Sat 5/14 @ 5:30PM
If you’ve never had a chance to peek into restored Victorian homes and unique urban design in Ohio City, you have that chance this weekend. The Ohio City Neighborhood will show off why it’s unique as a city within a city with “An Evening In Ohio City,” which begins at 5:30 Sat 5/14 at The Bop Stop.
Who could resist going inside the historic Franklin Castle? That’s just one of five locations on the tour of Ohio City. The Ohio City home tour is a Cleveland mainstay and the annual fundraiser that helps keep the neighborhood vital and beautiful. You could walk, or you can take Lolly the Trolley to each location. Food and drink from local bars and restaurants, valet parking, a commemorative Evening in Ohio City wine glass, and live music and entertainment at the Bop Stop are all included with the ticket.
Franklin Castle is purportedly haunted. The four story 20-room house located at 4308 Franklin Avenue was originally owned by Hannes Tiedeman, who built it in 1881. The home’s early history was beset by tragedies. The house has changed ownership a number of times and has been in sad disrepair for years. What’s it like today?
The Ohio City Post Office Building and three homes are also on the tour. Expect to see renovated older buildings. You’ll be intrigued and excited by imaginative use and rebirth of old spaces as you’re led into opened-up parlors and modern re-dos that maintain the original integrity of the buildings.
The City of Ohio was founded in 1818 and was originally part of Brooklyn Township. Just two days before the City of Cleveland was incorporated, the City of Ohio became its own independent city, on March 3, 1836. At that time, the City of Ohio had 2000 citizens and Cleveland had 6,000. The cities were fierce economic competitors. In 1836 Ohio City residents fought to prevent the use of Cleveland’s Columbus Street Bridge because commercial traffic to Ohio City was disrupted by it. While in Ohio City, don’t forget to take pictures of the West Side Market and Market Square — they were the attractions in the early 19th century.
While history will be revisited on Saturday, the tour is about Ohio City today. Increased hours at the West Side Market, a brewery district, restaurants with great chefs, and unique shops and galleries make the area one of Cleveland’s favorite destinations. Its history is its bedrock but today’s innovative entrepreneurs make Ohio City an attraction.
Businesses in the area support this event as well. Lutheran Hospital, St. Ignatius High School, The Snavely Group, Knez Homes, Dave’s Supermarket, CrossCountry Mortgage, LDA Architecture, and Ohio Savings Bank are the sponsors.
Tickets are $135. Get them here.
ohiocity.org/evening-ohio-city
CoolCleveland contributor Claudia Taller wrote about Cleveland and the North Coast in her nonfiction book Ohio’s Lake Erie Wineries and her novel Daffodils and Fireflies. Find out more at claudiajtaller.com/.
Cleveland, OH 44113