Lake View Cemetery, Cleveland, OH

 Cleveland, Ohio is home to countless gothic cemetaries and churches.  It seems there is one or the other  around every corner.  Being surveyed as a village only 20 years after taking our independence from the Brittish, "Clevealand's" (the spelling to 'Cleveland' came shortly thereafter) first cemetaries  (similar design and style garden cemetaries of England and France,) and churches (reflecting design elements and features of french romanesque revival and english medieval cathedrals) never cease to take my breath away.

Lakeview Cemetary was where I chose to spend my day. Words cannot describe the beauty of this place.  Miles, and miles of delicate, tree lined pathways and trees embrace some of the most spectacular stonework and statuary I have ever seen. It was a very gloomy and rainy (off an on) day - so I had the place to myself for the most part.  I was able to take my time and savor every moment.

A slideshow design by Smilebox

What a fabulous day.

You Can Take the Girl Out of Cleveland....

....But You Can't Take
Cleveland Out of the Girl.

The Cleveland "Grays."

An Ohio State militia originally formed to protect citizens

against crime, later played an important role in the Civil War.

The Terminal Tower (Union Tower) - k/n/a Tower City

Completed in 1930 as a central to the railway service, 

Terminal Tower was and still is Cleveland'  landmark and the jewel of Public Square.

The Old Stone Church (1855) - nestled between skyscrapers

is a spectacular site at sundown.

My Grandmother (Wanda Matilda) was married here in the 1940's.

Old Stone Church History.

The Renaissance Hotel - where I stay during my visits to Cleveland...

Formerly known as Hotel Cleveland and built in 1918

was and still is a beautiful tribute to the old fashioned class and sophistication

that Cleveland was known for.  

                                                 Woodland Cemetery (dedicated in 1853)

is where many of my Haas ancestors (Charlote Haas) are buried.

Once a beautiful rural cemetery where Gothic gates, pathways and fountains adorned the landscape,

now is a very sad and lonely place where not a flower nor wreath lay for the souls buried there.
Blaise and I spent hours walking through this cemetery.

I need to talk about this in greater detail and will create a dedicate post for it in a few days.

Cleveland is a special place.

It really is.  It's vibrant,
and resilient and full of life.

Clevelanders are special.
They are honest, loyal, hardworking
and proud.

It may be time
to look for a place,
in Cleveland....

on Lake Erie.






It may be time....
to go home.

The Terminal Tower, The Cleveland Orchestra , James Corned Beef and Fireworks.....

It's good to be home.  

You can take the girl out of Cleveland ....

But you can't take Cleveland out  of the girl.