Summer Bicycle Tour – A Family-Friendly Historical Tour of Beachwood n Sunday, June 28, the City of Beachwood and Beachwood Historical Society held its Summer Bicycle Tour, a family-friendly historical tour. Beachwood is rich in history, and this event provided an opportunity for dozens of curious participants to visit historical sites in our community. For those who chose not to cycle, city vans and individual cars were used on this self-guided tour. Thanks to all the gracious hosts for opening their homes and businesses, making this event possible. Here are some highlights: 1. Tudor-Style Van Swerigen House • Fernwood Road Oris Paxton (OP) Van Sweringen (1879-1936) and Mantis James (MJ) Van Sweringen (1881-1934) were brothers who became railroad barons who designed the interurban train lines (Rapid Transit today), built the Terminal Tower and developed Shaker Heights. They envisioned building summer homes or cottages “in the country” in what we now call Beachwood. Their dream was crushed during the depression, and their value of $3 billion plummeted to $3,000 at their passing. 2. The Hangar • Cedar Road As featured in last month's Beachwood Buzz, the Hangar, an art-deco jewel built in 1930 as part of the Dudley S. Blossom estate, is a private club that is now run by Charles Bolton. Many estates and country houses of that era incorporated a private sports facility as a place where children, their friends and adults could swim and play tennis indoors. 3. LoPresti Civil War Era Home • Richmond Road The former Henda Apple’s House has been beautifully restored into the antebellum period. Although updates have been done over the years, the home still reflects its history which includes a tile-adorned ceiling in the kitchen and original crank doorbell on the front door. (Pictured: Jared Schnall points out the crank doorbell while on the tour.) 4. Angel Homestead • South Woodland Road While walking around this home, visitors took note of a photo on display in the front yard that pictured (from left) J. Kall, a hired hand and Anna Leigh on the lap of her uncle Clarence Leigh. The home was built in 1877 and the photo taken in 1915. This is one of the older homes remaining in Beachwood. (Pictured: Rosemary Nemeth holding the photo mentioned above.) 5. Beachwood Cemetery • Corner of Halburton and Green Roads The Beachwood Cemetery, formerly known as the Warrensville East Cemetery, is home to veterans of seven different wars dating back to The Revolutionary War. Beachwood’s founding families, including the Corletts and Teares, former mayors and many early families that immigrated from the Isle of Mann and developed Beechwood Village rest there. It is now maintained by the City of Beachwood. 6. Beachwood Park Pavilion • Shaker Boulevard Participants had a stop at the pavilion to enjoy sweet treats, fruit and beverages. While there, they learned that the Van Swerigens had planned to use the space to connect the interurban train lines all the way out to Gates Mills Blvd. Today, it consists of miles of trails for bicycling, walking, running and skating. It also has a sledding hill, parking and an open air shelter with a restroom and drinking fountain. The shelter was built in 2004. 7. Aloft Hotel • Eaton Boulevard Although Aloft is a new boutique hotel, history abides in the area. Once known as the Nike site, Life Time Fitness’s current location was the site of missiles that were set during the Cold War era to combat a perceived Soviet threat. The military base was located across the street, where the Marriott East is located, and a radar tower once stood on the back end of the Concord development. Additionally, many arrowheads were found on and around the site, dating back to the Native Americans. The Teare farm house, later known as a spooky haunted house, was located there; and President MicKinley's assassin, Leon Czolgos, lived nearby. 8. Gund Mansion • Selkirk Road The only estate-type home built in Beachwood, formerly part of the Bernwood Estates. The home was built for A.C. Bourne, a purchasing agent for the Bourne-Fuller Co., founded by his older brother. The house was built by Mr. Ben Heining, a trust officer with the Guardian Trust Company and a deacon of the Fairmount Presbyterian Church. Following reversals of fortune, the Gunds purchased the home from the Bournes and the name Gund Mansion stuck. For more information about the Beachwood Historical Society, visit www.beachwoodhistoricalsociety.com. O Clockwise from top left: 2, 1, 4, 7, 3, 6, 5, 4, 8. 24 Beachwood Buzz n August 2015