Look hard enough—online and in books, churches, libraries, etc.—and you’ll likely find a treasure trove of urban images: artists’ renderings of city neighborhoods, local houses of worship, natural features and street scenes. Tremont is no exception. In fact, the neighborhood formerly known as South Side, Lincoln Heights, University Heights and Cleveland Heights is the subject of dozens of artistic gems.

Perhaps the most dramatic example is the “Atlas of Cuyahoga County 1874,” a book of line art images featuring downtown Cleveland and its surrounding communities. These stunning pieces were based on a series of surveys conducted by Mr. D. J. Lake and compiled into this book of scenic engravings published by Titus, Simmons and Titus of Philadelphia. Among the more than 100 pieces are roughly fifteen depictions of historic Tremont: “Corner of University and Jefferson,” “Residence of Thomas Holmden, 829 Scranton,” “Cabinet Factory at College and Pelton,” and so forth. The book is available for viewing at the Western Reserve Historical Society and online through Cleveland State University (images.ulib.csuohio.edu/cdm/search/collection/print).

A second amazing source of images comes to us courtesy of Cleveland State University and the late Walter Leedy. Dr. Leedy was a CSU professor specializing in art, architectural history and urban studies. Over many decades he acquired in excess of 8,000 Cleveland postcards, including many colorized images of historic Tremont. A number of the images can be viewed online at clevelandmemory.org/postcards.

Many other sources also exist. In the 1930s and 1940s Tremont was often the subject of public art initiatives underwritten by the WPA. Local churches (particularly Tremont’s St. Theodosius) have been the subject of myriad drawings and paintings. Architectural renderings of interesting buildings other than churches (Tremont’s Olney Gallery, South Branch Library and Camp Cleveland Civil War training camp on Tremont Ridge) also are abundant.

The Arts Committee of Tremont West Development Corporation plans to install about four dozen of these pieces on permanent display at College and Professor Avenues this summer. C’mon down during Walkabout Tremont (second Friday of every month) or any other time to discover the art of historic Tremont!

 

WALKABOUT TREMONT | MAY 10, JUNE 14, JULY 12, AUGUST 9, SEPTEMBER 13

TREMONT FARMERS MARKET | 4–7PM TUESDAYS THROUGH OCTOBER

TASTE OF TREMONT | JULY 21

ARTS IN AUGUST | WEEKENDS IN AUGUST

TREMONT ARTS & CULTURAL FESTIVAL | SEPTEMBER 28 & 29

Visit tremontwest.org for details.

 

Walkabout Tremont

c/o Tremont West Development

2406 Professor Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

walkabouttremont.com

216.575.0920