The October 16, 1911 Plain Dealer carried a legal notice by the Trustees of Shaker Township - J L Cannon,  O P Van Sweringen and W J Van Aken - that announced a referendum to move Shaker Village into a new entity to be known as the Village of Shaker Heights. 
 
On October 27, 1911 voters came to 2889 Lee Road, which served as the real estate office of the Van Sweringen Company and as the Village Hall. They approved the referendum. Shaker Heights was born. William Van Aken would later note that only 14 persons voted that day.