German Americans of Cleveland

This page highlights some of the special and unique people, places and events that best represent the German American contribution to Cleveland's diverse ethnic identity.

For a general overview of German Americans in Cleveland, we suggest:

• Encyclopedia of Cleveland History: GERMANS

Charles Frederick Schweinfurth

Sylvestor Everett Mansion, 1921.

One of the most influential architects of German descent in Cleveland, Charles Frederick Schweinfurth designed numerous bridges, churches, educational buildings and other structures.

Some of his most well known designs were:

• the Union Club
• Calvary Presbyterian Church
• the Bell Telephone Company Main Office Building
• Trinity Cathedral
• the Mather Mansion at Cleveland State University
• the Florence Harkness Chapel
• Haydn Hall
• the Franklin T. Backus Law School
• the Physics Laboratory and Biology Laboratories at Case Western Reserve University
• the Martin Luther King Boulevard bridge
• the Notre Dame College Administration Building
• the original University School
• the Lakeview Cemetery Entrance on Euclid Avenue.

Schweinfurth completed at least 15 residential designs for prominent Clevelanders on Euclid Avenue's "Millionaires Row". In addition to his own home, he designed homes for William Chisholm, Sylvester T. Everett, Harry K. Hatch, J. Walter McClymond, Amos B. McNairy, George W. Peck, John L. Severance, and Albert L. Withington.

• See Schweinfurth images from the collection
• "Charles Frederick Schweinfurth" entry from Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

Frank E. Cudell

The Perry-Payne Building.

Another well known and important German American architect was Frank E. Cudell of the architectural firm, Cudell and Richardson. Frank E. Cudell and John N. Richardson are best known for their design work of churches and commercial buildings.

The firm designed a series of scared landmarks in the Victorian Gothic style which include the Franklin Circle Christian Church, St. Joseph Catholic Church, and St. Stephan Catholic Church. Their designs for commercial structures included the George Worthington Building, the Perry-Payne Building and the Root & McBride-Bradley Building.

• "Frank E. Cudell" entry from Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

Berea Children's Home

Baseball at the Berea Children's Home.

In 1864 the original founding name of the Berea Children's Home and Family Services was the German Methodist Orphan Asylum and was later referred to as the Berea Children's Home. The Home's aim is to preserve family relationships and to create for the child a sense of continuity and security whenever possible.

Over the years the Home has continued to respond to the community's needs through a variety of programs addressing the individual mental health and developmental health needs of infants, children, youth, adults, and families and remains a strong and vital organization.

• Photographs from the Berea Children's Home

German Cultural Garden

Statue of Goethe and Schiller.

The German Cultural Garden is one of 23 culturally-themed gardens located along East Blvd. & Martin Luther King Blvd. in University Circle. Planned by the German Cultural Garden Association, designed by Architect Herman Dercum, and dedicated on June 2, 1929, the German Cultural Garden was the third of the 23 gardens to be constructed.

The garden features a twin-figured bronze statue of poet/philosophers Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) and Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805), bronze busts of dramatist Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781), and poet Heinrich Heine (1797-1856), as well as a marble fountain dedicated to the memory of Friedrich Froebel, founder of the kindergarten system.

• See German Cultural Garden images from the Collection
• Cleveland Cultural Gardens Collection

German Day Celebration

German Day festivities, 1935.

The annual German Day celebration in Cleveland was originally inspired by the patriotism of German Americans during the American Revolution. it was first held on August 4, 1890, in honor of when German American troops under the leadership of General Herkheimer assembled for the Battle Oriskany on the same date back in 1777.

Today, as a celebration of pride in being German American, German Day is held in both in October and June. The October program is highlighted by a ball and the crowning of "Miss German Day". The June program features a keynote address by a promonent speaker, entertainment, and the German American Man and Woman of the Year Awards.

• See German Day images from the Collection