Cleveland in HDR

“The Steamship William G. Mather is a retired Great Lakes bulk freighter now restored as a museum ship in Cleveland, Ohio, one of four in the Great Lakes region. She transported cargo such as ore, coal, stone, and grain to ports throughout the Great Lakes, and was nicknamed “The Ship That Built Cleveland” because Cleveland’s steel mills were a frequent destination.”

For more information:

http://www.glsc.org/mather_museum.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steamship_William_G._Mather_Maritime_Museum

Today’s Quote: “History is a relentless master. It has no present, only the past rushing into the future. To try to hold fast is to be swept aside”. – John F. Kennedy

The Cleveland Skyline – Cleveland got the nickname “The 6^th City” during the early 1900’s when its population made it the 6^th largest city in the country. Cleveland had the sixth largest population in the 1910, 1930 and 1940 U.S. Federal census.  As of the 2010 Census, the city proper had a total population of 396,815.  That makes Cleveland the 45th largest city in the United States. That being said Cleveland is part of the larger Cleveland-Akron-Elyria Combined Statistical Area, which in 2000 had a population of 2,945,831,  and ranked as the country’s 14th largest.

Today’s Quote: “I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature”. – John D. Rockefeller

If you have never seen a play at the Hanna Theater in Playhouse Square you are missing out. The atmosphere is great and everything is modern. The Hanna Theatre opened March 28, 1921, and would go on to host such stage and film luminaries as Al Jolson, Katherine Hepburn, Henry
Fonda, Ethel Barrymore, Ginger Rogers, Helen Hayes, Mary Martin and Yul Brynner. In 2008, the Hanna underwent a renovation to add a thrust stage, re-work its seating to 550 and become the main performance base for Playhouse Square’s long-time constituent, Great Lakes Theater. Few people know that the famous Tom Hanks got his first acting job right here in Cleveland with the Great Lakes Theater Festival. He worked 3 summers with Great Lakes making $45 per week. Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in the country, behind only
New York City.

For more info: http://www.playhousesquare.org/default.asp?playhousesquare=62&objId=2

Today’s Quote: Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air. – John Quincy Adams

I don’t normally post a photo on the weekends but I thought I would post one of the St. Patricks Day Parade. Cleveland has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a downtown parade since 1867. It’s one of the largest parades in the country. The crowd is estimated to reach around 400,000 people this year.

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy” – Benjamin Franklin

Grays Armory Billiard Room

Today’s photo is of the billiard room inside Grays Armory in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Several U.S. Presidents including Teddy Roosevelt shot pool in this very room. Please take a second to read more about his amazing building. For more info:

http://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/298

Today’s Quote: A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. – Theodore Roosevelt

Today’s Photo: Playhouse Square

Today’s photo is of a cold evening on Euclid Ave. in the Theater District. On the right you can see the sign for the newly renovated Allen Theater and the Idea Center.

Today’s Quote: “Action is the foundational key to all success”. – Pablo Picasso

Everett Road Covered Bridge is one of the only remaining covered bridges in Summit County. However in the 19th century, it was one of over 2,000 in Ohio. The builders of Everett Road Covered Bridge used a truss pattern patented by Robert W. Smith of Tipp City, Ohio, in 1867. The bridge was also unlikely to have been built much after the 1870s.

Today’s Quote: “Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.” Thomas Jefferson

From Wikipedia -

“The Fountain of Eternal Life, also known as the War Memorial Fountain and Peace Arising from the Flames of War, is a statue and fountain in Cleveland, Ohio designed by Cleveland Institute of Art graduate Marshall Fredericks and dedicated on May 30, 1964. The sculpture, which serves as the city’s major memorial to its citizens that served in World War II, is situated on Memorial Plaza, which is part of the Cleveland Mall.

The fountain was initiated and promoted by the Cleveland Press, which raised $250,000 in donations from private citizens and various organizations for the project. The centerpiece is a 35-foot (10.7 m) bronze figure representing man escaping from the flames of war and reaching skyward for eternal peace. The bronze sphere from which the figure rises represents the earth. Four granite carvings, representing the geographic civilizations of the world, are placed around the sphere. On the surface of the polished granite rim surrounding the fountain are bronze plates bearing the names of 4,177 Greater Clevelanders who perished in WWII and in the Korean War. Following a complete restoration during the construction of an underlying parking garage in connection with the neighboring Key Tower, the memorial was rededicated on Veterans Day in 1991″.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_of_Eternal_Life 

Today’s Quote: “Beauty awakens the soul to act” – Dante Alighieri

Today’s photo is of a United Airlines 757 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Here in Cleveland we are very fortunate to be a hub for United Airlines. Having direct routes to so many business and leisure destinations is a huge plus for our community. 

Some interesting facts about United Airlines:

United is the world’s largest airline and has over 80,000 employees.

On October 1, 2010, UAL Corporation merged with Continental Airlines and became known as United Continental Holdings.

 United Airlines originated from the Varney Air Lines air mail service of Walter Varney, who also founded Varney Speed Lines which later became Continental Airlines.

In 1985 United Purchased Pan Am Airlines entire Pacific division

In 1995 United was the first airline to fly the Boeing 777

In 2012 United will be the first US Airline to fly the revolutionary Boeing 787

For more info:

www.United.com

Today’s Quote: “Gliders, sail planes, they’re wonderful flying machines. It’s the closest you can come to being a bird”. Neil Armstrong

Today’s Photo: Cleveland Arcade

Today’s photo is of the old Cleveland Arcade. The Arcade was originally financed by John D. Rockefeller and it was modeled on Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This property was recently sold at auction to Toronto-based Skyline International Development Inc.

Here is a little of what Skyline had to say about their purchase – “The property was acquired by Skyline at auction for $7.7 million after previous owners invested $70 million in acquiring and restoring the Arcade, including converting office towers to the hotel, and then defaulted on a mortgage. 

Skyline CEO Michael Sneyd, who has been involved in and monitoring the American market for 15 years, views this destination community and lodging company’s first U.S. acquisition as another major milestone with five key factors. He said, “It’s the right time for Skyline to expand beyond Ontario and Canada. The Cleveland Arcade is the kind of mixed-use, legacy property where Skyline has expertise. It was an exceptional deal. It’s a well-known hotel and Cleveland is a relatively nearby destination for us, and a city that’s definitely on the move.” 

Company Founder and President Gil Blutrich cites the combination of over $2 billion in public and private investment that will see a new convention center, medical mart and the Horseshoe Casino all open in downtown Cleveland by 2013, plus discussions around improving the city’s transportation infrastructure, as compelling reasons to invest there now.

“Cleveland is already filled with outstanding architecture, internationally famous chefs, top attractions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and sporting facilities. With these new additions Cleveland is poised to become a big regional draw for both meeting and leisure travelers,” Blutrich said.”

 More info: 

http://theclevelandarcade.com/

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toronto-based-skyline-international-development-checks-into-us-market-with-acquisition-of-historic-cleveland-arcade-and-hyatt-regency-hotel-136037953.html

Today’s Quote: “ People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents”. – Andrew Carnegie