Landmarks Commission

Cleveland Architects

Cleveland Architect Database

The Cleveland Architects Database is a listing of architects and master builders that have worked in Cleveland, since the 1820s and the buildings they designed here and abroad up to and including the 1970s. Sources include City of Cleveland Building Permits, professional publications including American Architect and Builder News, Inland Architect, Interstate Architect, the Ohio Architect and Builder, the Annals of Cleveland, the Plain Dealer, the Leader, the Press, Material Facts, the Bystander, and Cleveland Town Topics. Additional source material reviewed at the Cleveland Public Library Fine Arts Department, various books on Cleveland architecture, the American Institute of Architects Guide to Cleveland Architecture and a catalogue of architectural drawings maintained by the Western Reserve Historical Society were consulted. The Cleveland Necrology file maintained by the Cleveland Public Library, the United States Census, and Cleveland City Directories were reviewed in compiling accompanying biographies.

For this database, an architect is defined as anyone that identified himself or herself as an architect. Generally, these people had an office in the city or designed multiple structures here or in the immediate surrounding cities. This project began as a hobby by Robert Keiser over several years. Craig Bobby has researched many of the entries and donated photographs of those buildings. This is an ongoing project and will be updated on a regular basis. PLEASE NOTE: All entries have not been fully researched and require citations. Please confirm any unsourced entry

Architects

Building Name Address Built Status
William E. Caldwell Residence 2947 Brighton Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1923-4 Standing
Charles King Residence 19100 Shelburne Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1929 Standing
Residence for Joseph Gottfried 3005 Montgomery Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1930 Standing
E. W. Snyder Residence 3321 Parkland Drive, Shaker Heights, OH 1931 Standing
Clark's Restaurant East 55th and Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1933 Demolished
Clark's Restaurant 1007 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1937 Standing
Birth / Established: September 3, 1892
Death / Dissolved: July 7, 1966

Biography

Ockert is listed as an architect beginning in the 1927 Cleveland City Directory. From 1932 until 1938 he and George W. Teare, were members of the firm of Ockert & Teare.

Building Name Address Built Status
Residence 2947 Brighton Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1923 Standing
Residence 3026 Warrington Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1923 Standing
Residence 3040 Warrington Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1923 Standing
Residence 2961 Manchester Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1925 Standing
Residence 3000 Warrington Road, Shaker Heights, OH 1925 Standing
Birth / Established: 1892
Death / Dissolved: Present

Biography

Osborn Engineering Company, Cleveland's oldest engineering firm, was founded on July 1, 1892, by Frank C. Osborn, formerly the chief engineer for Cleveland's King Bridge Co. Osborn's new company offered a wide range of services, including the designs, plans, estimates, and construction supervision for roofs, buildings bridges, railways, and highways. Such diversity enabled the Osborn Co.- Civil Engineers to survive the severe economic depression of the 1890s. It was incorporated on May 16, 1900, as the Osborn Engineering Company. During its first 4 decades, Osborn built its reputation as the "stadium designers for the Nation". By the time of its selection as the project engineer for Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1928, the company had designed more than 75 sports facilities, including New York's Yankee Stadium, Boston's Fenway Park, and Chicago's Comiskey Park. Osborn has continued to design stadiums, working on projects for professional sports teams, major universities, racetracks, fairgrounds, high schools, and municipalities. As early as 1959, Osborn Engineering had completed a design for domed stadiums. In 1958, the company was looking for a broader market for its services, particularly as domestic industrial construction and plant expansion decreased. It turned its attention toward domestic firms that were expanding their operations into international markets. The company designed factories for locations in South Africa, France, Saudi Arabia, and South America. This expansion enabled Osborn to recover from a postwar decline; in 1963 it began hiring additional employees. Business remained strong throughout the 1960s. As engineering became more competitive in the 1970s, Osborn expanded its range of services by forming partnerships. In 1971 it created Osborn Engineers Architects & Planners, and in 1974 both Osborn Co. Architects-Engineers and Osborn Co. Consulting Engineers. The company remains based in Cleveland with offices in the Penton Media Building.

Building Name Address Built Status
Pennsylvania Portland Cement New Castle, PA 1904 Unknown
Washington Carbon Company Clarksburg, WV 1904 Unknown
Bay View Foundry Sandusky, OH 1907 Unknown
Lincoln Stone Works Lorain, OH 1907 Unknown
Powerhouse and Machine Shop for the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company 2191-5 West 26th Street, Cleveland, OH 1907 Standing
White Company St. Clair near Broad Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1907 Unknown
American Seeding Machine Compay Richmond, IN 1908 Unknown
Addition for the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company 2161-5 West 26th Street, Cleveland, OH 1909 Standing
Addition for the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company 2181 West 26th Street, Cleveland, OH 1909 Standing
League Park 6601 Lexington Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1909 Partially Demolished
Machine Shop Addition for the Rauch & Lang Carriage Company 2203 West 26th Street, Cleveland, OH 1909 Standing
Wooster Brush Works Manufacturing Plant and Powerplant Wooster, OH 1909 Unknown
Griffith Stadium 2041 Georgia Avenue, Washington, DC 1911 Demolished
Polo Grounds New York, NY 1911 Demolished
Fenway Park 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 1912 Standing
Tiger Stadium 2121 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 1912 Demolished
Cleveland Akron Bag Company 1860-86 East 40th Street, Cleveland, OH 1914 Standing
American Malleable Castings Marion, OH 1915 Unknown
Ashland Tire and Rubber Ashland, OH 1915 Unknown
Braves Field 285 Babcock Street, Boston, MA 1915 Partially Demolished
Century Rubber Works Chicago, IL 1915 Unknown
Fruitless Rubber Company Ashland, OH 1915 Unknown
National Tool Company 11200 Madison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1917 Standing
National Tool Company Offices West 112th Street and Madison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1918 Standing
Kansas City Municipal Stadium 2123 Brooklyn Avenue, Kansas City, MO 1923 Demolished
Yankee Stadium New York, NY 1923 Demolished
Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 1924 Standing
Ross-Ade Stadium 850 Steven Beering Drive, West Lafayette, IN 1924 Standing
University of Michigan Stadium 1201 S. Main Street, Ann Arbor, MI 1927 Standing
Cleveland Municipal Stadium (demolished) Cleveland, OH 1928 Demolished
Notre Dame Stadium South Bend, IN 1929 Standing
St. Wendelin Parish Hall 2275 Columbus Road, Cleveland, OH 1936 Standing

Sources

Encyclopedia of Cleveland History
Wikipedia.com
Image Source(s): Craig Bobby

Birth / Established: June 23, 1814
Death / Dissolved: January 22, 1883

Biography

Calvin N. Otis was born in Spafford, New York. He worked out of Geneva, New York, then Buffalo, and later moved to Cuba, New York. He was known mostly for churches. In Cleveland he designed Grace Church (demolished) at 1250 Bolivar Road. He served in the Civil War and was promoted to the rank of Brevet Brigadier General.

Building Name Address Built Status
Trinity Episcopal Church 518-30 South Main Street, Geneva, NY 1841-4 Standing
Grace Church 848 Huron Road, Cleveland, OH 1846-7 Demolished
Mariner's Church 170 East Jefferson Street, Detroit, MI 1849 Standing
St. Paul Episcopal Church 309  South Jackson, Jackson, MI 1852-3 Standing
St. John Episcopal Church Bull Street, Savannah, GA 1874 Standing
Birth / Established: October 1866
Death / Dissolved: January 1960

Biography

Arthur N. Oviatt was born in North Dover, Ohio. He was educated in North Dover and Lakewood schools, graduating from Lakewood High School. He studied architecture in several offices in Cleveland. He worked as a draftsman for the firm of Hardway & Williams from 1889-1891. He is listed in Cleveland as an architect with his own practice beginning with the 1891-2 City Directory. A longtime friend of the Cleveland Public Library, he completed a handwritten index of the Ohio Architect and Builder that is found in the Fine Arts Department of the Main Library. He retired to Hollywood, Florida in 1950 and is buried in Fort Lauderdale.

Building Name Address Built Status
Double Residence for Henry Cannon 2648-50 East 93rd Street, Cleveland, OH 1890-1 Demolished
Assembly Hall for St. James Church 5605 Whittier Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1891 Standing
Residence for Will P. Todd 1933 East 69th Street, Cleveland, OH 1891 Demolished
W. H. Knowles Residence 1831  East 63rd Street, Cleveland, OH 1891 Demolished
Emma Thompson Residence 1886 East 71st Street, Cleveland, OH 1892 Standing
Henry Boesger Residence 13334 Bellflower Road, Cleveland, OH 1892 Demolished
Howard Lee Residence 1925 East 84th Street, Cleveland, OH 1892 Demolished
Arthur Garford Residence 509 West Washington Street, Elyria, OH 1893 Standing
H. D. Burns Residence 11601 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1893 Demolished
J. J. Purcell Residence 2237 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 1893 Standing
Arthur N. Oviatt Residence 1812 Crawford, Cleveland, OH 1893-4 Demolished
Bath House at Edgewater Park 8000 Edgewater Parkway, Cleveland, OH 1894 Demolished
Edward W. Moore Residence 11129 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1894 Demolished
Howard Gates Residence 4248 West 35th Street, Cleveland, OH 1894 Standing
Residence for E. Jenkins 11224 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1894 Demolished
Residence for John Smyth 1428 East 84th Street, Cleveland, OH 1894 Standing
Addition to Bath House at Edgewater Park 8000 Edgewater Parkway, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Frame Dwelling for Real Estate and Building Co. 11440 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Frame Dwelling for Real Estate and Building Co. 11452 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Residence for Arthur Oviatt 1832 Crawford Road, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Residence for Arthur Oviatt 1834 Crawford Road, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Residence for Harrison T. Chandler 1866 East 97th Street, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Residence for Real Estate & Building Company 11448 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Residence for W. H. Knowles 1831 East 63rd Street, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church 2124 West 85th Street, Cleveland, OH 1895 Demolished
Store, Office and Apartments for Baker and Foster - Lorain, Ohio 1812-8 East 28th Street, South Lorain, OH 1895 Demolished
Adams Residence 8935 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1896 Demolished
Drawing Rooms for the Century Club in the New England Building 601-35 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1896 Unknown
Methodist Episcopal Church 4200 Pearl Road, Cleveland, OH 1896 Demolished
Music Hall and Dance Academy for G. E. Collins 5107-11 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1896 Demolished
B. W. Haskins Residence 2039 East 100th Street, Cleveland, OH 1896-7 Demolished
Henry Harlow Residence 1898 East 105th Street, Cleveland, OH 1897 Demolished
Residence for Real Estate & Building Company 11434 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1897 Demolished
Residence for Real Estate & Building Company 11444 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1897 Demolished
Edward W. Moore Residence 7960 Garfield Road, Mentor, OH 1897-1900 Standing
Henry Chandler Residence 10007 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1898 Demolished
Residence for George Collings 1851 Crawford Road, Cleveland, OH 1898 Demolished
Residence for Knight & Richardson 11318 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1898 Demolished
William Janders Residence 1899 East 84th Street, Cleveland, OH 1898 Standing
Residence for Fulton Building Company 2034  East 88th Street, Cleveland, OH 1899 Demolished
Residence for Fulton Building Company 8706 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1899 Demolished
Addition to Howard Lee Residence 1925 East 84th Street, Cleveland, OH 1900 Demolished
Henry Boesger Residence 11338 Bellflower Road, Cleveland, OH 1900 Demolished
Residence for Frank H. Granger 1786 East 89th Street, Cleveland, OH 1900 Standing
Samuel Grossman Residence 25900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1900 Demolished
O. P. Clay Residence 12401 Coit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1901 Standing
J. B. Roberts Residence 17863 Lake Avenue, Lakewood, OH 1902 Standing
Edward Rogers Stables 1883 East 84th Street, Cleveland, OH 1903 Standing
George P. McKay Residence 17880 Lake Avenue, Lakewood, OH 1904 Standing
Residence 2025 Chestnut Hills, Cleveland, OH 1904 Demolished
Residence for E. B. Browne Euclid Heights, Cleveland Heights, OH 1905 Demolished
F. A. Glidden Residence 17840 Lake Road, Lakewood, OH 1906 Standing
Residence for C. V. Brown University Road, Cleveland, OH 1907 Demolished
Protestant Episcopal Church of the Incarnation 616 East 105th Street, Cleveland, OH 1908-9 Standing
Residence 11418 Ashbury Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1909 Standing
Augusta and Edna Wooley Residence 15222 Grovewood Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1916 Standing
Dellhurst Mentor, OH n.d. Demolished
Devereaux Place Mentor, OH n.d. Demolished
H. B. Van Cleve Residence Mentor, OH n.d. Demolished
Henry Everett Residence Mentor, OH n.d. Demolished
Horace Andrews Summer Home "Primrose Hill" Mentor, OH n.d. Demolished
Newel Place Mentor, OH n.d. Demolished

Sources

"Architect A. N. Oviatt Dies at 93 in Florida." The Plain Dealer, January 3, 1960.
Cleveland City Directory
Cleveland Public Library Digital Gallery
Lake County Historical Society Quarterly September 1977 v. 19 no. 3
Progressive Men of Northern Ohio, p. 221

Birth / Established: June 8, 1882
Death / Dissolved: March 19, 1958

Biography

William C. Owen was born in East Liverpool, Ohio. He became president of Owen Tire and Rubber. The engineering company designed several factories for rubber companies in the late teens. He resided at 2177 Chatfield Road in Cleveland Heights in the 1930 US Census and in Portage County, Ohio at the time of his death.

Building Name Address Built Status
Adamson Residence East Palestine, OH 1917 Demolished
ALA Tire Company 59 East Elizabeth Street, Detroit, MI 1917 Demolished
Boone Tire Company Addition Sycamore, IL 1917 Demolished
East Palestine Rubber Company East Palestine, OH 1917 Demolished
First Christian Church East Palestine, OH 1917 Demolished
George Blackburn Residence LaGrange Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1917 Demolished
George R. Blackburn Residence La Grange Avenue, Cleveland, OH 1917 Demolished
Mason Tire and Rubber Company Kent, OH 1917 Demolished
Pearce Tire and Rubber Company Ashtabula, OH 1917 Demolished
Residence for G. B. Babcock 14921 Shore Acres, Cleveland, OH 1917 Demolished
Commercial - Residential Building for A.D. Smith Akron, OH 1918 Demolished
Owen Tire Company Bedford, OH 1918 Demolished
Howard Courts Taylor Road, Cleveland, OH 1929 Demolished
Residence 18111 Lomard, Cleveland, OH 1929 Standing

Sources

Cleveland City Directories
Death Certificate