched major league and it looks so weird without the Key tower
The best and most historic part of Euclid Avenue is the entrance to Lakeview Cemetery, where all these people now reside. I never get bored of that place.
It’s so beautiful!
Thanks for the wake up call Tiffany .
@Ricky World if only we could hear of the torture that is going on inside the graves of the deceased. Try looking up the punishments of the graves. It changed my entire mindset about cemeteries
JDR is buried there. So is my Uncle Earle. 😀.
I didn't like cemeteries until I went through Lakeview. It's truly a beautiful, peaceful, classroom of a sort. There's an abundance of history that alot of individuals that will never hear about. My father (Navy Veteran) is buried there along with his younger brother. Thank you for this history lesson.
Some of them should have been still here, fantastic American history
This is a wonderful tribute. Thank you for being so kind in your rendition of the undoing of history. Few would ever have known how beautiful this street was before it was abandoned.
Growing up in Cleveland, studying at Cleveland Institute of Art and always loved the homes along University Circle, Cleveland Htgs and Shaker Htgs!!
Hgts.
I live in Shaker Heights
I grew up in Shaker Heights
Thank you very much for sharing this information! I moved CLE from Shanghai three years ago. I love this city! People are friendly here, the city is full of legends. Though the winter is longer, we can still have some snow fun! Let’s make Cleveland great again!
It’s great to here people from China to so love our country. I moved from HK to the the states in my childhood and I must say the states is where my heart is. Take care and be blessed!
I spent a lot of time in Mather mansion during an art class that I took at CSU. We were in the basement which was a large area that had a humongous bar in it, where you can imagine high class formal balls taking place 100 years ago.
What kills me about these old magnificent avenues is that WHY did they have to turn it into commercial? Why couldn't a commercial avenue be started somewhere else? It happened in every town and city in America. So sad. Especially one as Grand as this was.
Great point!
Those houses were substantial never to be built today. Imagine how thick those walls were and the stone that was used to build them. a lost treasure. Property taxes has taken the freedom and rights to property away from the creative people who built those homes. Historical preservation has rights must be respected.
Without property tax capitalism will always end with one guy owning everything. Kind of like Monopoly the board game. Wealth once upon a time created would last in perpetuity without tax.
How about voting no on new taxes?
@@CommieCat Hi Commie, taxation is a tool of Liberals. Conservatives are the ones who want to lower taxes. Just a friendly reminder. 😸
@@CommieCat individuals already own everything who do you think collect the taxes it is not the government it is individuals that collect people's taxes
@@CommieCat the government are individuals
We moved here to Cleveland in 1978 and I started taking the bus down Euclid Avenue regularly in the early 90s. There were so many dead, empty buildings lining the street then. I moved to Cincinnati for a few years and came back recently only to find the old buildings gone and a whole bunch of glitzy, expensive-looking new construction. You never know what's going to happen.
I grew up in one of the homes. So beautiful.
I live just down the street
@@johnjaco5544 howdy neighbor🧐
Are you still rich?
No never was. It was passed down. It has crazy history. It’s currently still standing.
@@BossBattleHub is there any creepy parts?
The four Millionaire’s Row mansions that ARE still standing to this day, and for some reason weren’t mentioned, are; Mather, Stager Beckwith, The Drury, and the HW White mansion. - all still on Euclid Ave.
It's crazy so much money was spent on these houses just to be torn down.
You’ll notice that often especially with the build out and destruction of the worlds fairs. Glamorous over the top
No kidding, a house like that being built today would cost a billion dollars
Why were they torn down
@@margaretgonzalez8565 Most likely the families couldn't afford the upkeep and land development companies buys them up and makes a bunch of little houses in it's place. It's not easy keeping everything going on these old homes. My sister had a huge brick home with 14ft walls 5 fireplaces 9 bedrooms 6 bathrooms and the upkeep was too much for her. She raised her family there but as the kids grew up it was just too much space. It was an awesome house but cost so much to heat and cool down.
In a relatively short time! Strange, even by American standards.
I was born in 1953, and my father owned a roofing company on E. 55th, near Carnegie Ave. I don't know if any of those grand mansions were still standing back then. But I have vague and fleeting memories of many old mansions we'd pass as we drove down to his small factory building, on Saturdays, to visit him. I do recall many smaller mansions, that were already in major decline, in the late 1950s. They had been turned into slum rooming houses, chopped up into small suites. I moved away from Cleveland in 1977. But as a youth, I took art classes on Saturdays at both the Art Museum and later at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Thanks to the Internet I have been amassing great historic photos, of the many iconic buildings that used to be standing, and of the ones, still standing. I throughly enjoyed your video.
It's a shame, that whole stretch of former mansions on Euclid from downtown to University Circle ended up a no-man's land of deserted factories and struggling neighborhoods, one of the most blighted areas of Cleveland by the early 2000's. The former east side blue-blood areas of Cleveland and Shaker Heights beyond University Circle avoided the lake, which in any other city would have been prime real estate (look at Chicago up to Evanston.) The new money from 1980 on went to the lakefront neighborhoods of the west side. To this day, the east side, beautiful as it is, feels like the Miss Havisham of Cleveland, with a sadness and stifling heaviness. That east/west cultural and financial divide is something the city has never been able to get past and left the downtown development areas battered after the various recessions.
It is shocking how little the lake was promoted and used downtown
@@bleacherz7503 Totally agree. Friends of mine there say when Cleveland was being developed the lake was a mess, combo of cesspool and transportation hub so everything and everyone stayed away from it. Shows you how far back that mentality goes. In defense of those old industrial cities, St. Louis was the same...thus the ring of wealthy old neighborhoods moving away from the riverfront. As the Industrial revolution kept going, the rich would move further and further away from the smells and noises. I suspect the same happened in the Cleveland and Shaker Heights neighborhoods, since they are older. Interesting also that the old waterfront Flats renovation even crashed and by 2007 everyone moved up to the warehouse district.
@@jrthiker9908 I went to CWRU and other than mentor, never went to the lake.
Ah yes! the 'old' East Cleveland...
Yes!! East Cleveland, I lived there, used to be very nice, today, looks totally different!!!
@Ricky World understatement
It’s like when was this place ever thriving? Spending time in Sandusky Oh I seen it over and over. Big homes empty in bad neighborhoods with giant brick factories completely empty and without use. It’s hard to imagine a time when that city was doing so well. Where did everyone go? Why the abandonment?
@@donaldbrown55 when crack touched down in the 80s this neighborhood along with others started to decline. I wasnt alive during the 'mansion' era but i hear the construction of the interstate required demolition of the homes.
I was born and raised in Cleveland and I remember when the Cleveland Clinic moved in the old houses were torn down.
Now its pretty sketchy as you drive east out of the city.
Today, the stores that replaced these mansions are becoming abandoned.
The industry you mean that paid for them.
This is such a sad story and what a waste of valuable materials! 🥲
Wow, I lived in Westlake, right on the border with Bay Village, and worked for Castle Glass in Warrensville Heights. During all that time, I never heard of Euclid once being such a grand avenue. I thought Shaker Heights was always where millionaires had their mansions, I worked in the humongous house In Shaker Heights that Bob Hope once called home....I moved in '02, and miss Cleveland, but I met some of the hardest workin, Pittsburgh Squeeler hatin, down to earth people from towns like Medina and Chagrin Falls, to little neighborhoods like the Tremont area and East Cleveland....enjoyed the vid, I subscribed 🇺🇸✌🏻
Great comment! I was born in Bedford, grew up in Walton Hills.
Why is it that only America places no value to the finest architecture in the world.
Great video on this great time in Cleveland's history!
Beautiful like castles.
I really enjoyed seeing this! Thank you!!!
Hmmm built on the backs of slaves. There is some bragging rights.
Two words, too common, today. Torn down. For a buck, the American dream, gone but not forgotten. Thank you for the memories.
Consider they were built to show off the owners wealth, and it seems like the natural progression.
That's so sad, all of that history just torn down ♥
Wish background music wasn’t so loud, at times overtaking the voice of the narrator. Otherwise very informative piece of American history not found in textbooks.
Thank you for this wonderful presentation and history of Cleveland's past.
WOW. How long did it take to build something so magnificent without today's technology?
I remember reading somewhere, the reason they started moving off Euclid Avenue was because they were unhappy that the street car rails being built would come through their neighborhood. I could be wrong though.
Thank you for the history lesson. An excellent video, even though I live in Nevada.
I would love to just one time be able to go back and walk inside one of those glorious homes!!
Now Cleveland's a dangerous $#!+hole.
So imo,there is no doubt something off with these old STUNNING mansions,why would they all have to be torn down and its like this all over the U.S. with these very old mansions,who imo were not built for these people,they were already there,cuz for starters u are not building ANYTHING like that with NO electricity,these homes would be damn hard to reproduce today,in fact they couldnt be,just because of the creative styles,only if they were literally duplicated could they be built!!I believe something happened in the early to mid 1800s in the U.S.,dk what??but there is just no way these places could've been built then,at least with the narritive given to us about electricity and Tech being what they say it was in the 1800s, we are talkin horse and buggy days,C'MON man??but none the less ABSOLUTELY breathtaking homes!!
What is the point of spending millions to build a mansion when in the next century the mansion is only going to be torn down. No respect for the culture, the history, all the historical figures who visited, and those owners who resided in these beautiful buildings. In 15 years, I have restored a mansion which was built in 1825 for the first mayor of the city, and I have no regrets ... none. A legacy for those in the future, as many pass and gaze at the splendor of this mansion and a true asset to the community.
If the owner didn't want to maintain it and there was no buyer then who should be forced to pay for it?
You are fortunate to be able to afford to fix such a home. Good for you & bless your effort.
@@cherylsmith4826 .....My legacy to give back to the community.
These owners could care less about anyone but themselves. So living in these homes then tearing them down later is like us throwing trash away. That was their home and when they left so did it.
Thank you so much for all the information , and photo's !
Quite interesting !
Much appreciated !
Again thank you ❤
Four of these mansions still stand today. One of them is the Cleveland Children's Museum and the third floor ballroom now houses large kids play structures but you can still see the crown molding and chandelier in this expansive grand room. Quite amazing. It's currently closed because of COVID but I hope it isn't permanent like many other lately.
It's fascinating
to see the history of Cleveland the
way It truly was , I find
myself trying
to recognize
landmarks
that I may
have encounterd
along the way
I hear wade park ave
was another
millionaire row
👍👍👍
Please show
more of these
Well that sucks. Why can't the old spirit of our country's development be preserved. Build those confounded commercial monstrosities elsewhere. I for one would have created QUITE the outburst.
I used to walk along the beach and see these mansions from the rear. Some of this same kind of architecture made it's way to the suburb of Shaker Heights. Large houses but they were made of wood generally, not brick. For almost every house you had to add, "and it was torn down." Why? I hope in the future we realize that once you tear something down you can never replace it. They could have made that whole street into a "living museum" where the residents did the things they used to do in the olden days.
Great point!
I wish there were pictures of the interiors of these beautiful mansions. What a shame and a waste. But I think about some of the homes of today’s elite, what they spend on them and it just seems a waste to me, because sooner or later they’ll end up the same way most likely.
I noticed that all of these homes were built of stone. It's ironic that in 1910 a 30,000 sq ft stone mansion was $3million and in 2021 you can get a 2200 sq ft scrape off home in San Francisco for $3million.
i dunno if ironic is the right word lol
USED to be beautiful.
Now downtown Cleveland and Euclid avenue look like slumville in many ways.
I hate downtown Cleveland.
I hate all the huge ugly buildings.
What was once beautiful is not beautiful anymore.
GREED is the cause of the ugliness.
Any construction photo’s? I thought not...to bad we do no truly know our History ie; the lie agreed upon.....Architecturally we have de-evolved big..
It’s astounding to me people could watch a video like this and not just be left wanting real answers to the holes in the narrative. I also love how weathered they all look in the photos where they are supposedly new.
This same video could also be made about my city of Detroit.
Hundreds of grand mansions and gilded age buildings torn down by the parasites who’s job is to destroy the old world of these ancient advanced cities.
You know why we mooncalf about Yurrip and the UK? Because there are 400 year old buildings with 5 year old paint on them. They don't tear down their history every 10 years and replace it with strip malls with check-cashing joints and nail salons.
Just what i needed to remind me im poor...
Charles Brush had a younger brother named Fuller.
Very few mention the 3rd brother, Lint
Cleveland could of really been like a Cobblestone Alexandria had they not tore down these mansions.
Loved this one. Sharing history is a passion for ours too!
you couldn’t give me one to live there.... sorry
Let’s talk about all the black people who built these homes like my grandfather was one he has always talked about this but how in history he and many other blacks have been left out of history of these homes
The neighborhood sure has changed!
@Ricky World The neighborhood was improved by diversity and inclusion! And if you are a Clevelander I have a question for you on a related topic.........When can we stop calling slavic village, slavic village? It hasn't been slavic in two decades it's very dangerous false advertising.
@Ricky World I know what happened and so do most people who have common sense. But if I or u say what happened. Utube will take the comment down for being a racist. Which I’m not just speaking the truth. But today u can’t tell the truth.
@Ricky World like what's happening now in most of USA the great transformation right?? 😜👹
From Milwaukee, Wisconsin: very beautiful! I regret such a grand street faced total defacement.