History of Shaker Square

The History of Shaker Square

In 1922 construction of Moreland Courts began at Shaker Boulevard and what was then Moreland Circle, on land acquired by Josiah Kirby from the "Vans" — real estate developers Mantis James and Oris Paxton Van Sweringen.

Architect Alfred Harris planned an ambitious series of apartments, with commercial buildings, including a theater and market, surrounding the Circle. Only a portion of the plan was carried out when Kirby's company went bankrupt. The Van Sweringens reacquired the property and enlisted architects Philip Small and Charles Rowley to complete Moreland Courts and develop plans for what would become Shaker Square.

Brothers M. J. and O. P. Van Sweringen Photo from the Cleveland Public Library

Before Shaker Square (1922)
the Rapid stop at Shaker Boulevard and Coventry Road
Photo from the Cleveland Public Library collection.

The Vans saw Shaker Square as a focal point and gateway to their suburb to the east, Shaker Heights. Integral to their vision of "Shaker Village" and the development of Shaker Square was the creation of a rapid transit (light rail) connection to downtown Cleveland. The Vans were at the peak of their power, owning or controlling most of what would become Shaker Heights, the Nickel Plate and other railroads and the Terminal Tower (now part of Tower City) which would open in 1930 as the tallest building between New York and Chicago.

To accommodate automobile parking the design changed from a circle to an octagon. This plan suggested 18th-century European royal squares as a design source. Central pavilions flanked by lower wings can be seen in each quadrant. Shaker Square's style and detail are American Colonial - Georgian to conform with the vision for Shaker Heights. (More on the early years.)

Amalienborg Square in Copenhagen, said to be the inspiration for Shaker Square. Four mansions for Denmark's royal family.
Constructed 1750-60.

The Square was constructed from 1927 - 29, celebrated its 75th anniversary in November 2004. The Colony Theater was built in 1937. In the 1951 aerial view of Shaker Square, below, note the rapid transit turnaround loop in the center of the green.

An aerial view of Shaker Square - 1951

Who owned and owns Shaker Square?

In my years around the Square, I can remember

Larry Albert, or an investment group with him as its leader, is the first owner I remember.

He sold to a group that made a $24 million investment in the purchase and renovation in 1999 - 2000. Karen Kurdziel, then a reporter for the Sun Press, wrote a carefully researched story (more) about the two young men who were the "visible guiding lights" in the deal and the corporations that really owned the Square.

Then they defaulted and Key Bank took back the property in 2000.

Peter Rubin of The Coral Company, a local developer, campaigned hard and won the right to be, in his words, "the custodian" of historic Shaker Square.

To learn more about the history of Shaker Square

How well do you remember Shaker Square?
Shaker Square is really a Cleveland octagon
By V David Sartin, on the Plain Dealer blog
Early history and some great pre-1930 photos of the Square.
Articles on the Van Sweringens, Shaker Square and Shaker Heights in the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
On Amalienborg Square: a Danish page, Sightseeing in Copenhagen, Amalienborg Palace on a Canadian site, Biermann Family History and a Danish government site's section on Amalienborg Square, including a detailed diagram (Acrobat Reader required).

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