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Euclid Beach Park Now
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Euclid Beach Arch
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The Arch
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| Euclid Beach Park Main Entrance, Circa 1965 |
Euclid Beach Park opened in 1895, incorporated under The Euclid Beach Park Co. They were losing twenty thousand dollars
a season but if they sold the land they would lose more than half of their investment. They leased the park to the Humphrey
Family and it opened in 1901 under their management. The first "Arch" was constructed entirely of wood. This
first Arch stood about a quarter of a mile East of where the existing main entrance gate Arch stands. The main entrance
gate Arch was constructed circa 1921. It was constructed entirely of wood and designed to resemble a large letter "H"
as in Humphrey. The sign in the crosspiece originally said "Park". The public referred to the park as "Euclid
Beach Park" rather than "Humphrey Park" and the sign in the crosspiece was changed. The foundations
for the arch are octagonal in shape, each side is approximately 36" long. The distance between parallel sides is
approximately 96". Both towers have a door on their back side. Permanent wooden ladders are along one wall of each tower
which pass through an opening in the first floor ceiling to allow access to the interiorof the centerpiece. Originally a number
of incandescent bulbs were used to illuminate the letters spelling out "Euclid Beach Park" in the crosspiece. They
were later converted to neon; the wiring insulators are still inside the crosspiece. Around 1942 a contractor was hired who
installed stone covering called "Permastone" to the outside of the arch. The Arch is a designated city landmark
as authorized by the Cleveland Landmarks Commission.
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| Damaged East Tower (Note Crack in Crosspiece) |
ARCH DAMAGED! January 11, 2007, an SUV crashed into the east tower
of the arch. The impact tore out about a third of the first story walls of the east tower and caused the tower to shift
partially off its foundation, about six inches toward the main street in front of the Arch and two inches to its
right. There was damage at the crosspiece where it connects to the east tower. Force of the impact was transferred through
the centerpiece and to the west tower causing it to rotate slightly on its base. Responding immediately that day was The City
of Cleveland Building Department and Landmarks Commission. Due to the severe damage they called in a company specializing
in structual damage, who installed temporary scaffolding bracing under the crosspiece to prevent a collapse.
At
first it was unclear as who may be responsible for The Arch and it was feared it would be demolished. The late Frank
Brodnick, President of Euclid Beach Park Now, urged City of Cleveland Ward 11 Councilman Michael D. Polensek and
Northeast Shores Development Corporation to save The Arch. The City of Cleveland demanded a more comprehensive structural
analysis and recomendations. The driver of the vehicle was insured. The insurance company has one adjuster who specilizes
in damage to historic structures and that person flew into Cleveland and made an inspection. The damage was covered up to
the $25,000 limit of the policy. Associated Estates Realty Corporation, the owner of the adjacent apartment complex came
forward to cover the balance required to restore The Arch.
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REDEDICATION CEREMONY
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the Euclid Beach
Arch on Tuesday, June 12, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
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| Rededication Ceremony, June 12, 2007 |
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AWARD OF MERIT
The restoration of The
Arch was nominated for the 2008 preservation awards presented by the Cleveland Restoration Society and AIA Cleveland. The
awards ceremony was held on May 6, 2008, at The Ohio Theatre, part of Cleveland's Playhouse Square complex. An Award of
Merit was presented to: - Associated Estates
- Euclid Beach Park Now
- Northeast Shores Development Corporation
- City
of Cleveland Councilman Michael D. Polensek, Ward 11.
| Frank J. Brodnick (1949-2007) |
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| President, Euclid Beach Park Now, 2004-2007 |
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