June 30, 2016
Historic Building Preservation Architectural History Historic Preservation Planning
92 East Washington Street ▪ Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022 1325 Inglewood Drive ▪ Cleveland Hts., Ohio 44121 PH 440.247.8319 ▪ [email protected] PH 216.482.1179 ▪ [email protected]
Abstract
The City of Cuyahoga Falls received a 2015 Certified Local Government (CLG) grant from the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History connection (SHPO) to undertake a Historic Architectural Survey of seventy (70) buildings located in the Cuyahoga River Planning Area including thirty-seven (37) new OHI Forms and thirty-three (33) revised OHI Forms. The City of Cuyahoga Falls does not have a National Register or local historic district.
The purposes of the Survey are to: (i) verify and revise information on existing OHI forms and document new historic properties; (ii) determine boundaries for National Register and local historic district(s); (iii) create an accessible resource of historical and architectural information through the OHI I-Form for use by the Design & Historic Review Board in administering the Local Historic Preservation Ordinance and for on-going historic preservation planning directives; (iv) assist the Design & Historic Review Board in their efforts to protect, preserve, enhance and encourage preservation of the local historically significant architecture and cultural heritage of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, including landmark designation; (v) create community awareness about architectural and cultural heritage of Cuyahoga Falls and educate the community on the benefits of historic preservation; and, (vi) encourage reinvestment and commercial development of historic properties within the City of Cuyahoga Falls.
Two proposed National Register historic districts have identified. The Cuyahoga Falls Downtown Commercial Historic District includes historic resources centered on Portage Trail and Front Street. The district appears significant under Criterion A: Community Planning and Development and Transportation. Historic buildings dating from 1900 to 1929 dominate the district; with a period of significance from 1874 to 1954. Buildings on Front Street have retained density and historic scale with Two-Part and One-Part commercial buildings; and demonstrate Mid-Century Modern architecture (1949-1954) intermingled with subsequent rehabilitation of historic buildings.
A second potential National Register Historic District is Church Square. This district is significant under Criterion C: Architecture with representative examples of Late Gothic Revival, Neoclassical, Colonial Revival and New Formalism architectural styles from 1908 to 1962; and Criterion A: Community Planning and Development.
Determination of proposed Local Historic District boundaries included consideration of National Register criteria, local historic context, defining characteristics of the Survey Area, and Zoning. It includes the proposed National Register boundaries for the Downtown Commercial and Church Square Historic Districts. The proposed local district extends to encompass a broader boundary to allow for design review and compatible development within the historic commercial area, taking into consideration current zoning designations. A Map of the proposed Local and National Register Historic District Boundaries is included in the attached Appendix E. The Falls Tire Company - Lawson’s Building is recommended for local landmark designation; the building appears eligible for National Register listing under Criterion A: Commerce.
With recent renewal efforts for the downtown commercial area, a Design Guidelines update is recommended incorporating Secretary of Interior Standard’s for Rehabilitation; local architectural styles; goals for renovations and parameters for new development. Potential future survey areas include: Chestnut Blvd. neighborhood commercial and residential buildings; Broad Blvd. neighborhoods; Post-World War II Heslop neighborhoods; and, Whitelaw and Berk Street Bungalows. In addition, it is recommended that the City of Cuyahoga Falls Façade Program be revisited and the Main Street Program to support downtown revitalization be explored.
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Acknowledgements
This project was conducted to support the City of Cuyahoga Falls and the local Design & Historic Review Board in their efforts to designate local and National Register Historic Districts, administer the Cuyahoga Falls Local Historic Preservation Ordinance, and assist with implementation of on-going historic preservation planning directives.
The records, documents, guidance and assistance of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, the Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society, the Akron-Summit County Public Library and the Summit County Fiscal Office were essential to the successful completion of the Survey project.
Administration Design & Historic Review Board Mayor Don Walters Janna M. Amole, Chair Russ Iona Fred R. Guerra, Planner Diana Colavecchio Mary Ellen Pyke Nicholas Sugar, Senior Planner Mark Gillis Joel Testa Sara Leedham, Deputy Development Director Kathy Hummel
Consultants Naylor Wellman, LLC, Historic Preservation Consultants
Additional Funding Sources U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund and State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection This publication was made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection. This program receives federal assistance for identification and protection of historic properties. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Ace of 1975, as amended, the U.S. Department of Interior prohibits discrimination in departmental federally assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or disability. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by e recipient of federal assistance should write to: Office of Equal Opportunity, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
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Table of Contents
Page I. Introduction 9
II. Research Design A. Survey Objectives 10 B. Survey Area 12 C. Field Techniques & Research Methods 13 D. Expected Results 14
III. Setting and Historic Context A. Survey Project Boundary 15 B. Environmental Setting 15 C. Transportation Routes 16 D. Historical Development/Historic Contexts 17 E. Previous Historic Resource Surveys 38
IV. Results of Field Investigation – Survey Area Historic Context A. Settlement 1800-1840 40 B. Pre-Civil War 1840 – 1860 40 C. Civil War 1861-1864 41 D. Post-Civil War 1865-1875 41 E. Industrialization 1875-1900 42 F. Progressive Years-World War I 1900-1920 47 G. Post-World War I 1918-1929 60 I. Great Depression 1929-1940 64 J. World War II and Post-World War II 1940-1960 70
V. Summary and Recommendations A. Summary 75 B. Recommendations 75
VI. Bibliography 79
Appendices 84 A. Cuyahoga River Planning Area B. Location and Survey Boundary Map C. Cuyahoga Falls Survey Master Table D. City of Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Map E. Survey Area Map with Historic Context & Potential Cuyahoga Falls Local and National Register Historic Districts F. Previously Recorded Ohio State Historic Preservation Office (OHI) Forms
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List of Figures Page
Figure 1. Map of the Connecticut Western Reserve from Survey by Seth Pease, 1798 17
Figure 2. “Ravine at Cuyahoga Falls” 18
Figure 3. Cuyahoga Falls, 1846 19
Figure 4. Map of Summit County, Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls, 1856 20
Figure 5. Commercial Center: East side of Front Street to the north and south of Portage Trail 21 Intersection of Front Street with Pottage Trail to the north, Broad Blvd. to the south, 1882
Figure 6. Silver Lake Park and Pavilion Postcard, ca. 1905 21
Figure 7. Turner, Vaughn & Taylor Company on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River at the 22 southeast corner of Front and Broad Street, view facing southwest from Broad Street (demolished), Photo ca. 1914
Figure 8. Generator Plant on Cuyahoga River, facing south towards Portage Trail, Photo 1916 22
Figure 9. Map of Cuyahoga Falls, 1891 23
Figure10. Cuyahoga Falls River and Industry, Postcard ca. 1905 24
Figure 11. Front Street looking north to Portage Trail, Postcard ca. 1905 24
Figure 12. Centennial Celebration on Front Street, looking south from Portage Trail 25
Figure 13. Automobiles on Front Street looking north towards Portage Trail, ca. 1925 27
Figure 14. Automobiles on Portage Trial looking south towards Front Street from 27 2nd Street. Photo ca. 1927
Figure 15. Fire Station No. 1, Photo ca. 1926 28
Figure 16. Front Street in the 1930s 29
Figure 17. Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. Map 1931 30
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Page
Figure 18. Lawson’s at Broad Ave. and Newberry Street, Photo 1958 31
Figure 19. Front Street, photo 1944 32
Figure 20. Front Street, photo 1944 32
Figure 21. Front Street looking south from Portage Trail , Photo 1940s 33
Figure 22. Front Street looking south towards Portage Trail, Photo 1944 33
Figure 23. Front Street looking north towards Stow Ave., Photo 1949 33
Figure 24. North Side Portage Trail facing northeast from 2nd Street, Photo 1943 34
Figure 25. Advertisement for car dealerships in Cuyahoga Falls, 1966 35
Figure 26. North Side Portage Trail facing northwest from Front Street, Photo 1962 35
Figure 27. Portage Trail, Intersection with 2nd Street, facing northeast, Photo 1967 36
Figure 28. City of Cuyahoga Falls Aerial Image, 1976 37
Figure 29. Comstock Building, Historic Image 1874 43
Figure 30. Comstock Building, Photo ca. 1895 44
Figure 31. Comstock Building, Photo 2016 44
Figure 32. Roethig Building, Postcard, 1907 45
Figure 33. Roethig Building, Interior, undated 45
Figure 34. Roethig Building, Photo 2016 45
Figure 35. Kanecky Building, Photo ca. 1912. 49
Figure 36. Kanecky Building, Photo 2016 49
Figure 37. George C. Tifft Co. Building, Photo ca. 1944 50
Figure 38. George C. Tifft Co. Building, Photo 2016 50
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Page
Figure 39. Frank A. Jones Building, Photo undated 51
Figure 40. Frank A. Jones Building, Photo 2016 51
Figure 41. Alhambra Arcade, Frank A. Jones Building, Comstock Building, Photo 1944 52
Figure 42. Alhambra Arcade, Photo 1944 52
Figure 43 & 44. Alhambra Arcade, Photos 1968. Alteration ca. 1945 52
Figure 45. Alhambra Arcade, Photo 2016. Alteration 1970s 52
Figure 46. Fox, Smith and Hedden Buildings, Photo undated 54
Figure 47. Fox’s Buick garage on Portage Trail between 2nd & Front Streets, Mr. Fox on right, undated 54
Figure 48. Fox, Smith and Hedden Buildings, Photo 2016 54
Figure 49. Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building, Photo undated 55
Figure 50. Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building, Photo 1950 55
Figure 51. Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building, Photo 2016 55
Figure 52. Snook Building, Interior, Photo undated 56
Figure 53. Fox-Buick Sales Building, Photo 1959 57
Figure 54. Fox-Buick Sales Building, Photo 2016 57
Figure 55. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Postcard 1919 58
Figure 56. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Photo 2016. 58
Figure 57. Wayne Agency Co. Building, Photo 1943 61
Figure 58. Wayne Agency Co. Building, Photo 2016 61
Figure 59. North Side Portage Trail facing east from 2nd Street, Photo 1943. 62
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Page
Figure 60. 1926 Bauman Building and 1916 Cuyahoga Falls Reporter Building, Photo 2016 62
Figure 61. Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station No.1, Photo undated 63
Figure 62. Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station 63
Figure 63. Falls Recreation Co. Inc. advertisement 65
Figure 64. Kippy Sandwich Shop Historic Image from menu, undated 66
Figure 65. Kippy Sandwich Shop, Photo 2016 66
Figure 66. H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station, Photo undated 67
Figure 67. H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station, Photo undated 67
Figure 68. H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station, Photo 2016 67
Figure 69. Acme Supermarket No. 8 Building, Photo 1941 68
Figure 70. Acme Supermarket No. 8 Building, Photo 2016 68
Figure 71. First Christian Church, Postcard undated 69
Figure 72. First Christian Church, Photo 2016 69
Figure 73. Falls Savings & Loan Association, Photo 1968 71
Figure 74. Falls Savings & Loan Association, Photo 2016 71
Figure 75. Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie, Photo 1968 72
Figure 76. Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie, Photo 2016 72
Figure 77. F. W. Woolworth Co., Photo 1968 73
Figure 78. F. W. Woolworth Co., Photo 2016 73
Figure 79. Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building, Photo 1950s 74
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I. Introduction The Cuyahoga River Planning Area was established by the City of Cuyahoga Falls encompassing 1000 acres and 4,000 structures spanning to the east and west of the Cuyahoga River in Cuyahoga Falls. A Map of the Cuyahoga River Planning Area is included herein as Appendix A. In 2014, pursuant to the Cuyahoga Falls Historic Preservation Plan, the city adopted a local historic preservation ordinance, created a Design & Historic Review Board and became a Certified Local Government. The City was awarded a 2015 CLG grant for a Historic Architectural Survey of the Cuyahoga River Planning Area.
This Historic Architectural Survey includes determination of a survey boundary within the Cuyahoga River Planning Area included herein as Appendix B. Information from the Survey verifies and revises existing City of Cuyahoga Falls OHI forms and documents new historic properties. The Survey serves as a basis for determination of boundaries for local and National Register historic district(s) encouraging reinvestment and commercial development of historic properties within the City of Cuyahoga Falls. The Survey creates an accessible resource of historical and architectural information through the OHI I-Form documenting significant buildings located within the Survey Area for use by the Design & Historic Review Board in administering the Local Historic Preservation Ordinance; and for on-going historic preservation planning directives. It will further assist the Design & Historic Review Board in their efforts to protect, preserve, enhance and encourage preservation of the local historically significant architecture and cultural heritage of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, including landmark designation. In addition, it will create community awareness about the important architectural and cultural heritage of the City of Cuyahoga Falls and to educate the community on the benefits of historic preservation.
Field work was ongoing throughout the survey process which proceeded from October 2015 through April 2016. All survey documentation, the Research Design & Survey Methodology Report dated November 9, 2015 and this Historic Architectural Survey Report were prepared by Wendy Hoge Naylor and Diana Wellman, principals of Naylor Wellman, LLC, a historic preservation consulting firm with offices located in Northeast Ohio. Together, both consultants meet the National Park Service’s Professional Qualifications in the areas of Architectural History, History and Historic Preservation Planning.
This Historic Architectural Survey Report presents the research design including survey objectives, field techniques, research methods and expected results. The setting and historic context are presented including the project boundary, environmental setting, transportation routes, historical development/historic contexts and previous historic resource surveys. Results of the field investigation are then presented using the Survey Area historic context. A City of Cuyahoga Falls Master Table of properties organized by historic era is included herein as Appendix C. The Summary and Recommendations section includes local and National Register historic district potential and additional survey recommendations as part of the goals and objectives of the overall Survey. A Map of the proposed Local and National Register Historic District Boundaries is included herein as Appendix E.
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II. Research Design A. SURVEY OBJECTIVES The City of Cuyahoga Falls received a 2015 CLG grant from SHPO to undertake a Historic Architectural Survey of seventy (70) buildings located in the Cuyahoga River Planning Area including thirty-seven (37) new OHI Forms and thirty-three (33) revised OHI Forms. The Cuyahoga River Planning Area encompasses approximately 1000 acres with 4000 structures, to the east and west of the Cuyahoga River. The City of Cuyahoga Falls contracted on October 22, 2015, with Naylor Wellman, LLC, historic preservation consultants to undertake the Survey.
The Survey process began with community input and interaction through a Local Project Team meeting to determine the survey boundary, focus, goals and objectives, local resources and a plan for public engagement. A Local Project Team Meeting was held with Naylor Wellman at the City of Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building on October 22, 2015 at 5:30 PM. Attending the meeting was:
Janna M. Amole, NCARB, Chair, Design & Historic Review Board Mark N. Gillis, ARRC, Inc.; Design & Historic Review Board Kathy Hummel, Former Council Member; Design & Historic Review Board Terry Mader, Council Member (Ward 8), Design & Historic Review Board Mary Ellen Pyke, Council President (Ward 2); Design & Historic Review Board Joel Testa, Testa Companies, Design & Historic Review Board Fred R. Guerra, AICP, Planner, City of Cuyahoga Falls Nicholas Sugar, Senior Planner, City of Cuyahoga Falls Wendy Hoge Naylor, Historic Preservation Consultant Diana Wellman, Historic Preservation Consultant
At this meeting, the following items were addressed:
Survey Area & Focus: The Local Project Team requested direction from Naylor Wellman on determination of a survey boundary and identification of properties for survey. The following parameters were discussed: Meeting the survey goal of identifying existing OHI forms requiring revision; and recordation of new additional survey properties.
Establishing a historic context and justification for a defined Survey Area.
The Survey will be used as a basis for determination of a local historic district.
Survey of commercial buildings located along Portage Trail and Front Street to the west of the Cuyahoga River and the general downtown area offers the opportunity for a downtown local and National Register historic district. National Register listing could provide additional funding sources through grants and Federal and State historic tax credit eligibility for properties undertaking rehabilitation.
The need to document historic residential buildings for design review. ______
The following Goals and Objectives were determined:
To verify and revise information on existing City of Cuyahoga Falls OHI forms and document new historic properties.
To determine boundaries for local and National Register historic district(s) within the Cuyahoga River Planning Area.
To create an accessible resource of historical and architectural information through the OHI I-Form documenting significant buildings located within the Survey Area for use by the Design & Historic Review Board in administering the Local Historic Preservation Ordinance; and for on-going historic preservation planning directives.
To assist the Design & Historic Review Board in their efforts to protect, preserve, enhance and encourage preservation of the local historically significant architecture and cultural heritage of the City of Cuyahoga Falls, including landmark designation.
To create community awareness about the important architectural and cultural heritage of the City of Cuyahoga Falls and to educate the community on the benefits of historic preservation.
To encourage reinvestment and commercial development of historic properties within the City of Cuyahoga Falls.
Local Resources: The following materials were presented by the Local Project Team as part of the Survey:
City of Cuyahoga Falls OHI Map City of Cuyahoga Falls existing OHI Forms City of Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Map Index revised July 27, 2009 Cuyahoga Falls Historic Preservation Plan dated May 2007 Design Guidelines for the Cuyahoga River Planning Area, dated August 2007
A Meeting was held with SHPO, at the City of Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building on October 26, 2015 at 11:00 AM. Attending the meeting was:
Kathy Fortener, SHPO, Grants Manager Susan Tietz, SHPO, Survey and National Register Manager Fred R. Guerra, AICP, Planner, City of Cuyahoga Falls Sara Leedham, Deputy Development Director, City of Cuyahoga Falls Nicholas Sugar, Senior Planner, City of Cuyahoga Falls Wendy Hoge Naylor, Historic Preservation Consultant Diana Wellman, Historic Preservation Consultant
SHPO requested that the Survey Area be narrowed and a specific historic context established within the larger Cuyahoga River Planning Area.
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Public Engagement Information about this Survey is posted on the City of Cuyahoga Falls website to engage positive community involvement in the Survey process; spurring interest and support towards maintaining the economic vitality and character of the City of Cuyahoga Falls through historic preservation and support for the City of Cuyahoga Falls Design and Historic Review Board. Public presentations were held on: February 11, 2016 – Mid-Project Presentation to Design & Historic Review Board February 23, 2016 – Public Presentation as part of Downtown Revitalization Plan June 9, 2016 – Final Presentation to Design & Historic Review Board
B. SURVEY AREA The Survey is aligned with the overall City planning initiative to revitalize the Cuyahoga Falls historic downtown commercial area on Front Street and Portage Trail. In 1977, the historic downtown commercial area along Front Street was closed off to automobile traffic and converted to an open-air pedestrian mall between Broad Blvd. and Oakwood Drive. Over time, the pedestrian mall became void of activity. With a change in City leadership in January 2014, Mayor Don Walters targeted the historic downtown for revitalization. MKSK Studios of Columbus, OH was hired and prepared project plans for the pedestrian mall including re-opening of Front Street north of Portage Trail to automobile traffic. Gibbs Planning Group of Birmingham, Michigan conducted an extensive study to determine the potential for retail development and residential living in the historic downtown area. In April 2016, based on these plans, the City applied for a TIGER grant to assist with the Downtown Street Transformation Project returning the Front Street pedestrian mall north of Portage Trail to two-way automobile traffic. The Survey will support the Downtown Street Transformation Project by providing data to determine a downtown local district for purposes of design review and designation of a National Register commercial historic district. National Register listing would make property owners eligible for federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits.
The Survey Area is focused on historical development of the commercial downtown area within the Cuyahoga River Planning Area. Naylor Wellman reviewed historical documentation, maps and photographs, previously recorded OHI properties, conducted a reconnaissance survey of the Cuyahoga River Planning Area, met with members of the Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society, toured the city with members of the Local Project Team, researched Zoning and consulted with City Planner Fred Gruerra. The designated Survey Area was determined to include the historic downtown commercial area to the west of the Cuyahoga River along the north-south corridor of Front Street and east-west corridor of Portage Trail generally between 4th Street and the east bank of the Cuyahoga River from Stow Ave. to Chestnut Blvd. Residential and institutional properties were included to identify outer commercial downtown boundaries, some of which were later converted to commercial use, and potential local and National Register historic districts. Historic commercial properties which have been significantly altered were excluded from this Survey. Ten (10) residential buildings located on the east side of 2nd Street between Sackett Ave. and Falls Street were excluded because of the commercial focus of the Survey and the clear delineation from the Front Street commercial area. Within the Survey Area, 18 OHI buildings have been demolished including 17 residential houses located on Front Street, Oakwood Drive, Broad Blvd., 2nd, 3rd and 4th Streets; and, the commercial Schnabel Tannery Building at 2377 Front Street. The Survey Area encompasses 17.83 acres within the Cuyahoga River Planning Area and was approved by
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the Local Project Team and the SHPO as part of the Survey & Research Methodology Report dated November 9, 2015. A map of the Survey Area is attached as Appendix B.
C. FIELD TECHNIQUES & RESEARCH METHODS A list of seventy (70) Identified properties for Survey was compiled by Naylor Wellman based upon historical documentation, maps and photographs, previously recorded OHI properties, a reconnaissance level survey, and consultation with City Planner Fred Gruerra. Criteria for selection as an identified property included age fifty (50) years or older, historic context, historic integrity, the goal of designation of a local historic district(s) and National Register Historic District potential. An Identified Properties Survey list of seventy (70) of the most historically and architecturally significant buildings located within the Cuyahoga River Planning Area and the MU-4 Sub-Urban Corridor, MU-5 Urban Center and MU-6 Downtown zoning areas with a historic context centered on the commercial downtown area. A City of Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Map is attached as Appendix D. The Identified Properties for Survey list includes thirty-seven (37) previously un-recorded properties for which new OHI forms were prepared; and, thirty- three (33) previously recorded OHI properties for which OHI forms were updated and revised. The list was approved by the Local Project Team and SHPO as part of the Survey & Research Methodology Report dated November 9, 2015.
Naylor Wellman conducted an intensive-level field survey for collection of architectural data necessary for completion of an Ohio Historic Inventory (OHI) form through the I-Form system for each approved survey property. Digital photography, site map and UTM reference points were created and compiled for each survey property. All data and research was then prepared for recordation of information on OHI forms in I-Form.
Field work for the project was straight forward. The consultants made numerous trips to the Survey Area to photograph, map and note architectural details and site features for each of the seventy (70) properties chosen for documentation. Individual field survey worksheets were used to compile and record data on of the OHI form. Digital photos, site maps and designated UTM reference points were created using the Online Mapping System of the Ohio History Connection and compiled for each survey property in compliance with the I-Form Digital Imagery and Mapping Standards as set forth by the SHPO.
A complete Bibliography is included in Section VI. Intensive level historical research was conducted on- line and at local and regional repositories including:
Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections; Summit County Memory; Cuyahoga Falls Public Library; Summit County Fiscal Office Tax Plat Maps, Tax Duplicate and Deed Records; Summit County GIS Mapping Services and Engineer’s Office; Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society; Cleveland Public Library; Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. Maps; G. M. Hopkins Maps; Historic Topographical and Atlas Maps; History of Summit County and Cuyahoga Falls publications; Ohio State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection; Ohio birth and death records; and US Census Records.
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The survey process continued with preparation for survey which included the examination and assessment of previous existing historical documentation and survey information. Existing archival research materials were compiled along with research on the social and architectural history of the City of Cuyahoga Falls. Research for the survey involved primary and secondary sources in connection with the social and architectural history of the City of Cuyahoga Falls to establish historic context within the history of the Western Reserve, Summit County, Ohio and nationally, including local topography, patterns of settlement, transportation routes, along with economic and industrial development.
Survey documentation includes seventy (70) completed and electronically on-line submitted OHI forms; and preparation of one (1) electronic copy and three (3) hard copies of a Survey Report dated June 30, 2016 based on analysis and evaluation of the findings from the survey; Evaluation of potential eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places was based upon National Register criteria and integrity considerations.
D. EXPECTED RESULTS As an early nineteenth century Connecticut Western Reserve settlement established along the Cuyahoga River, the consultants expected to find Western Reserve Pre-Civil War Greek Revival architecture, with strong New England pioneer and settlement history. It was expected that the surveyed properties would reflect commercial and industrial development using the water power of the Cuyahoga River providing the everyday commercial needs to the surrounding larger regional community. It was expected that the history and architecture of the surveyed properties would be especially significant along Front Street, Broad Blvd. and Portage Trail as main transportation corridors. Based on the apparent twentieth century surge in commercial development and building along Portage Trail, a corresponding reason for a flourishing economy was expected due to the introduction of the automobile as a new mode of transportation, specifically the close proximity to Akron’s dominate rubber industry and the expanding manufacturing and production demands during World War I and II.
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III. Setting and Historic Context
A. SURVEY PROJECT BOUNDARY The Survey project boundary was determined to include the historic downtown commercial area to the west of the Cuyahoga River along the north-south corridor of Front Street and east-west corridor of Portage Trail generally between 4th Street and the west bank of the Cuyahoga River from Stow Ave. to Chestnut Blvd. Residential and institutional properties were included to identify the outer commercial downtown boundaries, some of which were later converted to commercial use. The Survey Area encompasses 17.83 acres within the Cuyahoga River Planning Area.
B. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The City of Cuyahoga Falls is located in Summit County approximately 25 miles southeast of Cleveland and 5 miles north of Akron. Cuyahoga Falls is one of the largest cities in northeast Ohio encompassing 25.7 square miles with a population of almost 50,000 people.1 Cuyahoga Falls is named for the Cuyahoga River and the series of waterfalls which flow through the city and into Lake Erie. A good portion of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is located within the city limits and to the northwest. The city plan is predominantly a grid pattern emanating from the historic commercial downtown with the north-south corridor of Front Street running parallel and to the west of the Cuyahoga River; and, east- west corridors of Portage Trail and Broad Blvd. The historic public square on Portage Trail between 2nd and 3rd Streets is now known as Church Square with three churches situated in a park-like setting occupying the block. The topography of the area rises gently on elevation from either side of the river, which is a deep Cuyahoga River gorge and scenic waterfalls falling approximately 200 ft. over a distance of two and one-half miles across stratified rock.2 The City merged with Northampton Township in 1986 adding 18 square miles to the city which included part of the Cuyahoga National Park and Blossom Music Center.
Within the Survey Area, historic commercial buildings line Front Street from Stow Ave. to Broad Blvd. fronting a pedestrian mall added in 1977. Historic buildings demonstrate evidence of corresponding alterations in the 1970s. A large Brutalist style fountain is located at the north end of the mall. To the south end is the Riverfront Center festival area overlooking the Cuyahoga River with the entrance from Broad Blvd. marked by a large clock tower installed in 1995. To the south of Broad Blvd. on Front Street is a former industrial mill area which has largely transitioned to mixed-use development with a hotel, retail, restaurant and offices. High Bridge Glens Park is located at Front and Prospect Ave. with a scenic bridge overlooking the Cuyahoga River. Portage Trail is characterized by dense low-rise Two-Part Commercial building development fronting the city sidewalk from Front to 2nd Streets. From 2nd to 4th Streets on Portage Trail, commercial buildings are interspersed with large parking lots, apartment buildings and residential buildings converted to commercial use. Institutional buildings including the City Municipal Building with adjacent Natatorium, Post Office and Library located on 2nd Street north and south of Portage Trail. Residential houses on 3rd and 4th Streets are located on smaller lots with city
1 U.S. Population Census 2010. 2 Howe, Henry. Howe’s Historical Collections of Ohio. Norwalk, Ohio: The Lansing Printing Company, Public Printers, 1896, 645-46.; Cuyahoga Falls, U.S. Elevation Map. Available at http://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=5151613. ______
sidewalks leading to Portage Trail, spanning dates of construction and architectural styles from 1870 to 1924. Automobile dependency is apparent throughout the Survey Area with parking lots fronting commercial buildings and within residential neighborhoods, along with detached garages.
C. TRANSPORTATION ROUTES The Ohio & Erie Canal was constructed crossing through Northampton Township between Cleveland and the center of Akron, a few miles to the west of Cuyahoga Falls. In 1837, Dr. Eliakim Crosby of Akron proposed to create a water transportation route known as Chuckery Race between Cuyahoga Falls and North Akron. His project was not financially successful; however remnants of Chuckery Race remain (NR# 72001047).
Rail transportation arrived to Summit County with an Akron branch of the Ohio & Pennsylvania railroad in 1852 and line opening to Columbus in 1873. In 1856, the Cleveland, Zanesville and Cincinnati Railroad ran north–south to the east of the river.3 In 1885, after a series of ownership changes, the Akron branch emerged as the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus.4 Thomas Walsh (1858-1937) was born in Cuyahoga Falls and credited with building the Akron & Cuyahoga Falls Rapid Transit Company, an electric railway that ran from Barberton to Kent beginning in 1895.5 The Akron, Bedford and Cleveland railroad, known as the Alphabet Railroad, was at the time of its completion in 1895 the longest electrified rail line in the world running from Akron through the towns of Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Brandywine, Macedonia, Northfield, Bedford, Warrensville Heights, Shaker Heights and to Cleveland. In 1899, the ABC railroad merged with several other railroads to become the Northern Ohio Traction and Light Company which operated the passenger line until 1932.6 A self-propelled gas-electric rail-car invented in 1928 by Pullman/Electric-Motive, referred to as the Doodlebug was a unique passenger vehicle train operating from Hudson to Akron passing through Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, and Kent. One of the worst city disasters was on July 31, 1940 when the Doodlebug collided with a freight train and 43 passengers were killed. 7
Cuyahoga Falls was founded as an industrial city taking advantage of the local river water power. Portage Trail and Broad Blvd. were the main east-west corridors while Front Street served as the main north-south corridor. By the 1970s the city had adapted to a residential base and auto-dependent lifestyle. In 1972, a section of Ohio State Route 8 between Front Street and Graham Road in Cuyahoga Falls and Stow opened with a connecting section in 1974, allowing by-pass of the main Front Street north-south corridor, which had been converted to one-way north bound traffic by the 1960s with metered parallel parking. In 1977, the main commercial area of Front Street was closed between Oakwood Drive and Broad Blvd. to create an outdoor pedestrian mall which remains today. The Downtown Street Transformation Project plans are underway to revert the mall between Portage Trail and north to Stow Ave. to two-way automobile traffic.
3 Map of Summit County, Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls. Philadelphia: Matthews & Taintor, 1856. Available at Akron- Summit County Public Library, Special Collections. 4 Akron Railroad History. Available at https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/akron-railroads-history/ 5 Akron Transit History. Available at www.chicagorailfan.com/akrhist.html. 6 Akron to Cleveland, The Alphabet Railroad. Available at ttp://www.abandonedrails.com/Alphabet _Railroad; Toman, James A. and Hays, Blaine S. Horse Trails to Regional Rails. The Story of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland. Kent: The Kent State University Press, 1996. 7 Vogenitz, 47-48. ______
D. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT/HISTORIC CONTEXTS
Settlement 1800-1840 Cuyahoga Falls was founded in 1812 as the town of Manchester, part of four townships (Stow, Northampton, Tallmadge and Portage) located in the Connecticut Western Reserve.8 Indian populations including the Seneca, Delaware, Mingo and Ottowa nations had previously occupied the Cuyahoga River Valley and traveled using the Portage Path and Cuyahoga River. The rushing water and falls of the Cuyahoga River attracted settlers from New England, who saw the potential to power mills for manufacturing.
Cuyahoga River
Figure 1. Map of the Connecticut Western Reserve from Survey by Seth Pease, 17989
The town was platted in 1826 and officially incorporated in 1836 with a population of 375 people. By 1840, Cuyahoga Falls was thriving with a greater variety of manufacturing plants than any other settlement in Ohio. Summit County was formed in 1840 by combining 16 separate townships (10 from Portage, two from Stark and four from Medina) with a population of 22,560 according to the U.S. Census. Cuyahoga Falls campaigned to become the county seat, but lost out by election to Akron in 1842.10 Cuyahoga Falls flourished with a commercial center developing along Front Street and mills along the banks of the river, despite missing out on the canal and as the county seat. Early forefathers included William Wetmore (1771-1827) of Middletown Connecticut; who was appointed land agent by Joshua
8 Seguin, Marilyn and Scott. Images of America Cuyahoga Falls Ohio. Chicago: Arcadia, 2000. 9 Map of the Connecticut Western Reserve from Survey by Seth Pease, 1798John Carter Brown Library, Brown University. 10 Vogenitz. ______
Stow. Wetmore moved to Cuyahoga Falls in 1804 becoming one of the original proprietors. Wetmore and Stow owned 210 acres, the southern border of which was Portage Trail, and began developing Cuyahoga Falls in 1825. Wetmore’s sons William Jr. and Henry supervised thirty men who constructed a dam, gristmill, sawmill, paper and linseed mills. Other pioneers included: the first Mayor Henry Newberry; Elisha Noyes Sill who was married to Henry Newberry’s daughter Elizabeth and involved with his father-in-law in various manufacturing and development enterprises, also organizing the National Bank of Cuyahoga Falls11; and, Judge Richardson who first laid out the town in 1826. Mills continued to be built along the river including the Turner, Vaughn & Taylor Company at Front and Broad Streets.12 Henry Newberry advertised Water Power for sale in Cuyahoga Falls stating in 1830:
The subscriber offers for sale the very important Water Power of the Cuyahoga at Cuyahoga Falls
The location of this water power is, probably, not excelled by any on the waters of Lake Erie. It is at the point where the waters of the Cuyahoga leave the higher level of the surrounding country, and descend into the valley of the Cuyahoga with a rapid fall of about 220 feet...To those of you who know the scarcity of good water power in this part of the state, it will be unnecessary to say anything of the importance of this…The Cuyahoga, as measured by engineered of the state yields from 1000 to 5000 feet of water per minute in the driest season of the year and for nine months twice or three times that quantity and during six months will probably yield five times the stated quantity…There is in the immediate vicinity every resource for building such as stone, lime and timber, and also an inexhaustible quantity of mineral coal of the best quality. Henry Newberry, Cuyahoga Falls, 183013
Figure 2. “Ravine at Cuyahoga Falls” 14
Indicative of the potential of the area, national industrialist and Cuyahoga Falls resident Ezra Comstock stated in 1836 that “I don’t think much of Chicago; the falls is a much better business place and it always
11 Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale College, deceased from June, 1870 to June 1880. Presented at the Annual Meeting of Alumni. New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, 1880. 12 Vogenitz, 32. 13 Heintz, Calvin W. “The Coppacaw Story” A History of Cuyahoga Falls. Cuyahoga Falls Sesquicentennial 1812- 1962, 20. 14 Howe, 647. ______
will be.”15 At the time, the village had two small paper mills, a flour mill, two sawmills, a pump-making establishment, a tilt-hammer, axe and scythe factory, a woolen mill, a chair factory, a lumber-finishing mill, a furnace and foundry plant, and an engineering and machine shop. 16
In 1834, Joshua Stow donated a parcel of land in the center of town at Portage Trail between 2nd and 3rd Streets as Public Square, later known as Church Square. Three churches were constructed including St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1835, the First Methodist Church of Cuyahoga Falls in 1840, and the First Christian Church of Cuyahoga Falls in 1885.17 St. John’s and the First Methodist Churches can be seen in an early rendering by Henry Howe in 1846:
St. John’s 1st Methodist
Figure 3. Cuyahoga Falls, 1846 18
Pre-Civil War 1840-1860 An 1856 Map of Cuyahoga Falls shows an established town with mills along the Cuyahoga River running north-south with commercial buildings to the west of the river on the east side of Front Street between Broad Blvd. and Stow Ave. The 1856 business directory listed 20 merchants and professionals on Front Street including: dry goods; hardware; druggist; variety store; boots, shoes and leather; watch maker and jeweler; tailor; stoves and tin ware; saddles, harnesses and trunks; livery stables; meat market; book binder; two (2) physicians; attorney; dentist; daguerreobass, insurance company, and banker.
15 Heintz, 22. 16 Ibid. 17 Vogenitz, 164, 167, 180. 18 Howe, 647. ______
Figure 4. Map of Summit County, Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls, 185619
Post-Civil War (1865-1875) and Industrialization (1875-1900) The Post Civil War and Industrialization years saw continued commercial and industrial growth. The east side of Front Street to the north of Portage Trail and south to Broad Blvd. was characterized by a dense configuration of commercial buildings with mills to the rear along the length of the river; and residential dwellings on the west side of the street. Portage Trail showed commercial development at the intersection of Front Street with the Clifford Inn (American House, Perry House) on the northwest corner, Loomis Hardware on the northeast corner, and the Cuyahoga Falls Repeater and Western Reserve Farmer offices on the southwest corner. O.B. Beebe & Co. Dry Goods occupied the southeast corner. St. John’s Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church fronted Portage Trail at Church Square. The remainder of Portage Trail was largely residential in character.
19 Map of Summit County, Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls. Philadelphia: Matthews & Taintor, 1856. ______
Portage Trail Front Street Broad Blvd. Cuyahoga River
Figure 5. Commercial Center: East side of Front Street to the north and south of Portage Trail Intersection of Front Street with Portage Trail to the north, Broad Blvd. to the south, 188220
The 1889 N.H. Burch & Co.’s Directory of Cuyahoga Falls described Cuyahoga Falls as,
… the most picturesquely located spot in Summit County, possessing more natural advantages for the manufacturer, and more points of interest for the tourist and pleasure seeker than any other point in the State is located on the C./ A. & C. and P. & W. R.Rs., 4 ½ miles from Akron and 8 from Hudson. It is quite an important station upon both roads, and is easily accessible from all points through connections made with other roads.
The 1889 Directory noted that Cuyahoga Falls had quite a number of “pleasure resorts” frequented by tourists. The most popular picnic areas were the High Bridge Glens and caves, Gaylord’s Grove, Big Falls and Old Maid’s Kitchen cavern, Silver Lake, and Stow Pond. Small steamers with buses and carriages brought excursionists to and from the different resorts.
Figure 6. Silver Lake Park and Pavilion Postcard, ca. 1905 21
20 Panoramic View of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit County 1882. Madison: Ruger & Stoner, 1882. Available at Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 21 Akron Summer Fun Historical Photos. Available at http://www.akronohiomoms.com/activities/camps/history- pictures-summer-fun-edition/ ______
The Cuyahoga River continued to attract and retain a strong manufacturing base with companies including: Sewer Pipe & Hollow Brick & Tile Works of Camp & Thompson; Rivet Works of the Falls Rivet & Machine Co.; the American Foundry & Machine Co.; the Pearl Flouring Mills of Howe & Co.; the Falls Hollow Staybolt Co.; the Cuyahoga Paper Co.; the Tannery of C. Kittelberger; the Stoneware Factory of Thomas Bros.; the Variety Iron Works of Turner, Vaughn & Taylor: the Carriage factories of Wm. Blong and John Clayton; and, W.F. Holloway, manufacturer of the Holloway Reading Stand and Dictionary Holder. Capital invested in manufacturing establishments was $150,000 with value of annual product at $175, 000 in 1888. The Cuyahoga Falls Reporter and Western Reserve Farmer were published by E.O. Knox as “one of the best and liveliest weeklies in the state and the only newspaper. Cuyahoga Falls was connected by telephone with Akron, Hudson, Kent, Cleveland and other points; with offices of Western Union Telegraph Co., Adams’ Express Co. and American Express Co. located in the town. Fraternal organizations and societies numbered twelve.22 In 1890, the town population was 2,624 people. 23
Figure 7. Turner, Vaughn & Taylor Company on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River at the southeast corner of Front and Broad Street, view facing southwest from Broad Street (demolished), Photo ca. 191424
Figure 8. Generator Plant on Cuyahoga River, facing south towards Portage Trail, Photo 1916 25
22 Akron, Cuyahoga Falls City Directory, 1889. Available at Ancestry.com. 23 Howe, 646. 24 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987. Cuyahoga Falls: 175 Anniversary Commerative Book Committee, 1987; Heintz. 25 Heintz. ______
An 1891 Map of Cuyahoga Falls shows a well-developed town with three bridges crossing the Cuyahoga River at Portage Trail, Broad and Portage connecting the east and west sides of town.
Figure 9. Map of Cuyahoga Falls, 189126
26 Map of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 1891. Akron: Akron Map & Atlas Co., 1891. Available at Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
Progressive Years – World War I (1900-1920) Postcards of Cuyahoga Falls at the turn of the twentieth century and entry into the Progressive years show industrial development along the Cuyahoga River gorge and downtown commercial development along Front Street.
Figure 10. Cuyahoga Falls River and Industry, Postcard ca. 190527
Roethig Building
Figure 11. Front Street looking north to Portage Trail, Postcard ca. 1905 28
27 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 28 Ibid. ______
Disastrous fires in the late 1800s and early 1900s affected many of the factories and business in Cuyahoga Falls. At the time, there was no water system to fight fires and buildings were lost. The Falls Lumber Company plant was destroyed in 1896, but with the help of local citizenry owner George James was able to rebuild. In 1900, James was elected a member of the Cuyahoga Falls Water Works Trustees. He made the push for the first municipal water plant and distribution system which was established in 1901.29 The volunteer fire department, which had previously operated as a bucket brigade, moved to the basement of the City Hall at the northwest corner of Broad Blvd. and Front Street.30 The flood of 1913 caused extensive damage to the city and region, leaving few remnants of High Bridge Glens resort area. Silver Lake Park was sold to a land company in 1918 and converted for residential homes. The downtown commercial area, however, continued to thrive on the cusp of a new age in transportation
Figure 12. Centennial Celebration on Front Street, looking south from Portage Trail 31
One of the most significant events of the twentieth century was the introduction of a new mode of transportation – the automobile. Automobile transportation was a gaining industry at the turn of the twentieth century and by 1908 Henry Ford had introduced his new low priced and popular gasoline powered Model T.32 During these early years, the automobile was viewed as a pleasure vehicle rather than as an important means of transportation. Highways were constructed in relatively short segments from the city into the countryside. As the automobile gained widespread popularity and affordability,
29 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987, 23. 30 Vogenitz,75. 31 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987. 32 Bellis, Mary. “A Historical Perspective On American Roads,” About Inventors. Available at http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcar3.htm, 1. ______
Americans began to rely on it for regular day-to-day transportation.33 By 1914, American automobile sales passed the first million mark.34 Cities such as Detroit and Cleveland became industrial centers for automotive manufacturing. The federal government became pressured to become more directly involved in road development. The concept of a continuous highway system or highway network gained momentum as the automobile was improved and ownership continued to become more widespread.
During World War I, the automobile and corresponding rubber industry was an economic boom to Cuyahoga Falls. The Summit County area was profoundly affected as rubber shops and mold plants necessary for the manufacture of tires sprang up in the area. Cuyahoga Falls residents went to work for the B.F. Goodrich Company, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Akron, considered the “giants” of the industry. In Cuyahoga Falls, the Falls Rubber Company, Marathon Rubber Company and Eclat Rubber Company, as well as mold plants, gas stations, auto accessory manufacturers and stores were established. Commercial growth was demonstrated by re-development on Front Street and expansion to the west along the north side of Portage Trail from Front Street.
Six new commercial buildings were constructed on Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls between 1900-1914 with businesses including grocery, confectionary, theater, saloon, pool hall and laundry. Some replaced earlier nineteenth century buildings and others expanded the commercial area with two buildings along Front Street to the north of Portage Trail and one building to the south of Broad Blvd. on Front Street. The vernacular Two-Part Commercial form remained popular with Romanesque Revival and Mediterranean influences. The 1908-09 St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Square and 1912-13 St. Joseph Parish Church on 2nd Street both designed in the Late Gothic Revival style, replaced earlier church buildings to accommodate expanding congregations.
Twelve predominantly vernacular Two-Part Commercial type buildings were constructed in Cuyahoga Falls during the World War I years. These include: eight buildings on Portage Trail to 2nd Street with dry goods, millinery, barber shop, plumbing and heating, medical office, auto repair, bakery, confectionary, restaurant, pharmacy, printing, billiards and laundry businesses; two buildings on Front Street between Portage Trail and Stow Avenue; two buildings on Front Street between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd.; and, the Schnabel Building on Front Street at Wetmore Ave. serving a tannery business.
Between 1910 and 1920 with the surge in the automobile and rubber industry, the population grew 153% from 4,020 people to 10,200 people elevating Cuyahoga Falls to city status.35
Post –World War I 1919-1929 As the industrial base expanded, Cuyahoga Falls continued to retain many small locally owned shops in the commercial downtown catering to everyday needs of the community.36 The Post World War I era showed commercial expansion with the addition of seven commercial buildings on Front Street and
33 U. S. Department of Transportation. Office of Economics. Urban Transportation Planning in the United States – An Historical Overview (November 1992), by Edward Weiner. National Transportation Library, Washington D.C., 8. 34 Kay, Jane Holtz. Asphalt Nation. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997, 146 35 U.S. Population Census 1910, 1920. 36 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987, 25. ______
Portage Trail. The three-story Commercial style 1922 Ohio Bell-AT&T Building on Portage Trail at 2nd Street was used by AT&T as an office and telephone exchange building for long distance service and introduced the Telephone/Telegraph theme. It is the tallest building within the Survey Area and expanded the commercial district on Portage Trail to the west side of 2nd Street. The C. Henry Plum House on Portage Trail to the west of the Ohio Bell-AT&T Building was converted to multi-family use with a vendor by 1916.
Figure 13. Automobiles on Front Street looking north towards Portage Trail, ca. 1925 37
Hachtel Building Bauman Building Cuyahoga Falls Reporter Building I.O.O.F. Building
Figure 14. Automobiles on Portage Trial looking south towards Front Street from 2nd Street. Photo ca. 1927 38
37 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 38 Seguin, Marilyn and Scott. Images of America Cuyahoga Falls. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2000, 74. ______
The First United Methodist Church Building on Portage Trial was razed for a new building in 1922 to meet the demands of the expanding congregation. Ten commercial buildings were constructed on Front and Portage Trial between 1923 and ca.1930. The apartment house and duplex appeared as a new and affordable lifestyle choice. The city’s first dedicated fire station, Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station No. 1, was built in 1926 on Front Street just south of Broad Blvd.
Figure 15. Fire Station No. 1, Photo ca. 1926 39
Great Depression (1929-1940) The 1929 Stock Market crash affected Cuyahoga Falls as it did the rest of the country. As the Depression took hold within the following years, banks failed, businesses closed and austerity became a way of life. Most companies, including the large rubber companies in Akron, laid off or reduced the hours of employees. A 1933 school operating levy did not pass causing the Cuyahoga Falls school to close six weeks before the end of the year, with children sent to Kent. Cuyahoga Falls benefited from WPA federal relief projects including installation of stone curbing, gutters and sewer work, along with the construction of the 1939 U.S. Post Office on 2nd Street (OHI-SUM0160108), and a large municipal swimming pool. 40
The Great Depression years tamed the economy of Cuyahoga Falls and building tenants catered to the entertainment and practical needs of the community including a general store, restaurant, grocery and gas station. The One-Part Commercial building type was introduced for the first time. The commercial district expanded to the west along Portage Trail to 4th Street with the ca. 1930 Falls Recreation Co.
39 Souvenir Program. 125th Anniversary and Exposition of Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1937. Available at Akron-Summit County Library, 26. 40 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987, 26. ______
Building. Levinson’s Store selling general merchandise and the 2237 & 2239 Front Street Building was constructed on Front Street north of Portage Trail; Kippy’s Sandwich Shop and Acme Supermarket No. #8 on Front Street south of Portage Trail; and, the H. F. Graham Mobile Station on Front Street south of Broad. The 1929-1930 First Christian Church constructed their new Late Gothic Revival style building on Church Square and a new WPA funded Colonial Revival style 1939 U.S. Post Office was constructed on Second Street to the south of the 1922 Ohio Bell-AT&T Building. In addition, four apartment buildings were built within the Survey Area in 1928-1929 on Portage Trail and 4th Street offering an affordable living choice within the commercial downtown area.
Frank A. Jones Building Comstock Building Demolished
Figure 16. Front Street in the 1930s 41
41175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987, 29. ______
PORTAGE TRAIL
FRONT STREET FRONT STREETSTREET
BROAD BLVD.
Figure 17. Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. Map 1931
______
The most notable industrial development of the Depression years in Cuyahoga Falls was based on the ingenuity of James “J.J.” Lawson. Lawson operated a conventional dairy with home delivery routes throughout Akron. During the Depression, he noticed the number of people who were taking washed out vinegar jars to farms in an effort to pick up milk at a savings. J.J. began inviting people to come to his plant and get Grade A pasteurized milk, rather than the raw milk they were buying at farms. He bought glass gallon jugs for those who did not have their own containers. His idea then became to create a series of conveniently located depots where people could come and get milk in gallon glass jugs instead of quart or pint containers, to save on home delivery. He opened five small stores in 1939. By the early 1950s, the idea had reached a national audience in his convenient stores “Lawson’s”. A business model based on milk sold in jugs for pick-up flourished in dozens of major metropolitan areas throughout the country. Visitors from Europe and Asia were also interested. In the mid-1940s he bought the Falls Tire Company Building at Broad and Main Street. The stores came to feature milk, milk by-products, ice cream flavors, frozen novelties, custom sliced luncheon meats and selected grocery products. In 1958 the company was purchased by Consolidated Foods Corporation of Chicago.
Figure 18 . Lawson’s Building at Broad Ave. and Newberry Street, Photo 1958 42
World War II & Post World War II 1940-1960 World War II relieved the necessity of federal relief work as manufacturers geared up for the war effort. Cuyahoga Falls women went to work in factories as men went off to war. Meat, butter, sugar, other food items and gas were rationed. Workers carpooled or took buses to get to Akron. 43 The end of the War years was marked by the baby boom years with the population of Cuyahoga Falls jumping from 20,874 in 1940 to 29, 706 in 1950. The Front Street and Portage Trail downtown commercial area remained stable throughout World War II and into Post- World War II.
42 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987. 43 Ibid. ______
Alhambra Arcade
Figure 19. Front Street, photo 194444
Alhambra Arcade Frank A. Jones Building Comstock Building
Figure 20. Front Street, photo 194445
44 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 45 Ibid. ______
Wayne Agency Building Falls Laundry Building
Figure 21. Front Street looking south from Portage Trail, Photo 1940s46
George C. Tifft Co. Building
Figure 22 . Front Street looking south towards Portage Trail, Photo 194447
Figure 23. Front Street looking north towards Stow Ave., Photo 1949 48
46 Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial History 1812-2012. Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial Committee, 2013. 47 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 48 Ibid. ______
Bauman Building Cuyahoga Falls Reporter Building I.O.O.F. Building Snook Building Porter Building
Figure 24 . North Side Portage Trail facing northeast from 2nd Street, Photo 194349
By the 1950s a profound shift occurred in the design of American commercial architecture. New development was based on the premise that existing patterns were outmoded. Dense building oriented to the street and packed into small blocks arranged on an orthogonal grid was now considered a relic of the past. The automobile as a forefront figure in the American mindset placed buildings within the context of a parking lot and the garage became a significant architectural feature on residential homes. The Modern movement rejected the use of historical references and rejected the idea of a façade. 50
The predominance of the automobile by the 1950s introduced shopping with the expectation of automobile accommodation. Change came with the introduction of retail stores situated along State Road and on both sides of Portage Trail located about 1.5 miles west of the historic commercial downtown.51 The State Road Shopping Center built from 1954-55 was one of the first shopping centers in the area and included a bank, drug, shoe, children’s clothing, automobile accessories, and grocery stores as well a theater and other businesses. Portage Trail (Northampton Avenue) was widened in 1955 for easier access to State Road. Summit Mall located at West Market Street in Akron was built in 1965 with Halle Brothers Company as the anchor store.
Commercial and institutional buildings added in the historic downtown during World War II & Post World War II demonstrate the transition to mid-century architecture with introduction of the International and New Formalism styles. The 1919 Falls Savings and Loan Building on Front Street was altered in the International style in 1949; the 1928 Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie on Front Street was altered in 1951 in the International style; and the International style F.W. Woolworth Co. Building was constructed on Front Street in 1954. New Formalism was introduced with an addition in 1962 to the 1929-30 First Christian (Disciples of Christian) Church on 3rd Street. One- Part Commercial buildings include the 2202 & 2208 Front Street Building constructed at the northwest corner of Front and Portage Trail in ca. 1945 replacing an earlier building; and, the 1950 Wayne Agency Building on 2nd Street.
49 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 50 Longstreth, Richard. The Buildings of Main Street. Preservation Press, 1987. 51 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987, 27. ______
By 1966, Cuyahoga Falls had reached a population of approximately 53,000 people. The Mayor’s Report of 1966 describes the change in commerce within the city,
Cuyahoga Falls has seen many changes in business patterns and will see many more in the future. As recently as 1950, Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls was the dominant business area. Now it shares that honor with State road which is almost completely commercial from the High Level Bridge to Graham Road. Portage Trial, which many remember as a residential street, now is practically all business from Front Street to the State Road. There are substantial neighborhood shopping centers on E. Bailey Road, and on Hudson Drive-the shopping area known to old timers as “Silver Lake Junction.” Front Street has become “automobile row” with every new car dealer in the city located on South front and North Front. 52
The automobile dominated the historic downtown commercial district on Front Street as portrayed in this advertisement in the 1966 Mayor’s Report showing nine dealerships:
Figure 25. Advertisement for car dealerships in Cuyahoga Falls, 196653
Figure 26 . North Side Portage Trail facing northwest from Front Street, Photo 1962 54
52 City of Cuyahoga Falls, History, Mayor’s Report, June 1966. Available at Akron-Summit County Public Library. 53 Ibid. 54 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
Hachtel Bauman Cuyahoga Falls Reporter I.O.O.F. Snook Porter Fox Smith Hedden Building Building Building Building Building Building Building Building Building
Figure 27. Portage Trail, Intersection with 2nd Street, facing northeast, Photo 1967 55
The City worked to adapt to the changes brought about by the automobile as the primary mode of transportation. The auto and rubber industries boosted the city’s economy while at the same time dramatically changed the commercial landscape. By 1966, the historic downtown area of Cuyahoga Falls had deteriorated with many stores empty. City Council authorized the city into contract with the U.S. government in November 1966 for joint participation of the Urban Renewal of downtown with $4.9M in capital improvement and Community Development Block Grant funds and $11.5M in Housing and Urban Renewal development funds. The agreement provided that in return for acquisition by the city of parcels and buildings in the “blighted” downtown area, the U.S. government would make certain loans and grants to the city to complete renewal of designated areas. The Front and Center Urban Renewal area spanned almost 33.9 acres.56
The city acquired 75 buildings; 47 were rehabilitated and the remainder demolished. Sewers, streets, parking decks and parking lots were constructed. New parking areas were provided in the Falls Theater parking lot with 135 spaces on Front Street; and a new parking deck with 256 spaces on 2nd Street. A vehicular circulation system was developed to separate local and reginal traffic flow. By 1972, a section of the State Route 8 Freeway opened between Front Street and Graham Road in Cuyahoga Falls and Stow with a connecting section opening in 1974. Front Street between Broad Blvd. and Oakwood Drive was converted to a pedestrian mall completed in 1977. Landscaped areas and walkways were designed to create an improved shopping district.57 In 1969, the City Natatorium first opened, later demolished
55 Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial History 1812-2012. 56 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987, 31; Anderson, Michael G. ed. Urban Revitalization Successful Projects in Ohio. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Economic Planning Assistance; and Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Planning Assistance, June 1979. Available at Akron-Summit County Public Library. 57 Anderson. ______
for a new building in 2004 on the same site at Stow Ave. and 4th Street. In addition, a new library opened in 1970 at the corner of 3rd Street and Broad Blvd. with parking off of Second Street.
Portage Trail Front Street Broad Blvd. Cuyahoga River State Route 8
Figure 28. City of Cuyahoga Falls Aerial Image, 1976 58
In 1985, a referendum merger between the City and North Hampton Township was approved by voters adding 11,520 acres or 18 square miles of largely open land to the city for development. 59 In 1987, the Front Street mall name was changed to “Riverfront Center.” The Falls River Square Festival and Special event site was opened by the City on the south end of Riverfront Center along the river. The venue included a banquet and meeting space, amphitheater, stage and parking garage. In 1989, Falls Towne Center was constructed across from the event area on the northwest corner of Fronts Street and Broad Blvd. with 50,000 sq. ft. of office space. The clock tower at Broad Blvd. was completed in 1995.
Revitalization plans are again underway for the historic commercial downtown. In April 2016, the City applied for a TIGER grant to assist with the Downtown Street Transformation Project returning the Front Street pedestrian mall north of Portage Trail to two-way automobile traffic. This Survey will support the downtown revitalization efforts.
58 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. Photo by Joe Toth. 59 Vogenitz, 54. ______
E. PREVIOUS HISTORIC RESOURCE SURVEYS The City of Cuyahoga Falls does not have a National Register or local historic district. None of the survey properties have been listed in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), Historic American Engineering Record (HAER), or are National Historic Landmarks (NHL). Previously recorded and documented properties include:
City of Cuyahoga Falls National Register Nominations, within the Survey Area: Falls Stamping & Welding, 1701 Front St. (NR# 16000045) First Congregational Church of Cuyahoga Falls, 130 Broad Blvd. (NR# 75001538) Falls Theater, 2220 Front St. (determined eligible for NRN listing by SHPO 10/21/15)
City of Cuyahoga Falls National Register Nominations, outside of the Survey Area: Chuckery Race, located along the Cuyahoga River (NR# 72001047) Jim Brown House, 3491 Akron Peninsula Rd (NR# 79000299) Furnace Run Aqueduct, Furnace Run (NR# 79000301) Hunt - Wilke Farm, 2049 Bolanz Rd (NR# 93000080) Botzum Farm, 3486 Riverview Rd (NR# 99001271) Oakwood Cemetery Chapel, 2420 Oakwood Drive (NR# 99001334)
Ohio Historic Inventory (OHI) Forms for the City of Cuyahoga Falls previously recorded with SHPO, a list of which is attached as Appendix F.
______
IV. Results of Field Investigation - Survey Area Historic Context
Results of the Field Investigation are organized into nine historical eras
A. Settlement 1800-1840 B. Pre-Civil War 1840-1860 C. Civil War 1861-1864 D. Post-Civil War 1865-1875 E. Industrialization 1875-1900 F. Progressive Years - World War I 1900-1920 G. Post-World War I 1918-1929 H. Great Depression 1929-1940 I. World War II and Post-World War II 1940-1960
The themes, architectural styles and building types for each of the seventy (70) buildings within the Survey Area have been evaluated within their historical context. Attached as Appendix C is a Cuyahoga Falls Master Table organized chronologically by historic era and including for each of seventy (70) surveyed properties:
Photo Date of Construction Historic Name Architect/Builder OHI Number Theme Address Parcel No. Architectural Style/Type
The Survey is focused on establishing boundaries for local and National Register historic districts. Historical development and historic contexts are therefore focused on finding common themes and significant architecture.
The water power of the Cuyahoga River attracted early Connecticut Western Reserve settlers to Cuyahoga Falls leading to industrial growth along the river banks and commercial development on the east side of Front Street largely between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd. Buildings within the Survey Area showed a consistent associated theme of Commerce. The 1874 Comstock Building at 2091 Front Street and ca. 1889 Roethig Building at 2121 Front Street are Two-Part Commercial buildings designed in the Romanesque Revival style and represent nineteenth century commercial development within the Survey Area. Interstate migration included an indication of immigration from the New England states of Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and foreign migration from Germany.
The following is a chronological presentation of identified survey properties by historical era.
______
A. SETTLEMENT 1800 -1840
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes 226,234 Italianate/ New ca. 1835, 1970 addition, Commerce; C. Henry Plum House SUM0080708 Portage Trail Formalism 1977 offices adjoined Connecticut
One (1) residential single dwelling was surveyed dating to the Settlement 1800-1840 period, the C. Henry Plum House, located on Portage Trail and the oldest building in the Survey Area. The identified historic themes for the property are Commerce and Interstate Migration from Connecticut. The house was constructed as a single dwelling in ca. 1835. C. Henry Plum purchased the property from John F. Vanneman in 1844. C. Henry Plum was born in 1814 in Middleton, Connecticut to parents of English descent. He married Nancy North Plum in Connecticut in 1835 and moved to Ohio in 1836-37 settling in Monroe Falls where he established a shoe business. He came to Cuyahoga Falls where he acquired this house and conducted his shoe business in the commercial district on Front Street for almost 40 years. He died in 1903 at the age of 90 years as a highly regarded citizen of the community. By 1916, the house was converted to multi-family apartment use, with a vendor in the building which continued to 1958, as evidenced on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. A New Formalism style addition to the south in ca. 1970 allowed for office use. The house is significant as representative of the Connecticut Western Reserve origins of Cuyahoga Falls with owners emigrating from Connecticut. The house demonstrates early residential houses on Portage Trail located between 2nd and 3rd Street close to the commercial and industrial districts along Front Street and C. Henry Plum’s place of employment. The house was later updated to include Italianate style elements. A practical conversion of the building to multi-family and commercial use in 1916 took advantage of the location along the main corridor of Portage Trail.
B. PRE-CIVIL WAR 1840-1860
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes Commerce; John Brainard House SUM0068908 2119 3rd St. Greek Revival 1853 New York Vernacular/ Side- Commerce; John H. Insande House SUM0373608 2132 4th St. 1853 Gabled Massachusetts
Two (2) residential single dwellings were surveyed dating to the Pre-Civil War 1840-1860 period, and include the 2119 3rd Street House, located on 3rd Street and the John H. Insande House on 4th Street. No remaining historic commercial buildings were found within this time period in the Survey Area. The identified historic themes for the properties are Commerce and Interstate Migration from New York and Massachusetts. Both John Insande and the Brainard family had associations with commerce and industry.
John Brainard worked as a bookmaker in Cuyahoga Falls and under his ownership built this one and one- half story 1853 Greek Revival style house originally on the southeast corner of Portage Trail and 3rd
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Street. The house was relocated to the south of the lot on 3rd Street between 1882 and 1915, where it remains today. An Italianate style bay window with wide eaves and double brackets is on the west elevation. The Greek Revival home is one of the oldest remaining homes in Cuyahoga Falls and representative of mid-nineteenth century Western Reserve architecture. It is the only example of Greek Revival style architecture identified within the Survey Area.
The 1853 side-gabled wood frame Insande House was owned by John H. Insande in 1874. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1833, he received little education beginning work in a nail factory at the age of ten years and later learned the iron trade. He came to Cuyahoga Falls in 1857 where he worked as a foreman for James Forge and finished learning the machinist trade with Bill Bros., well known machinists and inventors. He then bought a flouring mill and saw mill, and later worked as a foreman. He was a founder of the Falls Wire Company which he managed for 15 years becoming a successful businessman. He served as a town councilman and as a member of the Board of Education. The building is significant as representative of an early remaining mid-nineteenth century side-gabled Cuyahoga Falls home, for Insande’s association with commercial development in Cuyahoga Falls and interstate migration from Massachusetts to the Connecticut Western Reserve.
The First Congregationalist Church of Cuyahoga Falls - Pilgrim United Church of Christ (NR# 75001538) was constructed in 1847 during this era, located at 130 Broad Blvd.
C. CIVIL WAR 1861-1865 NONE
D. POST-CIVIL WAR 1865-1875
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes Queen Anne/ Cross- 1870; alterations ca. Mary D. French House SUM0070908 2216 3rd St. None Gabled 1900, 1931-1948
Smith D. Tifft House SUM0071508 2244 3rd St. Vernacular/ Gabled Ell 1873 Commerce
Two (2) residential single dwellings were surveyed dating to the Post-Civil War 1865-1875 period, and include the Mary D. French House and the Smith D. Tifft House both located on 3rd Street. No remaining historic commercial buildings were found within this time period in the Survey Area. The identified historic theme of Commerce is related to Smith D. Tifft’s operation of a meat market on Front Street.
The 1870 cross-gabled Mary D. French House is shown on the 1882 Panoramic View of Cuyahoga Falls as a Gable Front type with one-story shed roof wing to the rear. The 1901 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map indicates a cross-gabled addition with wrap-around porch at the façade and bay window on the south elevation, suggesting an update between 1882 and 1901 in the Queen Anne style. The wrap-around porch was removed between 1931 and 1948, leaving the partial porch at the façade and south ______
elevation. The enclosed porch to the north is a later alteration after 1958. The house has been divided into three apartment units. Mary was the widow of Martin French, who passed away before 1860. The building is representative of a cross-gabled wood frame home with Queen Anne elements popular during the later nineteenth century.
The 1873 Smith D. Tifft House is significant as representative of a Gabled Ell house type popular in the mid-to-late part of the twentieth century. Smith Tifft was born in Western Star, Ohio in 1840, coming to Cuyahoga Falls with his parents in the same year. He operated a meat market and was listed in the 1879-1880 City Directory as a “dealer in Fresh and Salt Meats, Poultry, Fish and Oysters.” His shop was located on the east side of Front Street south of Portage Trail. He remained engaged in the stock and butcher business for 25 years. He later entered the carriage business, followed by working at the Howe & Company Flour mills. He held the office of town clerk and was a member of the Starr Lodge, F. & A.M. He was vice-president and director of the Falls Savings & Loan Association and a leading businessman of Cuyahoga Falls.
E. INDUSTRIALIZATION 1875-1900
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes COMMERCIAL Romanesque Revival/ Commerce; Comstock Building SUM0078908 2091 Front St. 1874 New York; Two-Part Commercial Fraternal Romanesque Revival/ Roethig Building SUM0079308 2121 Front St. ca. 1889, altered 1970s Commerce Two-Part Commercial RESIDENTIAL 122 Broad James A. Vaughn House SUM0068808 Italianate/ Italian Villa ca. 1880 Commerce Blvd. Vernacular/ Side- 2246 4th Street House SUM0374208 2246 4th St. 1883 None Gabled
Commerce; George E. Hanson House SUM0077508 2250 4th St Eastlake/ Gable Front 1883 New Hampshire Commerce; Zenas Mosteller House SUM0077408 2234 4th St Eastlake/ Gabled Ell ca. 1885 Pennsylvania Commerce; Jabob F. Weidner House SUM0373508 2140 4th St. Queen Anne 1889 German
Two (2) commercial buildings and five (5) residential single dwellings were surveyed dating to the Industrialization 1875-1900 period. The commercial buildings include the Comstock Building and Roethig Building both Two-Part Commercial buildings designed in the Romanesque Revival style located on Front Street, between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd. The identified historic theme for these properties is Commerce with businesses including dry goods, meats and provisions, along with a Knights of Pythias Fraternal Lodge. Residential buildings include the James A. Vaughn House located on Broad Blvd.; and the 2246 4th Street House, George E. Hanson House, Zenas Mosteller House and Jacob Weidner House
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all located on 4th Street. The identified historic themes for these properties are Commerce, Interstate Migration from New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania and Foreign Migration from Germany.
Commercial The 1874 Comstock Building is the oldest commercial building identified within the Survey Area replacing an earlier Comstock Building lost to fire. The building was originally designed in the Romanesque Revival style with the first floor arcade composed of quoined stone piers at the ends with cast-iron decorative columns. They have since been replaced with brick arches. The Combination Atlas Map of Summit County, Ohio, 1874 illustrates the rebuilt Samuel Comstock general store which sold dry goods including: hats, caps, fancy goods, groceries, crockery and hardware. Samuel Comstock was born in New York in 1805 and came to Cuyahoga Falls with his brother Ezra in ca. 1836.
Figure 29. Comstock Building, Historic Image 1874 60
Ezra Starr Comstock was a prominent citizen and a Front Street banker. Samuel Comstock retired from his dry goods business circa 1880. The 1889 City Directory lists Towler & Inskeep as dry goods merchants operating in the Comstock building. The Knights of Pythius fraternal organization Pavonia Lodge No. 301 occupied the second floor. In 1918, the Mitchell-Hower Co. dry goods business was located in the building. The building is significant as a Two-Part Commercial type building with a dry goods store for more than a century in the downtown commercial area. First floor alterations were made in the 1970s with the update of the Front Street commercial area.
60 Combination Atlas Map of Summit County, Ohio. Philadelphia: Tackabury, Mead & Moffett, 1874. ______
Figure 30. Comstock Building, Photo ca. 189561
Figure 31. Comstock Building, Photo 2016
The ca. 1889 Roethig Building is designed in the Romanesque Revival style. The façade was altered in the 1970’s with two contemporary storefronts of red brick with concrete transom at the first floor. The Roethig brothers, William and Edward, ran a provisions store with brother, Alfred as salesman advertising in the 1891 City Directory as a “Meat market, dealers in choice meats, fish etc.” on Front Street. Raymond “Casey” Jones later bought the building and re-established Jones Confectionary after his father closed the business in the Jones Building at 2097 Front Street. Jones Confectionary supplied the ice cream for Silver Lake Amusement Park. The 1931 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map indicates a candy kettle in the rear east portion of the building. The building remained under the ownership of the Jones family until 1980. The building is significant as a Two-Part Commercial building; the home of the Roethig Brothers meat market and Jones Confectionary, and as one of the oldest remaining commercial buildings on Front Street.
61 Seguin, Marilyn and Scott. Images of America Cuyahoga Falls. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2000. ______
Figure 32 . Roethig Building, Postcard, 1907 62
Figure 33. Roethig Building, Interior, undated63
Figure 34. Roethig Building, Photo 2016
62 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 63 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987. ______
Residential Residential homes built within the era are associated with several prominent businessmen engaged in local commerce including the Italianate style ca. 1880 James Vaughn House, a partner of Turner, Vaughn & Taylor machine manufacturers on Front Street south of Broad Blvd on the east bank of the river. The house was converted to office use in ca. 1970.
The Eastlake style Gable Front George E. Hanson House was built in 1883. George was born in New Hampshire in 1851 and operated a boots and shoe shop on the east side of Front Street, south of Portage Trail. The Eastlake style Gabled Ell Zenas Mosteller House was built ca. 1885. Zenas, a house carpenter, was born in Pennsylvania in 1857. He built many of the houses on Broad Blvd. He headed the carpentry labor for the building of the Silver Lake Park Pavilion in 1903 which was described as a herculean task requiring up to 16 railcars of lumber, the largest order that the Falls Lumber Company of Cuyahoga Falls had ever received. The Queen Anne style Jacob Weidner House was built in 1889. Weidner was employed as a cooper with a shop on the west side of Front Street, immigrating to America from Germany in 1849. The continued connection to the Connecticut Western Reserve New England roots is demonstrated with interstate migration; with homeowners engaged in commerce with businesses on Front Street.
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F. PROGRESSIVE YEARS –World War I 1900-1920
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes COMMERCIAL None/ Two-Part Commerce: Kanecky Building SUM0372708 2241 Front St. ca. 1900 Commerical Grocery Romanesque Revival/ Frank A. Jones Building SUM0079008 2097 Front St. 1901 Commerce Two-Part Commercial 2101-2115 1903, altered ca. 1945, Commerce; Alhambra Arcade SUM0079108 None Front St. altered 1970s Theatre George C. Tifft Co. 2215 & 2219 Mediterranean SUM0079908 Elements/Two-Part 1908 Commerce Building Front St. Commercial 2164 &2168 Vernacular/ Two-Part Falls Laundry Building SUM0079608 1910 Commerce Front St. Commercial Vernacular/ Two-Part Commerce; Syme Bldg SUM0371608 1832 Front St. 1912 Commercial Grocery 111-115 Vernacular/ Two-Part Hedden Building SUM0370408 1915 Commerce Portage Trail Commercial 119 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part Commerce/ Smith Building SUM0080108 1915 Trail Commercial Medical Office 123&125 Vernacular/ Two-Part Fox Building SUM0080208 1915 Auto Portage Trail Commercial 149&151 Vernacular/ Two-Part Commerce/ Hachtel Buliding SUM0080608 1915 Portage Trail Commercial German Cuyahoga Falls Savings None/Financial 1915, altered 1947, Commerce: SUM0079408 2131 Front St. Bank Building Institution 1970s Bank 133-137 Vernacular/ Two-Part IOOF/ I.O.O.F Bldg SUM0080408 1916 Portage Trail Commercial Commerce Cuyahoga Falls Reporter 139 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part Literature/ SUM0080508 1916 Publishing/ Building Trail Commercial Medical Office Fox-Buick Sales Co. Commercial/ Two-Part Commerce; SUM0372508 2250 Front St. 1916 Building Commercial Auto Vernacular/ Two-Part Schnabel Building SUM0372808 2385 Front St. 1916 Commerce Commercial Kroger Grocery & Baking Commerce: SUM0080008 2225 Front St. None ca. 1917 Co. Building Grocery 127 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part Porter Building SUM0080308 1918 Commerce Trail Commercial 129&131 Vernacular/ Two-Part Snook Building SUM0371308 1918 Commerce Portage Trail Commercial
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Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes INSTITUTIONAL 1908-1909; alterations St John's Episcopal Church SUM0066908 2220 2nd St. Late Gothic Revival Episcopalian 1958, 1980 Roman St. Joseph Parish Church SUM0332908 1761 2nd St. Late Gothic Revival 1912-1913 Catholic RESIDENTIAL Vernacular/ Gable Commerce; Robert M. Medkeff House SUM0374108 2240 4th St. ca. 1900 Front Delaware Methodist Episcopal 247 Stow Ave. Mediterranean SUM0373008 Elements/ American 1905 Methodist Church Parsonage (1905) Foursquare 420 Portage Craftsman/ Bungalow Perry House SUM0371508 ca. 1910 Connecticut Trail Dormer Front Vernacular/ Commerce/ William H. Stillwell House SUM0373208 2055 3rd St. ca. 1914 Homestead German 220 Portage Vernacular/ American 1915, ca. 1977 offices Bert H. Smith House SUM0371008 Commerce Trail Foursquare adjoined
Six (6) commercial buildings; two (2) institutional church buildings; and four (4) residential single dwellings including a parsonage were surveyed dating from 1900-1914. The commercial buildings include the Kanecky Building and George C. Tifft Co. Building both on Front Street, north of Portage Trail; the Frank A. Jones Building, Alhambra Arcade and Falls Laundry Building between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd.; and the Syme Building on Front Street south of Broad Street at Prospect Avenue. The identified historic themes for these properties is Commerce. Institutional church buildings include the Roman Catholic St. Joseph Parish Church on 2nd Street at Sackett Ave. and St. John’s Episcopal Church on 2nd Street at Portage Trail. In addition, the Methodist Episcopal Church Parsonage was constructed on Stow Ave. The identified historic theme for these properties is Religion. Residential buildings include the Robert M. Medkeff House on 4th Street, the Perry House on Portage Trail, and the William H. Stillwell House on 3rd Street. The identified historic themes for these properties are Commerce, Interstate Migration from Delaware and Connecticut, and Foreign Migration from Germany.
Twelve (12) commercial buildings; and one (1) residential single dwelling were surveyed dating to the World War I era 1914-1918. The commercial buildings include: eight (8) buildings on the north side of Portage Trail between Front and 2nd Streets - the Hedden, Smith, Fox, Hachtel, IOOF, Cuyahoga Falls Reporter, Porter and Snook Buildings on Portage Trail; the Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building on Front Street between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd.; Fox-Buick, and Kroger Grocery & Baking Co. Buildings on Front Street between Portage Trail and Stow Avenue; and Schnabel Building on Front Street at Wetmore Ave. The identified historic themes for these properties are Commerce, IOOF, Literature and Publishing and Foreign Migration: German. The residential building is the Bert H. Smith House on Portage Trail.
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Commercial The ca. 1900 Kanecky Building and 1908 George C. Tifft Co. Building are both Two-Part Commercial brick buildings on Front Street, north of Portage Trail. John Kanecky operated a grocery on the first floor storefront with a residence on the second floor. The unadorned red brick building provided a simple and practical live-work arrangement in the downtown commercial area. In comparison, the George C. Tifft Co. Building exhibits elements of the Mediterranean style. The first floor façade is comprised of two stucco storefronts. A dentilled stone course defines the first floor from the second floor composed of blond brick. The second floor central bay has a pair of 1/1 double hung windows resting on stone sills with canted brick infill blind arch and secondary segmented arch above. Wood bay windows with a central pediment at the roof are supported by brackets and flank the central bay.
Figure 35. Kanecky Building, Photo ca. 191264
Figure 36. Kanecky Building, Photo 2016
64 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
Figure 37 . George C. Tifft Co. Building, Photo ca. 194465
Figure 38. George C. Tifft Co. Building, Photo 2016
The 1901 Frank A. Jones Building, 1903 Alhambra Arcade and 1910 Falls Laundry Building were constructed as brick Two-Part Commercial buildings located on Front Street between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd. The Jones Building replaced an earlier two-story wood frame building on the property. Jones operated a confectionary business “F.A. Jones & Son” with his son Raymond. The business advertised as caterers and confectioners selling wholesale and retail ice cream. Kippy’s Restaurant moved to the building in 1946 and remodeled the first floor storefront. Kippy’s was a popular local restaurant founded in Akron, becoming a regional chain. The restaurant remained in the building for 38 years until 1984. The 1901 Two-Part Commercial brick building is designed in the Romanesque Revival style. Fluted Tuscan columns support the second floor, which were added at a later date according to historic image.
65 Ibid. ______
Figure 39. Frank A. Jones Building, Photo undated66
Figure 40. Frank A. Jones Building, Photo 2016
The Alhambra Arcade was constructed in 1903 as a Two-Part Commercial building replacing an earlier building on the property. In 1916 a haberdasher operated in the north storefront and a confectioner in the south storefront with center entryway leading to a two-story Alhambra movie theater. The three bay façade was defined by a central open arcade, flanked by storefronts, leading to a movie theater at the rear. Historic photos show the building was altered circa 1945. It was refaced with smooth limestone block, steel sash windows and vitrolite sign board at the second floor, evoking the International style. The interior was redesigned as an arcade of retail spaces and the movie theater was removed. In 1950-1960, the Hale Arcade and Hale Lanes Bowling operated in the building. Other businesses included Modern Way Driving School, Falls Credit Bureau, Maria’s Fine Foods, Roger’s Jewelry, Falls Restaurant, Falls Music Center, Wiener Shoe Store, Falls Pharmacy, with various professional and medical offices on the second floor. The building was altered again in the 1970s to its present appearance. The dominating feature is a contemporary seven panel integral pattern wall system of rust color truncated cylinders covering the second floor façade. The building is historically significant as the location of the Alhambra Arcade and Theater, and has adapted over time as an important center of commerce for the City of Cuyahoga Falls. The 1903 Alhambra Arcade has had three significant alterations since its construction as a Two-part Commercial building as pictured below:
66 Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial History 1812-2012. Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial Committee, 2013. ______
Figure 41. Alhambra Arcade, Frank A. Jones Building, Figure 42 . Alhambra Arcade, Photo 194467 Comstock Building, Photo 1944. 68
Figures 43 & 44. Alhambra Arcade, Photos 1968. Alteration ca. 1945.69
Figure 45. Alhambra Arcade, Photo 2016. Alteration 1970s
67 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 68 Ibid. 69 Fred Guerra, City Planner; Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
The 1910 Falls Laundry Building is comprised of blond brick. A sign board is located above within a brick rounded frame with rectangular stone accents. A second floor picture window with sash horns and leaded Luxfer glass in the fixed upper sash is flanked by smaller windows of the same style set within a recessed brick arch frame with decorative keystone. The windows rest on stone sills supported by stone brackets. The keystone ties into a dentilled band at the parapet. The brick facade exterior has square stone accents at the outer vertical edges of the first floor and second floor above the arched window. The building was constructed in 1910 to the north of the Wetmore House property. The 1916 Sanborn map indicates that a Chinese hand laundry occupied the building. The 1922 City Directory lists Falls Laundry as the storefront tenant and Dr. Nathaniel G. Oatis, dentist with a practice, likely on the second floor. In the 1950s and 1960s, L.S. Moser Jewelry and Smart Set Beauty Salon were located in the building. The Falls Laundry Building is significant as a Two-Part Commercial type popular in the early twentieth century, accommodating commercial business on the first floor, and an office on the second floor along the Front Street commercial corridor.
The 1912 Syme Building is located on Front Street south of Broad Street at Prospect Avenue. The building was constructed in 1912 by Archie B. Syme, who headed a construction and painting business in Cuyahoga Falls. In 1918, Syme & Weirick grocers was the first floor tenant operated by Elsie Syme (sister of Archie) and M. Earl Weirick. The 1920 U.S. Census indicates Elsie and sister Julia Syme lived in the building. From 1946-1987, “The Glen’s” restaurant owned by the Fugarino family occupied the building. Hunt’s restaurant followed in 1994 and continues to operate in the building. The first floor two-bay storefront area has been modified with ashlar sandstone facing. The building is significant as a Two-Part Commercial type popular in the early twentieth century, accommodating commercial businesses with the convenience of a second floor residence along the Front Street commercial corridor.
The surge in the automobile industry and corresponding demand for rubber products resulted in an industrial boom in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. The commercial district expanded from Front Street to the west onto the north side Portage Trial between Front and 2nd Streets druing the World War I years. Two-Part Commercial buildings were built on Portage Trail with storefronts on the first floor and either office or residential units on the second floor. The buildings are characteristically adjacent to the sidewalk with smaller frontage and larger depth creating a rectangular building form. Building materials are brick, and building height is consistently two stories. The vernacular style reflects an overall simplicity and practicality of construction of the early twentieth century. Storefronts on Portage Trail included a realty/insurance firm, later dry foods business with the owner residence on the second floor, and a milliner and barbershop business in the 1915 Hedden building. The Smith, Fox and Hachtel buildings were built in the same year with storefronts including a plumbing and heating business in the 1915 Smith Building and residential units on the second floor; an auto repair business in the 1915 Fox Building: and, a bakery, confectionary and restaurant with residence on the second floor in the 1915 Hachtel Building.
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Fox Building Smith Building Hedden Building
Figure 46. Fox, Smith and Hedden Buildings, Photo undated70
Figure 47. Fox’s Buick garage on Portage Trail between 2nd & Front Sts., Mr. Fox on right, undated 71
Fox Building Smith Building Hedden Building
Figure 48. Fox, Smith and Hedden Buildings, Photo 2016
70 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 71 Ibid. ______
The 1915 Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building on Front Street to the south of Portage Trail was constructed in the Neoclassical style with a two-story portico defined by monumental Tuscan limestone columns in antis with entablature. Historic images show the portico was infilled with stone and glass ca. 1947. The façade was altered again in the 1970s when the portico area was infilled with red brick with corbelling details. The building has housed a variety of important Cuyahoga Falls banking institutions, replacing an earlier building on the property operated by the International Bank in 1882. Officers of Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank included: C.M. Walsh President; W.R. Lodge, Vice President; and, Charles McCuskey, Vice President and Treasurer. In 1930, the Central Deposit Bank & Trust occupied the building, followed by First-Central Trust in 1943. First National Bank of Akron occupied the building in 1947 and likely made the first alterations to the façade. Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank
Figure 49 . Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building, Figure 50. Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Photo undated 72 Building, Photo 195073
Figure 51. Cuyahoga Falls Savings Bank Building, Photo 2016
72 Ibid. 73 Ibid. ______
Commercial expansion continued in 1916 with the I.O.O.F. and Cuyahoga Falls Reporter buildings; and the 1918 Porter and Snook Building constructed in the Portage Trail to 2nd Street block. The 1916 dedicated I.O.O.F. Lodge housed a bowling alley and barber in the basement with commercial storefront tenants in 1918 included Falls Pharmacy and the Cut Rate Store. The 1916 Cuyahoga Falls Reporter building was constructed under the ownership of Edward H. Bauman, publisher of the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter newspaper. Edward Bauman was publisher of the newspaper until his death in 1932. His son William Edward Bauman continued publication of the newspaper in this building. Publication of the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter continued operation in the building until at least ca. 1970 with the retirement of William Bauman. The 1918 Cuyahoga Falls Directory lists grocer William C. Overhalt operating in the building. In 1926, the upstairs housed office tenants. The 1918 Porter building housed Bourman Printing Company with Edward and Estella Bourman residing on the second floor. The 1918 Snook Building was owned by Charles Snook who became Vice President of the Cuyahoga Savings and Loan Co. by 1926. He operated a meat and grocery business in the Wild Building at 116 Portage Trail. Tenants in the Snook Building included a billiards business and laundry. Furnished rooms were offered on the second floor.
Figure 52. Snook Building, Interior, Photo undated. 74
Three Two-Part Commercial buildings were built on Front Street in 1916-ca. 1917. The 1916 Fox-Buick Sales building at the corner of Stow Ave. and Front Street to the north of Portage Trail; the 1916 Schnabel Building part of the tannery complex on Front Street at Wadsworth Ave.; and the ca 1917 Kroger Grocery & Baking Co. building later known as the home of “Tommy’s” restaurant which has been significantly altered.
74 Ibid. ______
Figure 53. Fox-Buick Sales Building, Photo 195975
Figure 54 . Fox-Buick Sales Building, Photo 2016.
Institutional Institutional buildings constructed during the Progressive years include St. John’s Episcopal Church and St. Joseph Parish Church. Both church buildings replaced earlier church buildings at the same locations to accommodate growing congregations of parishioners. St. John’s Episcopal Church was organized in 1830 with the first building a log cabin in Stow near Wetmore Park shared with several other denominations. A white frame St. John’s Episcopal Church was the first church; built on Church Square in 1835. In 1907 it was razed to make way for the current church completed in 1909. St. John’s Episcopal Church is significant as a Late Gothic style masonry church and as the home of the oldest Episcopal Church in Summit County.
75 Summit Memory. Available at http://summitmemory.org. ______
St. Joseph Parish Church replaced an earlier brick church built in 1887. Dedicated in 1913, the church continued to grow and in 1922-1923, expanded with a school at 1909 3rd Street and Falls Ave. In 1933, the sanctuary was remodeled including additional seating, a bell tower with 1,000 lbs. McNeely bell and Seth Thomas eight-day clock with an electric bell ringer. Another renovation was conducted in 1978 and completed in 1983, which included a new basement. The church building is significant as a Late Gothic Revival style Church of St. Joseph Parish in Cuyahoga Falls for 185 years.
Other church related construction during the Progressive era includes the 1905 Methodist Episcopal Church Parsonage. The American Foursquare type house is composed of rusticated brick with Mediterranean style terra cotta tile roof. The house later became associated with the McGowan Funeral Home located adjacent to the west with the house at 247 Stow Avenue. The building is significant as a masonry American Foursquare type home popular at the turn of the twentieth century and as the Methodist Episcopal Church Parsonage.
Figure 55. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Postcard 191976
Figure 56. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Photo 2016.
76 Summit Memory. Available at http://summitmemory.org. ______
Residential Residential homes built within the era were smaller and practical as Gable Front, Craftsman Bungalow, Homestead and American Foursquare types, all associated with local citizens engaged in commerce. The Gable Front ca. 1900 Robert M. Medkeff House was owned by Anna and Robert Medkeff who was born in Delaware, and came to Cuyahoga Falls working as an iron moulder. The Perry House was built ca. 1910 in the Craftsman style as a Dormer Front Bungalow as the house of John and May (Mary) F. Perry on 1.43 acre lot at the south west corner of Northampton Road (Portage Trail) and 4th Street. John Perry was employed as a travelling salesman. May Perry was the daughter of Joshua and Julia L’Hommedieu from whom she acquired this land. Joshua L’Hommedieu was born in Connecticut in 1821. He lived on this property and held various Cuyahoga Falls offices including mayor, postmaster, school board and justice of the peace, while operating grocery and liquor store businesses. Between 1915 and 1921 the L’Hommedieu-Perry land on which this house is located was subdivided into the May Perry Allotment. The William H. Stillwell House was built in ca. 1914 as a Homestead type. William was employed as a cooper with a shop on the west side of Front Street, immigrating to America from Germany in 1849. The continued connection to the Connecticut Western Reserve New England roots is demonstrated with interstate migration; with homeowners engaged in commerce with businesses on Front Street. The 1915 Bert H. Smith House on Portage Trail is an America Foursquare type constructed as a single family house. It was the home of Bert H. Smith, a laborer in the rubber industry working at the Firestone Company in Akron. In 1931, during the Depression, it was converted to a two-family house. By 1948, a commercial storefront faced Portage Trail with a dwelling to the rear. The house was connected to the C. Henry Plum House, 226-234 Portage Trial, with a contemporary one-story brick hyphen building at the façade and west elevations in ca.1977.
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G. POST- WORLD WAR I - 1919-1929
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes COMMERCIAL Wayne Agency Co. 2146-2152 Vernacular/Two-Part SUM0079508 1922 Commerce Building Front St. Commercial 208 Portage NeoClassical/ 1922; 1953 addtion and Telephone/ Ohio Bell-AT&T Building SUM0370980 Trail Commericial addition after 1958 Telegraph 143&145 Vernacular/ Two-Part Literature/ Bauman Building SUM0370508 1926 Publishing/ Portage Trail Commercial Medical Office 247 Stow Ave. Colonial Revival/ McGowan Funeral Home SUM0372908 1928 Funerary (1928) American Foursquare 116 & 118 Vernacular/ Two-Part Commerce: Wild Building SUM0331808 1928 Pharmacy; Portage Trail Commercial Professional 120 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part Commerce:Groc Senich Building SUM0331908 1929 ery; Professional Trail Commercial Medical Office 1884 & 1886 Vernacular/ Two-Part Fabricated Jenks Building SUM371708 1929 Metal Products; Front St. Commercial Social /Fraternal INSTITUTIONAL First United Methodist 245 Portage NeoClassical/ Colonial 1922; 1953, 1965 SUM0066808 Methodist Church Trail Revival additions Cuyahoga Falls Fire International/ Fire 1926, significantly SUM0371908 1924 Front St. Public Safety Station No. 1 Station altered 1970s APARTMENT BUILDING 2245 4th Street Apartment Colonial Revival/ Apartment SUM0374008 2245 4th St. 1928 Building Apartment House Building RESIDENTIAL 405 Portage Colonial George R. James House SUM0370808 Revival/American 1920 Commerce Trail Foursquare 2219 &2221 4th Street 2219 &2221 SUM0373708 Verncular/Duplex ca. 1921 None Duplex 4th Street 414 Portage Craftsman/ Side- Martha Mallick House SUM0371408 1923 None Trail Gabled Reverend Theodore E. Lutheran SUM0373808 2233 4th St. Craftsman/ Bungalow 1924 Prinz House Reformed
Seven (7) commercial buildings; two (2) institutional buildings; one (1) apartment building; and, four (4) residential buildings were surveyed dating to the Post-World War I era 1919-1929. The commercial buildings include: the Wayne Agency Building on Front Street between Portage Trail and Broad Blvd.; four (4) buildings on Portage Trail between Front and the intersection of 2nd Street- the Ohio Bell-AT&T, Bauman, Wild and Senich buildings; McGowan Funeral Home on Stow Ave. between 2nd and 3rd Streets; and Jenks Building on Front Street south of Broad. The identified historic themes for these properties are Commerce, Telephone/Telegraph, Literature and Publishing, Professional Offices, Fabricated Metal Products, Funerary, and Social/Fraternal. The institutional buildings include the First United Methodist Church on Portage Trail at 3rd Street and Fire Station No. 1 on Front Street south of Broad with identified
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themes including Religion and Public Safety. The apartment building is 2245 4th Street Apartment Building on 4th Street. Residential buildings include the George James House and Martha Mallick House on Portage Trail and 4th Street; and the 2219 & 2221 4th Street Duplex and Reverend Theodore E. Prinz House on 4th Street. The identified historic themes are Commerce and Lutheran Reformed.
Commercial The surge in the automobile industry and demand for rubber products continued the industrial boom in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. The commercial district expanded with four new brick commercial buildings on Portage Trail, two on Front Street and a funeral home on Stow Ave. and 3rd Street. The 1926 Bauman Building, 1928 Wild Building, and 1929 Senich Building largely occupied Portage Trial - 2nd Street block; designed as vernacular Two-Part Commercial buildings with first floor storefronts including newspaper publishing, grocery store, and pharmacy; and second floor medical offices. The three-story Commercial style 1922 Ohio Bell-AT&T Building on Portage Trail at 2nd Street was used by AT&T as an office and telephone exchange building for long distance service and is the tallest building within the Survey Area. The 1922 Wayne Agency Co. Building was constructed on the Front Street to the south of Portage Trail designed as a vernacular Two-Part Commercial building with an insurance agency on the first floor and later Whipple Furniture Store in 1930 with the Knight of Pythias Pavonia Lodge No. 31 on the second floor.
Figure 57. Wayne Agency Co. Building, Photo 196877
Figure 58. Wayne Agency Co. Building, Photo 2016
77 Fred Guerra, City Planner; Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
The 1929 Jenks Building was constructed on Front Street south of Broad as another Two-Part Commercial building with a metal manufacturing business on the first floor and Junior Order of United American Mechanics on the second floor.
The buildings are characteristically adjacent to the sidewalk with smaller frontage and larger depth creating a rectangular building form. Building materials are brick, and building height is consistently two stories with one three-story building. The vernacular style reflects an overall simplicity and practicality of construction of the early twentieth century; with Neoclassical elements on the Ohio Bell-AT&T Building.
Bauman Building Cuyahoga Falls Reporter Building
Figure 59 . North Side Portage Trail facing east from 2nd Street, Photo 194378
Figure 60. 1926 Bauman Building and 1916 Cuyahoga Falls Reporter Building, Photo 2016
78 Ibid. ______
The Colonial Revival 1928 McGowan Funeral Home on Stow Ave. is overall characterized by its American Foursquare shape. The two-story building was constructed in 1928 by Carl D. McGowan as his residence and for operation of the McGowan Funeral Home. He later acquired the Howe House to the east. The Falls Theater was constructed ca. 1925 at 2218-2224 Front Street north of Portage Trail and has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register – it was not surveyed. The 1928 Falls Stamping and Welding Building at 1701 Front Street (NR#16000045), south of Broad Blvd. is listed on the National Register.
Institutional The Neoclassical First United Methodist Church replaced an earlier 1840 frame church to accommodate their growing congregation. A 1953 educational building and 1965 sanctuary wing were added. The First Church is one of the largest United Methodist congregations in Ohio. The building is significant as a Neoclassical masonry brick ecclesiastical building; and as the location of the Cuyahoga Falls First United Methodist Church for 175 years.
The two-story brick Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station No.1 building was originally constructed in 1926 in the Mediterranean style. The building was altered in the 1970s evoking modern International style elements. Fire Station No. 1 is the first dedicated fire station in Cuyahoga Falls.
Figure 61. Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station No.1, Photo undated79
Figure 62. Cuyahoga Falls Fire Station No.1, Photo 2016
79 Ibid. ______
Residential The Apartment Building at 2245 4th Street is the first of this building type in the Survey area constructed in 1928 in the Colonial Revival style. Along with the ca. 1921 Duplex at 2219&2221 4th Street, these building types offered an affordable housing option in a neighborhood setting. Single family homes constructed during this era included the Colonial Revival style 1920 George James House, at the northwest corner of Portage trail and 4th Street. George was a prominent local businessman and president of the Falls Lumber Company located. Two Craftsman style homes built during this era included the 1923 Martha Mallick House on Portage Trail and Lutheran Reformed Reverend Theodore E. Prinze House on 4th Street.
H. GREAT DEPRESSION 1929-1940
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes COMMERCIAL 338 Portage Vernacular/ One-Part Bowling; Falls Recreation Co. Bldg SUM0371208 ca. 1930 Trail Commercial Commerce 2231 &2235 Vernacular/Two-Part Commerce: Levinson's Store SUM0332108 ca. 1930 General Front St. Commercial Merchandise 2237 & 2239 Front Street 2237 & 2239 Mediterranean/ Two- SUM0372608 1930 Commerce Building Front St. Part Commercial H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Art Deco/ One-Part SUM0371808 1950 Front St. 1937 Auto Station Commercial Kippy Sandwich Shop Colonial Revival/ One- SUM0372008 2100 Front St. 1939, addition 1948 Commerce Building Part Commercial Acme Supermarket No. 8 None/ One-Part Commerce: SUM0372208 2128 Front St. 1939 Grocery: Chain Building Commercial Store INSTITUTIONAL Christian/ First Christian Church 2249,2253 3rd Late Gothic Revival/New 1929-1930, additions in SUM0373308 Disciples of (Disciples of Christ) St. Formalism 1962, 1980 Christ United States Post Colonial Revival/ Post SUM0160108 2054 2nd St. 1939 New Deal Office,Cuyahoga Falls Office APARTMENT BUILDING 325-329 Vernacular/ Two-Part Pauline Apt.Building SUM0370708 1929 Commerce Portage Trail Commercial Colonial Revival/ Commerce: Rebecca Apt. Building SUM0373408 2150 4th Street 1929 Apartment House Apt. Building 331-333 Portage Trail Apt. 331-333 Colonial Revival Commerce: SUM0080808 Elements/ Two-Part 1929 Building Portage Trail Commercial Apt. Building
Six (6) commercial buildings; two (2) institutional church buildings; and, three (3) apartment buildings were surveyed dating to the Great Depression 1929-1940 era. The commercial buildings include: the Falls Recreation Co. Building on Portage Trail between 3rd and 4th Streets; Levinson’s Store Building and 2237 & 2239 Front Street Building on Front Street north of Portage Trail; Kippy’s Sandwich Shop and Acme Supermarket No. #8 on Front Street south of Portage Trail; and, the H. F. Graham Mobile Station on Front Street south of Broad. The identified historic themes for these properties are Commerce, ______
General Merchandise, Grocery Chain Store Auto and Bowling. The institutional buildings include the First Christian Church on 3rd Street and WPA U.S. Post Office on 2nd Street. Residential buildings include three (3) apartment buildings - the Pauline Apartment Building and 331-333 Portage Trail Apartment Building on Portage Trial, and the Rebecca Apartment Building at the southwest corner of Portage Trail and 4th Street.
Commercial The One-Part Commercial building type is introduced for the first time in the Survey Area with the ca. 1930 Falls Recreation Co. Building, 1939 Kippy Sandwich Shop, 1937 H.F. Graham Mobil Oil Station, and 1939 Acme Supermarket No. 8. The automobile was becoming the preferred mode of transportation allowing business owners an easier commute from a home located outside of the downtown. Gas stations were now required for fuel.
Falls Recreation Co. Inc., with P.E. Shaw as president, occupied the Portage Trail building in 1934 offering “bowling etc.” In 1941, Charles M. Jones operated in the building as auto director and the 1958 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the use as “auto sales and service”. Falls Recreation moved to Front Street, but started on Portage Trail offering recreational relief during the Depression years.
Figure 63. Falls Recreation Co. Inc. advertisement80
80 Falls News 30 August 1962, Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
The 1939 Kippy Sandwich Shop was originally designed in the Art Deco style, later altered with Colonial Revival style elements. Kippy’s was a popular local restaurant founded in Akron, becoming a regional chain. The name Kippy came from a 1930’s comic strip Skippy; the Heaths dropped the “S”. The restaurant remained in the building until 1946 when it moved across the street to a larger location at the Jones Building at 2097 Front Street remaining there for 38 years until 1984. The building is representative of a One-Part Commercial type building popular in the early twentieth century and the first location in Cuyahoga Falls of the popular Kippy’s chain restaurant.
Figure 64. Kippy Sandwich Shop Historic Image from menu, undated 81
Figure 65 . Kippy Sandwich Shop, Photo 201682
With the growth in automobile as the primary transportation method, Automobile service centers and gasoline stations offered the opportunity to depart from the pervasive tendency to enclose commercial district space with buildings. The 1937 H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station was ideally located at the busy intersection of Front Street and Broad Blvd. originally designed in the Art Deco style replacing an earlier filling station on the property. The property came under the ownership of William Clifford in 1958; owner of the Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home adjacent to the south at 1930 Front Street. William Clifford converted the station in ca. 1960 to the Clifford’s Mini Antique Auto Museum which displays antique cars and memorabilia.
81 Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. 82 Ibid. ______
Figure 66. H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station, Photo undated 83
Figure 67. H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station, Photo undated 84
Figure 68. H.F. Graham Mobile Oil Station, Photo 2016
83 Ibid. 84 Ibid. ______
The early Acme Supermarket chain store was introduced by the F.W. Albrecht grocery company. Frederick William Albrecht founded Acme grocery stores in Akron, Ohio and adopted a cash only model for chain grocery stores after visiting “The Acme Stores” grocery business in Philadelphia in 1900. By the early 1930’s, the company had expanded regionally to include 126 small Acme neighborhood grocery stores. The Acme Supermarket No. 8 Building on Front Street is representative of the development of grocery store chains and as a One-Part Commercial building in the mid-twentieth century, but has been significantly altered since its construction as a grocery store.
Figure 69. Acme Supermarket No. 8 Building, Photo 194185
Figure 70. Acme Supermarket No. 8 Building, Photo 2016
85 Ibid. ______
Institutional The institutional buildings include the Late Gothic Revival 1929-1930 First Christian Church on Church Square at Stow Ave. The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is one of the oldest churches in Cuyahoga Falls. A Disciples Church building was dedicated in 1885 and razed to make way for the 1929 church. The stock market crash of October 1929 signaled the beginning of the Great Depression and bankruptcy for the church. The church construction became an undertaking of the Ohio Society and received additional help from the Summit County Disciples Union Church to finish their church building.
Figure 71. First Christian Church, Postcard undated86
Figure 72. First Christian Church, Photo 2016
The Colonial Revival style 1939 United States Post Office building in Cuyahoga Falls was built in 1939 and funded through the New Deal Program (1933-1943) using Public Works Administration (PWA)/Works Progress Administration (WPA) money. Supervising Architect for the building was Louis A. Simon, with Neal A. Melik as supervising engineer.
Residential Apartment buildings presented an affordable living choice. Three apartment buildings were built in 1929. The Pauline Apartments and the 331-333 Portage Trail Apartment buildings are located side-by- side on the north side of Portage Trail and are designed as Two-Part Commercial buildings with storefronts on the first floor and apartments on the second floor.
86 Seguin,119. ______
I. WORLD WAR II and POST-WORLD WAR II 1940-1955
Historic name OHI No. Address Style/Type Date Themes COMMERCIAL 2202 & 2208 Front Street 2202 & 2208 None/ One-Part SUM0372308 ca. 1945 Commerce Building Front St. Commercial 230 Portage Vernacular/ Commercial Commerce: All Paper Inc. Warehouse SUM0371108 1948 Trail Warehouse Warehouse Falls Savings and Loan International/ Finanacial 1919, significantly Commerce: SUM0374308 2140 Front St Association Building Institution altered 1949 Bank Wayne Agency None/ One-Part SUM0373108 2044 2nd St. 1950 Commerce Co.Building Commercial International/ Two-Part Commerce: F.W. Woolworth Co. Bldg. SUM0372108 2114 Front St. 1954 Commercial Chain Store INSTITUTIONAL Loyal Order of Moose Lodge International/ Two-Part 1928, significantly #918, Fraternal Order of SUM0372408 2244 Front St. Moose; Eagles Commercial altered 1951 Eagles Aerie Cuy Falls Municipal 2304, 2310 2nd Political and SUM0333008 Colonial Revival 1952 Social Welfare: Building St. Government RESIDENTIAL Vernacular/ Minimal 2237 4th Street House SUM0373908 2237 4th St. Traditional Post-World ca. 1945 None War II
Five (5) commercial buildings; one (2) institutional buildings and, one (1) residential building were surveyed dating to the World War II and Post World War II era (1940-1955). The commercial buildings include: the 2202 & 2208 Building on the northeast corner of Front Street and Portage Trail.; two (3) buildings on Front Street south of Portage Trail- the Falls Savings and Loan Association Building and F.W. Woolworth Building; the All Paper Inc. Warehouse Building on Portage Trail between 2nd and 3rd Street; and, the Wayne Agency Building on 2nd Street south of Portage Trail. The identified historic themes for these properties are Commerce, Warehouse, Bank and Chain Store. The institutional buildings include the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge-Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie on Front Street north of Portage Trail and the Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building on 2nd Street. One (1) residential home was constructed within the Survey Area.
The 2202 & 2208 Front Street building was completed in ca. 1945 as a One-Part Commercial building with four storefronts replacing an earlier hotel building. Tenants provided services including dry cleaning, shoe repair, and news stand at the busy intersection of Front Street and Portage Trail. This era saw the emergence of the International style. The 1919 Falls Savings and Loan Association Building was altered in 1949 in the International style. The 1928 Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie on Front Street was altered in 1951 in the International style. The 1954 F. W. Woolworth Co., a general merchandise chain store, was designed in the International style.
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Figure 73. Falls Savings & Loan Association, Photo 196887
Figure 74. Falls Savings & Loan Association, Photo 2016
87 Fred Guerra, City Planner; Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. ______
Figure 75. Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie, Photo 196888
Figure 76. Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie, Photo 2016
88 Ibid. ______
Figure 77. F. W. Woolworth Co., Photo 196889
Figure 78. F. W. Woolworth Co., Photo 2016
The Wayne Insurance Agency building moved from their 1922 building at 2146-2152 Front Street to a 1950 One-Part Commercial building fronting 2nd Street just south of Portage Trail. The All Paper Inc. warehouse on Portage Trail between 2nd and 3rd Streets was originally constructed as a bottle warehouse. An associated commercial store and dwelling property fronting Portage Trail, at the same address, has been demolished. In 1952, the City completed the Colonial Revival style Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building.
89 Ibid. ______
Figure 79. Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building, Photo 1950s90
90 175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987. ______
V. Summary and Recommendations
A. SUMMARY Survey data, maps and photos have been entered into individual OHI I-Forms for each of seventy (70) survey properties including thirty-seven (37) new and thirty-three (33) revised. A Map of the Survey Area is included as Appendix B. Survey results have been summarized in the Historic Architectural Survey Report Master Table, attached as Appendix C and organized chronologically by historic era, including for each property:
. Photo . Architectural Style/Type . Historic Name . Date of Construction . OHI Number . Builder, if known . Address . Theme . Parcel No.
Each survey property is cross-referenced by address, OHI Number, and indicated by historical era. The maps also include buildings currently listed on the National Register and all OHI documented buildings within the Survey Area.
B. RECOMENDATIONS 1. National Register Historic Districts Potential National Register historic districts were determined using National Register Guidelines which define significance as “present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association; specifically,
A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction…”91
The Cuyahoga Falls Downtown Commercial Historic District appears to qualify for listing on the National Register under Criterion A: Community Planning and Development and Transportation. Proposed boundaries are defined to include the western boundary by the C. Henry Plum House at 226, 243 Portage Trail which was converted to commercial use beginning in 1916, and the W.P.A. 1939 U.S. Post Office and One-Part Commercial 1950 Wayne Agency Buildings on 2nd Street, south of Portage Trail; the eastern boundary is defined by Front Street; with the north boundary at Stow Ave. and south
91 National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register Registration Form Bulletin, 37. ______
boundary delineated by buildings constructed up to 1954. The period of significance begins with the 1874 Comstock Building at 2091 Front Street as the earliest remaining commercial building and ends in 1954 with construction of the F.W. Woolworth Co. Building at 2114 Front Street, following the National Register 50 year rule. Commercial buildings within the proposed National Register Historic District represent downtown historic commercial development along Front Street beginning in the early nineteenth century which expanded to the west along Portage Trail. Development, during the twentieth century, responded to the surge in automobile usage and growth of the rubber industry. In the 1950s, the historic downtown fell into decline with the redistribution of shopping through consumer mobility of automobile transportation to shopping centers and malls on the outskirts. In 1966, Cuyahoga Falls entered the Federal Urban Renewal program to address blighted properties in the Front and Center Renewal Area, which was comprised of 33.9 acres including the downtown historic commercial district on Front Street.
Portage Trail and Front Street demonstrate the commercial area that defines downtown Cuyahoga Falls and the impact of the automobile. Historic buildings dating from 1900 to 1929 dominate the district. Commercial buildings on Portage Trail were not included in the Urban Renewal effort and retain the historic characteristics of popular vernacular Two-Part Commercial architecture of World War I and Post-World War I era built at the time of the surge in automobile usage and the expanding economy of the rubber industry. Buildings on Front Street have retained density and historic scale with Two-Part and One-Part commercial buildings; some historic buildings fell into disrepair and were demolished. Front Street demonstrates Mid-century Modern architecture intermingled with subsequent rehabilitation of historic buildings with 1970s first floor storefront alterations. Mid-century Modern architecture (1949-1954) is exhibited beginning with the 1949 Falls Savings and Loan Building designed in the International style; the 1951 International style Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #918, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie which was originally constructed in 1928; and the International style F.W. Woolworth Co. Building constructed in 1954. The proposed Cuyahoga Falls Downtown Commercial National Register Historic District encompasses 42 buildings including 32 contributing (1874-1954) and 10 non- contributing buildings (1970-1980).
In addition, Church Square represents ecclesiastical architecture with three important churches located in the Portage Trial and Stow Ave. block between 2nd and 3rd Streets. The Square appears eligible for listing on the National Register as a separate historic district under Criterion C: Architecture with representative examples of architectural styles from 1908 to 1962 including: the 1908-09 St. John’s Episcopal Church at 2220 2nd Street designed in the Late Gothic Revival style; the 1922 First United Methodist Church at 245 Portage Trail designed in the Neoclassical style with a Colonial Revival addition; and, the 1929-1930 First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Church of Cuyahoga Falls at 2249, 2253 3rd Street designed in the Late Gothic Revival style with 1962 New Formalism wing. In addition, Church Square appears eligible for listing on the National Register under Criterion A: Community Planning and Development. First known as Public Square, it was donated to the community through the financial support of early settler Judge Joshua Stow in 1834 for the sole purpose of building churches in the center of town.92 The Methodist, Episcopal and Disciples of Christ church communities have remained
92 Vogenitz, 157-58. ______
on the Square constructing church buildings and additions to accommodate their growing congregations.
A Map of potential National Register Boundaries for a downtown commercial historic district and Church Square historic district is included in attached Appendix E.
The Ohio Pipeline Pilot Initiative Grant program is offered by the Ohio Development Services Agency. The grant provides financial aid towards the preparation of National Register nominations for potential historic rehabilitation projects; more information can be found at: http://development.ohio.gov/cs/cs_ohptc.htm.
2. Local Historic District Determination of proposed Local Historic District boundaries included consideration of National Register criteria, local historic context, defining characteristics of the Survey Area, and Zoning. Peripheral areas within the Survey Area were examined to define the transition from commercial to residential. The Survey Area includes the historic commercial downtown area zoned as the MU-4 (Sub-Urban Corridor), MU-5 (Urban Center) and MU-6 (Downtown). City of Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Maps are included in attached Appendix D.
The Cuyahoga River Planning Area is defined by the Cuyahoga River as the primary feature, and major factor in the historical development of Cuyahoga Falls as part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The founding of the town and subsequent industrial and commercial development stemmed upon the water power of the river. The proposed Local Historic District encompasses the historic downtown and historic context of the Cuyahoga River. It includes the proposed National Register boundaries for a downtown commercial historic district and Church Square, which serve as the east and west boundaries of the local historic district. In addition, the local district extends to the north to Stow Ave. between 4th Street and the Cuyahoga River; and south to Chestnut Blvd. between 2nd Street and the Cuyahoga River. It encompasses a boundary to allow for design review and compatible development within the historic commercial area, and takes into consideration current zoning designations. A Map of the potential Local Historic District is included in attached Appendix E.
3. Design Guidelines Update With recent renewal efforts for the downtown commercial area and goal of designation of a local historic district, a Design Guidelines update is recommended incorporating Secretary of Interior Standard’s for Rehabilitation and local architectural styles. It is recommended that current planning initiatives, goals for renovations and parameters for new development be incorporated. CLG grant funding is available for this purpose.
4. Future Surveys A windshield survey of the City of Cuyahoga Falls indicates potential future intensive level survey areas based on evidence of significant examples of twentieth century architectural styles including: Chestnut Blvd. commercial and residential buildings; Broad Blvd. residential buildings; Post-World War II neighborhoods with houses designed and constructed by Ray W. Heslop and the Heslop Building & ______
Realty Company located on the west side of State Road and east side of Cuyahoga Falls; and, Whitelaw and Berk Street neighborhood Bungalows; with CLG grant funding available.
5. Falls Tire Company - Lawson’s Building, 1950 Newberry Street The Falls Tire Company - Lawson’s Building is recommended for local landmark designation. In addition, the building appears eligible for National Register listing under Criterion A: Commerce. The most notable industrial development of the Depression years in Cuyahoga Falls was based on the ingenuity of James “J.J.” Lawson who by the early 1950s garnered national attention with an established business model based on milk sold in jugs for pick-up; and his convenience stores “Lawson’s”. In the mid-1940s he bought the Falls Tire Company Building to grow his company, selling to Consolidated Foods Corporation of Chicago in 1958. The building is now the home of Schwebel Baking Company. The building is not located within the Survey Area, but is an important piece of Cuyahoga Falls and national history.
6. Storefront Renovation Program It is recommended that the City of Cuyahoga Falls Facade Program be re-implemented or modified to provide grants or low-interest loans for storefront renovation. The program would offer a financial incentive for rehabilitation of historic storefronts, signage and lighting within the proposed local and National Register historic districts. It would promote economic development efforts and support planning initiatives for the downtown commercial area.
7. Main Street Program It is recommended that the Main Street Program in support of the downtown revitalization effort be explored. The four point Main Street Approach builds on existing resources and fostered community leadership and support on behalf of the central historic business district through organization, design, promotion and economic development. Information about the program is available at Heritage Ohio – Ohio Main Street Program http://www.heritageohio.org/programs/ohio-main-street-program/
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VI. Bibliography
Primary
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Combination Atlas Map of Summit County, Ohio. Philadelphia: Tackabury, Mead & Moffett, 1874.
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Cuyahoga Falls, U.S. Elevation Map. Available at http://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=5151613.
G.M. Hopkins Maps, Cuyahoga Falls 1915, 1921. Available at Map Collection, Cleveland Public Library.
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Massillon City Directory, 1917. Available at Ancestry.com.
Map of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 1891. Akron: Akron Map & Atlas Co., 1891. Available at Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society.
Map of Summit County, Ohio, Cuyahoga Falls. Philadelphia: Matthews & Taintor, 1856. Available at Akron-Summit County Public Library, Special Collections.
Map of the Connecticut Western Reserve from Survey by Seth Pease, 1798. Available at John Carter Brown Library, Brown University.
Mobile Gas Station, 1950 Front Street. Photo. Available at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/454089574899127658/
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Ohio Death Records 1908-1953. Available at Ancestry.com.
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Ohio Obituary Index, 1830-2010 Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center. Available at Ancestry.com.
Panoramic View of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit County 1882. Madison: Ruger & Stoner, 1882. Available at Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society.
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Photo Collection and Archives, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Co. Maps 1893, 1901, 1916,1927, 1931, 1931-1948,1931-58.
Summit Memory. Available at http://summitmemory.org.
The Falls News. Available at Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society.
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Anderson, Michael G. ed. Urban Revitalization Successful Projects in Ohio. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration, Economic Planning Assistance; and Department of Housing and Urban Development, Comprehensive Planning Assistance, June 1979. Available at Akron-Summit County Public Library.
Anthony Funeral Homes. Our History. Available at http://anthonyfh.com/2/Our-History.html
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Bellis, Mary. “A Historical Perspective On American Roads,” About Inventors. Available at http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcar3.htm.
City of Cuyahoga Falls, History, Fire Department. Available at https://cfo.cityofcf.com/web/departments/fire/history.
City of Cuyahoga Falls, History, Mayor’s Report, June 1966. Available at Akron-Summit County Public Library.
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Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial History 1812-2012. Cuyahoga Falls Bicentennial Committee, 2013.
“Cuyahoga Falls Reporter,” Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. Available at http://cuyahogafallshistory.com/2013/11/cuyahoga-falls-newspapers/.
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Doyle, William B. Centennial History of Summit County, Ohio and Representative Citizens. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company, 1908.
Falls Savings and Loan Association. National Information Center of the Federal Reserve System. Available at http://www.ffiec.gov/nicpubweb/nicweb/InstitutionHistory.aspx?parID_RSSD=680671&parDT_END=99 991231
Field Guide to Post-Victorian House Styles. The Old House Journal Corporation, 1983.
First United Methodist Church. History of First Church. Available at http://www.firstchurchcf.com/site.cfm/About-Us/History-of-First-Church.cfm.
Fraternal Order of Eagles. Available at http://www.foe.com/about.aspx.
Gordon, Stephen C. How to Complete the Ohio Historic Inventory. Columbus: Ohio Historical Society, 1992.
Hall, Laura M. “Early Days in Cuyahoga Falls,” Long Lines (Monthly Magazine of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, New York), May 1923.
Heintz, Calvin W. “The Coppacaw Story” A History of Cuyahoga Falls. Cuyahoga Falls Sesquicentennial 1812-1962.
Henderson, Wayne and Benjamin, Scott. Gas Stations. Osceola WI: Motorbooks International Publishers, 1994.
History of the F.W. Albrecht Grocery Company. Available at http://www.acmestores.com/company- history/.
History of The Kroger Co. Available at http://www.thekrogerco.com/about-kroger/history-of-kroger.
Howe, Henry. Howe’s Historical Collections of Ohio. Norwalk, Ohio: The Lansing Printing Company, Public Printers, 1896.
Hull. Arthur; Hal, Sydney A. Coal Men of America: A Biographical and Historical Review of the World’s Greatest Industry. Chicago: The Retail Coalman, 1918.
In Memory of William H. “Bill” Clifford Obituary. Mr. Ed Blog. Available at http://mredbillclifford.blogspot.com/.
Kay, Jane Holtz. Asphalt Nation. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997.
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Kippy’s Restaurant, Cuyahoga Falls Historical Society. Available at http://cuyahogafallshistory.com/2013/03/kippys-restaurant/.
Longstreth, Richard. The Buildings of Main Street. Preservation Press, 1987.
McAlester, Virginia Savage. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.
McClure, Mary L. Images of America Silver Lake Park. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2014.
Moose International. Available at http://www.mooseintl.org/public/Area/History.asp.
Myers, Sharon Moreland. The First 105 Buildings in Cuyahoga Falls (Still Standing) And A Brief History, In Honor of the City’s Bicentennial 2012. Cuyahoga Falls, 2012.
Myers, Sharon. Golden Age of Summit County Restaurants 1930-1975 , 98. Available at http://www.akronlibrary.org/SpecialCollections/images/Sharons-book-FINAL-2015-optimized.pdf
National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register Registration Form Bulletin. National Park Service. Available at https://www.nps.gov/nr/publications/bulletins/nrb16a/.
175th Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1987. Cuyahoga Falls: 175 Anniversary Commerative Book Committee, 1987.
Perrin, William Henry. History of Summit County: With an Outline Sketch of Ohio. Chicago: Baslan & Battey Historical Publishers, 1881.
Saint Joseph Parish History. Available at http://www.saintjoe.org/History.
Seguin, Marilyn and Scott. Images of America Cuyahoga Falls. Chicago: Arcadia Publishing, 2000.
Simon, Louis A. Architect (1867-1958) Living Places. Available at http://www.livingplaces.com/people/louis-a-simon.html
Souvenir Program. 125th Anniversary and Exposition of Cuyahoga Falls 1812-1937. Available at Akron- Summit County Library.
Syme Building Plaque. 1832 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls.
Telephone and Telegraph Age, “The American Telephone and Telegraph Aerial Cable Company New York and Chicago.” January 1 to December 16, 1921.
The Kroger Company – Corporate News & Info: History. Available at http://www.thekrogerco.com/corpnews/corpnewsinfo_history.htm
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The Living New Deal. Available at https://livingnewdeal.org/us/oh/page/2/
The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Telephone Service. Available at www.wvencyclopedia.org/print/Article/702.
Toman, James A. and Hays, Blaine S. Horse Trails to Regional Rails. The Story of Public Transit in Greater Cleveland. Kent: The Kent State University Press, 1996.
U. S. Department of Transportation. Office of Economics. Urban Transportation Planning in the United States – An Historical Overview (November 1992), by Edward Weiner. National Transportation Library, Washington D.C.
U.S. Postal Service Historic & Architectural Significance Survey 30 June 1983. SUM-1601-8 State Historic Preservation Office of the Ohio History Connection.
Wayne Agency Co., Our Company History. Available at http://www.wayneagency.com/
Vogenitz, Carolyn. Cuyahoga Falls Then & Now. Akron: Waterside Publishing, 2002.
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Cuyahoga River Planning Areas
Cuyahoga River Area Indicated in Light Blue
City of Cuyahoga Falls Historic Architectural Survey Report Master Table
SETTLEMENT 1800-1840
Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme
ca. 1835, 1970 C. Henry Plum 226,234 Portage 0218571 Italianate/ New Commerce; SUM0080708 addition, 1977 N/A House Trail 0218572 Formalism Connecticut offices adjoined
PRE-CIVIL WAR 1840-1860 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme
John Brainard Commerce; New SUM0068908 2119 3rd St. O217101 Greek Revival 1853 N/A House York
John H. Insande Vernacular/ Side- Commerce; SUM0373608 2132 4th St. O202174 1853 N/A House Gabled Massachusetts
POST-CIVIL WAR 1865-1875 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme
Mary D. French Queen Anne/ Cross- 1870; alterations ca. SUM0070908 2216 3rd St. O206666 N/A None House Gabled 1900, 1931-1948
Smith D. Tifft SUM0071508 2244 3rd St. O215126 Vernacular/ Gabled Ell 1873 N/A Commerce House
INDUSTRIALIZATION 1875-1900 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme COMMERCIAL
Romanesque Revival/ Commerce: New Comstock Building SUM0078908 2091 Front St. O211081 1874 N/A Two-Part Commercial York; Fraternal
Romanesque Revival/ Roethig Building SUM0079308 2121 Front St. O213862 1889, altered 1970s N/A Commerce Two-Part Commercial
RESIDENTIAL
James A. Vaughn SUM0068808 122 Broad Blvd. O212717 Italianate/ Italian Villa ca. 1880 N/A Commerce House
2246 4th Street Vernacular/ Side- SUM0374208 2246 4th St. O215778 1883 N/A None House Gabled
George E. Hanson Commerce; New SUM0077508 2250 4th St O205447 Eastlake/ Gable Front 1883 N/A House Hampshire
Zenas Mosteller Commerce; SUM0077408 2234 4th St O200099 Eastlake/ Gabled Ell ca. 1885 Zenas Mosteller House Pennsylvania
Jabob F. Weidner SUM0373508 2140 4th St. O213090 Queen Anne 1889 N/A Commerce; German House
PROGRESSIVE YEARS -WWI 1900-1920 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme COMMERCIAL
None/ Two-Part Kanecky Building SUM0372708 2241 Front St. O203191 ca. 1900 N/A Commerce: Grocery Commerical
Frank A. Jones Romanesque Revival/ SUM0079008 2097 Front St. O208518 1901 N/A Commerce Building Two-Part Commercial
2101-2115 Front 1903, altered ca. Alhambra Arcade SUM0079108 O217568 None N/A Commerce; Theatre St. 1945, altered 1970s
Mediterranean George C. Tifft Co. 2215 & 2219 SUM0079908 O200219 Elements/Two-Part 1908 N/A Commerce Building Front St. Commercial
Falls Laundry 2164 &2168 Vernacular/ Two-Part SUM0079608 O213242 1910 N/A Commerce Building Front St. Commercial
Vernacular/ Two-Part Archie B. Syme Syme Building SUM0371608 1832 Front St. O204985 1912 Commerce; Grocery Commercial Construction
111-115 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part Hedden Building SUM0370408 O217574 1915 N/A Commerce Trail Commercial Vernacular/ Two-Part Commerce/ Medical Smith Building SUM0080108 119 Portage Trail O217572 1915 N/A Commercial Office
123&125 Vernacular/ Two-Part Fox Building SUM0080208 O217573 1915 N/A Auto Portage Trail Commercial
149&151 Vernacular/ Two-Part Hachtel Building SUM0080608 O217575 1915 N/A Commerce/ German Portage Trail Commercial
Cuyahoga Falls None/Financial 1915, altered 1947, Savings Bank SUM0079408 2131 Front St. O206903 N/A Commerce: Bank Institution 1970s Building
133-137 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part I.O.O.F Building SUM0080408 O217577 1916 N/A IOOF/ Commerce Trail Commercial
Cuyahoga Falls Vernacular/ Two-Part Literature/Publishin SUM0080508 139 Portage Trail O200912 1916 N/A Reporter Building Commercial g/ Medical Office
Fox-Buick Sales Commercial/ Two-Part SUM0372508 2250 Front St. O212974 1916 N/A Commerce; Auto Co. Building Commercial
Vernacular/ Two-Part Schnabel Building SUM0372808 2385 Front St. O214794 1916 N/A Commerce Commercial
Kroger Grocery & Baking Co. SUM0080008 2225 Front St. O201936 None ca. 1917 N/A Commerce: Grocery Building
Vernacular/ Porter Building SUM0080308 127 Portage Trail O217571 1918 N/A Commerce Commercial
129&131 Vernacular/ Two-Part Snook Building SUM0371308 O217576 1918 N/A Commerce Portage Trail Commercial INSTITUTIONAL
1908-1909; St. John's SUM0066908 2220 2nd St. O214835 Late Gothic Revival alterations 1958, N/A Episcopalian Episcopal Church 1980
St. Joseph Parish SUM0332908 1761 2nd St. O201290 Late Gothic Revival 1912-1913 N/A Roman Catholic Chruch
RESIDENTIAL
Robert M. Vernacular/ Gable Commerce; SUM0374108 2240 4th St. O209103 ca. 1900 N/A Medkeff House Front Delaware
Methodist Mediterranean 247 Stow Ave. Episcopal Chruch SUM0373008 O210264 Elements/ American 1905 N/A Methodist (1905) Parsonage Foursquare
Craftsman/ Bungalow Perry House SUM0371508 420 Portage Trail O209190 ca. 1910 N/A Connecticut Dormer Front
William H. Vernacular/ SUM0373208 2055 3rd St. O204344 ca. 1914 N/A Commerce/ German Stillwell House Homestead
Bert H. Smith Vernacular/ American 1915, ca. 1977 offices SUM0371008 220 Portage Trail O218570 N/A Commerce House Foursquare adjoined
POST-WORLD WAR I 1918-1929 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme COMMERCIAL
Wayne Agency Co. 2146-2152 Front Vernacular/Two-Part SUM0079508 O214275 1922 N/A Commerce Building St. Commercial
1922; 1953 addition Ohio Bell-AT&T NeoClassical/ Telephone/ SUM0370980 208 Portage Trail O217840 and addition after N/A Building Commericial Telegraph 1953
Literature/ 143&145 Vernacular/ Two-Part Bauman Building SUM0370508 O213925 1926 N/A Publishing/ Medical Portage Trail Commercial Office
McGowan Funeral 247 Stow Ave. O210261 Colonial Revival/ SUM0372908 1928 N/A Funerary Home (1928) O210262 American Foursquare
Commerce: 116 & 118 Vernacular/ Two-Part Pharmacy; Wild Building SUM0331808 O214211 1928 N/A Portage Trail Commercial Professional Medical office
Commerce:Grocery; Vernacular/ Two-Part Senich Building SUM0331908 120 Portage Trail O214591 1929 N/A Professional Commercial Medical Office
Fabricated Metal 1884 & 1886 Vernacular/ Two-Part Products; Social/ Jenks Building SUM371708 O207879 1929 N/A Front St. Commercial Fraternal Organizations
INSTITUTIONAL
1953-architect First United NeoClassical/ Colonial 1922; 1953, 1965 Chas. Bolton; 1965- SUM0066808 245 Portage Trail O205054 Methodist Methodist Church Revival additions architect Stewart Roberts
Cuyahoga Falls International/ Fire 1926, significantly SUM0371908 1924 Front St. O202786 N/A Public Safety Fire Station No. 1 Station altered 1970s
APARTMENT BUILDING
2245 4th Street Colonial Revival/ Apartment SUM0374008 2245 4th Street O202318 1928 N/A Apartment Building Apartment House Building
RESIDENTIAL
George R. James Colonial Revival/ SUM0370808 405 Portage Trail O209485 1920 N/A Commerce House American Foursquare
2219 & 2221 4th 2219 & 2221 4th SUM373708 O205505 Verncular/ Duplex ca. 1921 N/A None Street Duplex Street
Martha Mallick Craftsman/ Side- SUM0371408 414 Portage Trail O211003 1923 N/A None House Gabled
Reverend Theodore E. Prinz SUM0373808 2233 4th St. O204809 Craftsman/ Bungalow 1924 N/A Lutheran Reformed House
GREAT DEPRESSION 1929-1940 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme COMMERCIAL
Falls Recreation Vernacular/ One-Part SUM0371208 338 Portage Trail O211230 ca. 1930 N/A Bowling; Commerce Co. Building Commercial
Levinson's Store 2231 &2235 Vernacular/Two-Part Commerce: General SUM0332108 O213108 ca. 1930 N/A Building Front St. Commercial Merchandise
2237 & 2239 Front 2237 & 2239 Mediterranean/ Two- SUM0372608 O213107 1930 N/A Commerce Street Building Front St. Part Commercial
H.F. Graham Art Deco/ One-Part SUM0371808 1950 Front St. O214686 1937 N/A Auto Mobile Oil Station Commercial
Kippy Sandwich Colonial Revival/ One- SUM0372008 2100 Front St. O213304 1939, addition 1948 N/A Commerce Shop Building Part Commercial
Acme Commerce: None/ One-Part Supermarket No. 8 SUM0372208 2128 Front St. O216828 1939 N/A Grocery: Chain Commercial Building Store
INSTITUTIONAL
First Christian Church (Disciples O205049 Late Gothic Revival/ 1929-1930, additions Christian/ Disciples SUM0373308 2249,2253 3rd St. N/A of Christ) of O202712 New Formalism in 1962, 1980 of Christ Cuyahoga Falls
United States Post Colonial Revival/ Post Office, Cuyahoga SUM0160108 2054 2nd St. O216080 1939 N/A New Deal Office Falls
APARTMENT BUILDING
Pauline 325-329 Portage Vernacular/ Two-Part SUM0370708 O212254 1929 N/A Commerce Apt.Building Trail Commercial
Rebecca Apt. Colonial Revival/ Commerce: SUM0373408 2150 4th Street O202595 1929 N/A Building Apartment House Apartment Building
Vernacular/ Two-Part 331-333 Portage Commerce: SUM0080808 331 Portage Trail O212253 Commercial/Colonial 1929 N/A Trail Bldg. Apartment Building Revival Elements WORLD WAR II & POST-WORLD WAR II 1940 -1955 Photo Historic name OHI No. Address Parcel No. Style/Type Date Architect/ Builder Theme COMMERCIAL
2202 & 2208 Front 2202 & 2208 None/ One-Part SUM0372308 O214274 ca. 1945 N/A Commerce Street Building Front St. Commercial
All Paper Inc. Vernacular/ Commerce: Warehouse SUM0371108 230 Portage Trail O218573 Commercial 1948 N/A Warehouse Building Warehouse
Falls Savings and International/ 1919, significantly Loan Association SUM0374308 2140 Front St O206903 N/A Commerce: Bank Finanacial Institution altered 1949 Building
Wayne Agency None/ One-Part SUM0373108 2044 2nd St. O216582 1950 N/A Commerce Co.Building Commercial
F.W. Woolworth International/ Two- Commerce: Chain SUM0372108 2114 Front St. O218640 1954 N/A Co. Building Part Commercial Store
INSTITUTIONAL
Loyal Order of Moose Lodge O203608 International/ Two- 1928, significantly #918, Fraternal SUM0372408 2244 Front St. N/A Moose; Eagles O202847 Part Commercial altered 1951 Order of Eagles Aerie
Political and Social Cuyahoga Falls 2304, 2310 2nd Welfare: Municipal SUM0333008 O202858 Colonial Revival 1952 N/A St. Government Building Administration
RESIDENTIAL
Vernacular/ Minimal 2237 4th Street SUM0373908 2237 4th St. O201816 Traditional Post- ca. 1945 N/A None House World War II
CITY OF CUYHOGA FALLS, SUMMIT COUNTY OHIO OHI -I-Forms SURVEY AREA
BROAD BLVD. Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 122 Broad Blvd. SUM0068808 SUM0068808 227 Broad Blvd. SUM0073708 Demo 248 Broad Blvd. SUM0071908 Demo
FRONT ST. Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 1832 Front St. N/A SUM0371608 1840 Front St. SUM0070608 Demo 1884 Front St. N/A SUM0371708 1950 Front St. N/A SUM0371808 1924 Front St N/A SUM0371908 2091 Front St. SUM0078908 SUM0078908 2097 Front St. SUM0079008 SUM0079008 2100 Front St. N/A SUM0372008 2101-2115 Front St. SUM0079108 SUM0079108 2104 Front St. Altered Altered 2114 Front St. N/A SUM0372108 2115 Front St. SUM0079208 Altered 2121 Front St. SUM0079308 SUM0079308 2128 Front St. N/A SUM0372208 2131 Front St SUM0079408 SUM0079408 2140 Front St. N/A SUM0374308 2146-2152 Front St. SUM0079508 SUM0079508 2158-2162 Front St. SUM0079808 Altered 2164 &2168 Front St. SUM0079608 SUM0079608 2202 & 2208 Front St. N/A SUM0372308 2215 & 2219 Front St. SUM0079908 SUM0079908 2218-2224 Front St. SUM0332008 NRN eligible 2244 Front St. N/A SUM0372408 2225 Front St. SUM0080008 SUM0080008 2231 &2235 Front St. SUM0332108 SUM0332108 2233 Front St. Altered Altered 2237 & 2239 Front St. N/A SUM0372608 2241 Front St. N/A SUM0372708 2250 Front St. N/A SUM0372508 2366 Front St. SUM0075108 Demo 2377 Front St. SUM0078808 Demo 2385 Front St. N/A SUM0372808
OAKWOOD DR.
Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 2241 Oakwood Dr. SUM0069908 Demo 2322 Oakwood Dr. SUM0070008 Demo 2323 Oakwood Dr. SUM0070108 Demo
PORTAGE TRAIL Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 111-115 Portage Trail N/A SUM0370408 116&118 Portage Trail SUM0331808 SUM0331808 119 Portage Trail SUM0080108 SUM0080108 120 Portage Trail (120-122) SUM0331908 SUM0331908 123&125 Portage Trail SUM0080208 SUM0080208 127 Portage Trail SUM0080308 SUM0080308 129&131 Portage Trail SUM0080308 SUM0371308 133-137 Portage Trail SUM0080408 SUM0080408 139 Portage Trail SUM0080508 SUM0080508 143&145 Portage Trail N/A SUM0370508 220 Portage Trail N/A SUM0371008 226,234 Portage Trail SUM0080708 SUM0080708 230 Portage Trail N/A SUM0371108 245 Portage Trail SUM0066808 SUM0066808 325-329 Portage Trail N/A SUM0370708 331 Portage Trail SUM0080808 SUM0080808 338 Portage Trail N/A SUM0371208 405 Portage Trail N/A SUM0370808 414 Portage Trail N/A SUM0371408 420 Portage Trail N/A SUM0371508
RIVERFRONT PARKWAY
Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 2291 Riverfront Pk SUM0081308 Altered
STOW Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 247 Stow (1928) N/A SUM0372908 247 Stow (1905) N/A SUM0373008 2ND STREET Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 1623 2nd St. SUM0068408 Demo 1761 2nd St. SUM0332908 SUM0332908 1805 2nd St. SUM0068108 Demo 1821 2nd St. SUM0068008 1827 2nd St. SUM0067908 Demo 1857 2nd St. SUM0069708 Demo 2044 2nd St. N/A SUM0373108 2054 2nd St. SUM0160108 SUM0160108 2220 2nd St. SUM0066908 SUM0066908 2305 2nd St. 2304, 2310 2nd St. SUM0333008 SUM0333008
3rd STREET Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 2055 3rd St. N/A SUM0373208 2119 3rd St. SUM0068908 SUM0068908 2216 3rd St. SUM0070908 SUM0070908 2224 3rd St. SUM0078408 Demo 2230 3rd St. SUM0071008 Demo 2236 3rd St. SUM0071408 Demo 2244 3rd St. SUM0071508 SUM0071508 2249,2253 3rd St. N/A SUM0373308 2270 3rd St. SUM0071608 Demo 2288 3rd St. SUM0068708 Demo
4TH STREET Address Previous OHI No. New OHI No. 2132 4th St. N/A SUM0373608 2140 4th St. N/A SUM0373508 2150 4th St. N/A SUM0373408 2219 &2221 4th St. N/A SUM0373708 2233 4th St. N/A SUM0373808 2234 4th St SUM0077408 SUM0077408 2237 4th St. N/A SUM0373908 2240 4th St. N/A SUM0374108 2245 4th St. N/A SUM0374008 2246 4th St. N/A SUM0374208 2250 4th St SUM0077508 SUM0077508
Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Map Index
Prepared by: 33 Community Development Department 17 Division Of Planning & Zoning City of Cuyahoga Falls 34 2310 Second St. P.O. Box 361 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221-0361 Tel. (330) 971-8135 32 18 Fax (330) 971-8366 email: development@ cityofcf.com 39 www.cityofcf.com
31 19 Ordinance 98-2005 July 25, 2005 Revised: 35 Ordinance 62-2009 July 27,2009 30 20
21 16 15 29 36 13 14 22 38 28 4 12 5 37 23 3 27 11 6
2 24 10 7 0 3,000 6,000 12,000 26 Feet 1 25 9 8 City of Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Districts
Zoning District Classifications MU-4 R-5 R-R Rural Residential R-1 Large-Lot Residential R-4 O R-2 Low Density Residential AK R-3 Sub-Urban Density Residential W MU-5 O R-4 Urban Density Residential O R-5 Mixed Density Residential D R-6 Uban Mixed Density Residential D E MU-1 Rural Neighborhood Center T R V A MU-2 Neighborhood Center S S MU-3 Sub-Urban Center D ST L MU-4 Sub-Urban Corridor R O W AVE L MU-5 Urban Center 3 A MU-6 Downtown F C-1 Commercial District E E-1 Employment District M-1 Manufacturing District MU-4 O NP-1 National Park District R MU-6 N T
U S
M E N
T
T PO O C RTAGE S T RL T 9
T Y H 5 S
D T S K T R
± N S 4 P S T OL AVE / HO 2 E-1 SC T H N 8 0 150 300 600 P T N O R O
4 Y O S R O A R-5 F R Feet L F W
N R NOTE: Zoning and property boundries M VE E MYRTLE A W E are subject to frequent change. This map V O I is not a substitue for a legal description. R-4 H
T R C I
Prepared By: D BROAD BLVD R Community Development Department L E
Division of Planning & Zoning O City of Cuyahoga Falls M 2310 Second St. P.O. Box 361 A Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221-0361 T Tel. (330) 971-8135 BROADWAY ST S Fax (330) 971-8366 Email: [email protected] Y T R
S R-6 MU-5 R Ordinance 98-2005 E N I July 25, 2005 B Revised: A W Ordinance 62-2009 M July 27,2009 FALLS E AVE N Map 1 1 of 39 City of Cuyahoga Falls Zoning Districts
Zoning District Classifications T A T R-R Rural Residential T L R-5 S S L R-1 Large-Lot Residential M R-2 Low Density Residential Y D A R-3 Sub-Urban Density Residential R D R-6 N G R-4 Urban Density Residential 2 R E R-5 Mixed Density Residential E R R-6 Uban Mixed Density Residential B D MU-1 Rural Neighborhood Center MU-2 W
E MU-2 Neighborhood Center T
N MU-3 Sub-Urban Center S MU-4 Sub-Urban Corridor H PROSP VE R-4 T EC A MU-5 Urban Center SA T 4 C MU-6 Downtown KE C-1 Commercial District TT E-1 Employment District AV M-1 Manufacturing District E NP-1 National Park District
T T SI S S LL MU-2 MU-5 AVE S D M T
R A S 3 CH I ES E-1 L N 9 T L N 5 I O U T I T R B S W N LV S D T / U 8 N T 0 175 350 700 R T O S S S GRANT A R V H E F D G Feet O I R-4 O H NOTE: Zoning and property boundries M R-4 W are subject to frequent change. This map A R Y T E is not a substitue for a legal description. A AYL V O D E T R AV E N S
Prepared By: U N Community Development Department I Division of Planning & Zoning A City of Cuyahoga Falls M ME 2310 Second St. P.O. Box 361 ADOW Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221-0361 LN Tel. (330) 971-8135 R-5 Fax (330) 971-8366 Email: [email protected] T LYNN S D OR R CH Y Ordinance 98-2005 ARD AVE R July 25, 2005 L E OOM Revised: IS AV V Ordinance 62-2009 E A July 27,2009 Map 1 0 of 39
Previously Recorded OHIO STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE OHI FORMS - CUYAHOGA FALLS, SUMMIT COUNTY
OHI number Present name Other name Address SUM0056708 LH Hall House Wm Walker House 2006 Germaine St SUM0056808 2020 Germaine St SUM0056908 Leonard McAllister House 2026 Germaine St SUM0057008 AG Gausman House 2044 Germaine St SUM0057108 WV Andrick House 2015 Germaine St SUM0057208 Miles House 2031 Germaine St SUM0057308 Catherine Roderick House 2043 Germaine St SUM0057408 Georgia McMullen House 2074 Germaine St SUM0057508 RA Ries House 2084 Germaine St SUM0057608 Bach House 2094 Germaine St SUM0057708 Leta Manes House 1919 Germaine St SUM0057808 RE Moore House 1923 Germaine St SUM0057908 Benslay House 1927 Germaine St SUM0058008 James Miller House 1989 Germaine St SUM0058108 ER Hayes House Ross Durst House 1995 Germaine St SUM0058208 PA & CC Spurlock House 425 Myrtle Ave SUM0058308 GI Pyke House 544 Myrtle Ave SUM0058408 Virginia Sanner House Little House 618 Myrtle Ave SUM0058508 617 Myrtle Ave SUM0058608 Crawford House 2005 Stone St SUM0058708 Tweten House 2010 Stone St SUM0058808 Fleming House 2018 Stone St SUM0058908 Annarumma House 2022 Stone St SUM0059008 Cooke House 2025 Stone St SUM0059108 Noland House 2026 Stone St SUM0059208 2030 Stone St SUM0059308 2036 Stone St SUM0059408 2039 Stone St SUM0059508 Lyle House 2044 Stone St SUM0059608 Bridi House 2045 Stone St SUM0059708 Garner House 2064 Stone St SUM0059808 Fox House 2065 Stone St SUM0059908 2074 Stone St SUM0060008 Hutsell House 2075 Stone St SUM0060108 RE Cash House 2084 Stone St
SUM0060208 Sullivan House Old Hatfield Place 2094 Stone St SUM0060308 Janeda House Shumway House 2095 Stone St SUM0060408 Morrison House 2152 Stone St SUM0060508 Watson House 2163 Stone St SUM0060608 2179 Stone St SUM0060708 Sarrocco House 2187 Stone St SUM0060808 NA Fair House 2188 Stone St SUM0060908 Romesberg House 2208 Stone St SUM0061008 Davis House 408 E Portage Trail SUM0061108 418 E Portage Trail SUM0061208 327 E Portage Trail SUM0061308 Martha Jones House 407 E Portage Trail SUM0061408 427 E Portage Trail SUM0061508 447 E Portage Trail SUM0061608 LA Walker House Frank Miles House 501 E Portage Trail SUM0061708 507 E Portage Trail SUM0061808 511 E Portage Trail SUM0061908 Charles Jones House 517 E Portage Trail SUM0062008 Jay F Burley House Schnabel House 609 E Portage Trail SUM0062108 623 E Portage Trail SUM0062208 625-627 E Portage Trail SUM0062308 Bond House 635 E Portage Trail SUM0062408 Sidnell House 424 School Ave SUM0062508 RL Garinger Jr House 608 School Ave SUM0062608 Schley House 618 School Ave SUM0062708 Peters House 628 School Ave SUM0062808 RB Feiler House 648 School Ave SUM0062908 Mary E Simon House 615 School Ave SUM0063008 Grimes House 631 School Ave SUM0063108 433 Munroe Falls Ave SUM0063208 Ben W Roberts House 1973 Cook St SUM0063308 Oliver Wilkinson House 1983 Cook St SUM0063408 Arney House 1987 Cook St SUM0063508 Stephen A Walker House 2013 Cook St SUM0063608 Leslie Faust House 2027 Cook St SUM0063708 Hueie L Morris House 2033 Cook St SUM0063808 GT Lewis House 2034 Cook St SUM0063908 PP Miles House 2041 Cook St SUM0064008 Karen Cutler House 2045 Cook St SUM0064108 FP Marunich House 2061 Cook St SUM0064208 JI Adams House 2075 Cook St SUM0064308 Victor Caruso House 2111 Cook St SUM0064408 2022 Newberry St SUM0064508 McMeeken House Newberry House 2027 Newberry St
SUM0064608 HE & M Hallum House 2037 Newberry St SUM0064708 2065 Newberry St SUM0064808 2075 Newberry St SUM0064908 Huddleston House 1655 Newberry St SUM0065008 Gilmore House 1719 Newberry St SUM0065108 1739 Newberry St SUM0065208 1749 Newberry St SUM0065308 Gene Mothersbaugh House 425 E Broadway SUM0065408 M Huhn House 516 E Broadway SUM0065508 Radanovich House 536 E Broadway SUM0065608 1657 Main St SUM0065708 Brainard House 1681 Main St SUM0066108 R Huff Veterans of For Wars Pt Walsh Family Home 1581 Main St SUM0066208 1828 Newberry St SUM0066308 JA Irvine House 327 Jackson Ave SUM0066408 Nancy Posten House Wolford House 1782 High St SUM0066508 Fred Kessler House MacMillan Farm 1737 High St SUM0066608 231 Wadsworth St SUM0066708 Tifft Home 239 Wadsworth St SUM0066808 First United Methodist Church First Methodist Episcopal Church 245 Portage Trail SUM0066908 St John's Espiscopal Church St John's Holy Catholic Apos 2220 2nd St SUM0067008 Nalle House 2385 3rd St SUM0067108 England Home Stow Hiram Home 2393 3rd St SUM0067208 Bauman House 2404 3rd St SUM0067308 Boyd House 2418 3rd St SUM0067408 Turpin House 2430 3rd St SUM0067508 Friedrichsen House Cook Leland House 2443 3rd St SUM0067608 Porter House Bolich Harvey O House 2450 3rd St SUM0067708 Apartments Vaughn Lucy House 1880 2nd St SUM0067808 Apartments Residence 1868 2nd St SUM0067908 1827 2nd St SUM0068008 1821 2nd St SUM0068108 1805 2nd St SUM0068208 Summit Co Bd Mental Retrd St Josephs Church Priests House 1770 2nd St SUM0068308 Bates House 1756 2nd St SUM0068408 1623 2nd St SUM0068508 2365 2nd St SUM0068608 Miller House Motes Home 2360 3rd St SUM0068708 AJ Pope House 2288 3rd St SUM0068808 Curtis & Rasmussen Offices James A Vaughn House 122 Broad Blvd SUM0068908 Coffield House Wills House 2119 3rd St SUM0069008 Dr Carey House Clark House 2032 3rd St SUM0069108 1940 3rd St SUM0069208 Sittser House 1914 3rd St SUM0069308 Lyceum 1722-1724 3rd St SUM0069408 Ricker House 1743 3rd St SUM0069508 Huntington House 2108-2110 3rd St SUM0069608 M Novisky House 1868 Newberry St SUM0069708 1857 2nd St SUM0069808 CW Huntsman House 2233 Oakwood Dr SUM0069908 EB Crossland House 2241 Oakwood Dr SUM0070008 Paul Jackson House 2322 Oakwood Dr SUM0070108 2323 Oakwood Dr SUM0070208 Fox House 130 Wadsworth St SUM0070308 John Case House 145 Wadsworth St SUM0070408 Rockwell House 146 Wadsworth St SUM0070508 Bentley House 220 Wadsworth St SUM0070608 Gatts House 1840 Front St SUM0070808 1584 Front St SUM0070908 2216 3rd St SUM0071008 Brigeman House 2230 3rd St SUM0071308 1851 3rd St SUM0071408 Mortensen House Shumway house 2236 3rd St SUM0071508 Stonestreet House 2244 3rd St SUM0071608 Boyd House Park House 2270 3rd St SUM0071708 Ruggles House Pest House 2594 Bailey Rd SUM0071808 Thompson EK House 319 Stow Ave SUM0071908 248 Broad Blvd SUM0073708 C Whipple House Simon Brown House 227 Broad Blvd SUM0073808 WE Work House & Work Elect 412 Broad Blvd SUM0073908 335 Broad Blvd SUM0074008 J & JM Fana House 325 Broad Blvd SUM0072008 310-316 Broad Blvd SUM0072108 NJ Brickner House 338-340 Broad Blvd SUM0072208 346-348 Broad Blvd SUM0072308 406 Broad Blvd SUM0072408 345 Broad Blvd SUM0072508 MN Planck House 1927 4th St SUM0072608 Oakwood Cemetery Chapel 2420 Oakwood Dr SUM0072708 Duckwall's Printing 244 Portage Trail SUM0072808 Richard M Mikrut House JA Cole House 630 Sackett Ave SUM0072908 The Chapman 2454 2nd St SUM0073208 Angela Pepe House Charles L Walker House 534 Sackett Ave SUM0073308 GR Mellinger House Charles E Steele House 500 Sackett Ave SUM0073608 WW Gibson House Robt Peebles House 543 Broad Blvd SUM0074108 PE Jackson House 307 Broad Blvd SUM0074408 G Morris House 127 Sackett Ave SUM0074508 Thomas Clark House 1704 2nd St SUM0074608 1828 2nd St SUM0074708 Parkin House 1860 3rd St SUM0074808 Brown House 2044 3rd St SUM0074908 329 Stow Ave SUM0075108 WN Newell House 2366 Front St SUM0075208 Petersen's Inc Christian Kittleberger House 2390 Front St SUM0075708 2413 2nd St SUM0075808 2427 2nd St SUM0075908 Two Apartments Residence Residence 2435 2nd St SUM0076008 Apartments Residence 2445 2nd St SUM0076108 Barn 2463 2nd St SUM0076208 Gill House Konkle Charles Farm 2364 2nd St SUM0076308 Two Houses on lot 2404-2406 2nd St SUM0076408 Apartments Residence 2482 2nd St SUM0076508 2460 2nd St SUM0076608 TR Nowac House 1921 4th St SUM0076708 AJ Fristik House Richarson Farmhouse 2029 4th St SUM0076808 Philip & Mary Lou Ramsey House Bethel Nursing Home 2107 4th St SUM0076908 BG Williams House John Williams House 2124 4th St SUM0077008 1846 4th St SUM0077108 Albert Dailey House 1854 4th St SUM0077208 Douglas Caesar House 2132 4th St SUM0077308 Douglas & Doris Lamusga House Mrs Ritchie House 2140 4th St SUM0077408 Carolyn Affleck House Mosteller House 2234 4th St SUM0077508 PL Frye House 2250 4th St SUM0077608 HC Horning House Charles Davis House 2360 4th St SUM0077708 2426 2nd St SUM0077808 Apartments 2420 2nd St SUM0077908 Benito's Cafe 1803 Main St SUM0078008 1821 Main St SUM0078108 1913 4th St SUM0078208 Florence Eacho House Warner Farm 508 Munroe Falls Ave SUM0078308 Frye House 1735 3rd St SUM0078408 Hanna House 2224 3rd St SUM0078808 Schnable Tannery Western Reserve Robe & Tannery 2377 Front St SUM0078908 Comstock Building 2091-2095 Front St SUM0079008 Kippy's Restaurant Frank A Jones Building 2097 Front St SUM0079108 Alhambra Building & Arcade 2101-2113 Front St SUM0079208 2115 Front St SUM0079308 Roethig Building Jones Confectionary 2121-2125 Front St SUM0079408 Central Deposit Bank & Trust 2131-2135 Front St SUM0079508 Whipple Furniture Co 2146-2152 Front St SUM0079608 2164-2166 Front St SUM0079708 CA Capron Jr House Edwin Post House 2496 Front St SUM0079808 John David Jones ARCHTS Office Roth Provision Co 2158-2162 Front St SUM0079908 2215-2219 Front St SUM0080008 Larry & Jerry's Corkscrew DelicatessenBruno's Café 2223-2225 Front St SUM0080108 Silkprint Advertising Co Smith Bldg 119-121 Portage Trail SUM0080208 Fox Bldg 123-125 Portage Trail SUM0080308 Falls Music Center Porter Bldg & Snook Bldg 127-131 Portage Trail SUM0080408 IOOF Bldg 133-135 Portage Trail SUM0080508 Cuyahoga Falls Reporter Bldg 139-141 Portage Trail SUM0080608 Trail Bldg Hachtel Bldg 149-151 Portage Trail SUM0080708 Weick & Gibson Law Office Plum House 234 Portage Trail SUM0080808 Falls Salvage 331-333 Portage Trail SUM0080908 Watson House 425 Center St SUM0081008 MA Martin House HC Grant Farmhouse 1546 8th St SUM0081208 Butcher House 409 Center St SUM0081308 Cuyahoga Falls Generator Plant 2291 Riverfront Pkwy SUM0081508 Robert Andrews House 348 E Portage Trail SUM0160108 United States Post Office 2054 2nd St SUM0326508 Kelly's Bar & Grill 617 W Portage Trail SUM0331408 330 Broad Blvd SUM0331508 2111 Germaine 2111 Germaine St SUM0331608 2442 Whitelaw 2442 Whitelaw St SUM0332908 St Joseph's Church St Joseph's Church 1761 2nd St SUM0333008 Cuyahoga Falls City Hall Cuyahoga Falls Municipal Building 2310 2nd St SUM0331708 636 Chestnut Hedden House 636 Chestnut Blvd SUM0331808 Wild Building 116-118 Portage Trail SUM0331908 Senich Building 120 Portage Trail SUM0332008 Falls Theatre Falls Theatre 2218-2224 Front St SUM0332108 Levinson's Levinson's Department Store 2231 Front St SUM0332208 The Boulevard Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. - Boulevard Tavern 435 Chestnut Blvd SUM0332508 Merline Apts Merline Apts 1689 Meriline St SUM0332608 Burkhardt House 1851 Windsor St SUM0332808 B-K Root Beer B-K Root Beer 737 Munroe Falls Ave SUM0333108 Clifford-Shoemaker Funeral Home The Weller Co Funeral Home 1930 Front St SUM0333708 1167-1171 Cooper Dr