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| Lynch House - 2913 Clinton -1989 photo |
* - [This post's title is an
allusion to something routinely said on a 1960s tv game show called
"What's My Line?". An obvious "stretch" for a title,
but better than none at all!]
One of the earliest of Ohio City’s “follies” is the one associated with 2913 Clinton. This particular myth received considerable public exposure via a book published way back in 1976 called “Landmark Architecture Of Cleveland”. The author was Mary-Peale Schofield. An amateur historian at best, Schofield relied far more on secondary sources, including folklore and “hearsay”, than primary historic documentation. The assertion in her book regarding 2913 Clinton is that it was built for a John Beverlin, circa 1845. Although very recent research indicates that a house of this vintage did previously occupy this site, anyone who has seriously studied the evolution of historic American architecture would know that any house that would have been built in our region around that time would very likely exhibit the features of either the Greek Revival or Gothic Revival styles. But, this house, with its bracketed eaves, segmental-arch-topped windows, and two-floor side bay, instead exhibits ‘hallmark’ features of the later Italianate style. The earliest examples of this style were not built until the late-1850s. It was such a popular style, a few examples of the style continued to be built as late as the early-1880s.
Historic Cuyahoga County real-estate
tax records demonstrate that this house was built for a Frank Lynch in 1872,
after acquiring the land in 1869 and 1870 (not 1867 as another “legend”
suggests), from the same John Beverlin. It was designed by Cleveland
architect Walter Blythe [Plain Dealer, 10/18/1872].
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| Beverlin House - 2901 Clinton - 1992 photo |
[As a footnote to this story,
perhaps it should be pointed out that the house immediately to the east of this
house, at 2901 Clinton, is a house that actually was built for John
Beverlin. But, it was built in 1869 – still a long ways from circa 1845.]
— C. B.
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