Severance Hall, University Circle, photograph   Save
Historic Buildings of Ohio/Daniel Porter Collection
Description: This color image shows an exterior view of Severance Hall, located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio. The image dates from the 1960s. Regarded by many music-lovers as one of the world's most beautiful concert halls, Severance Hall opened in 1931 as the home of The Cleveland Orchestra. The building is named for John L. Severance and his wife, Elisabeth, who initially pledged $1 million for its construction. Elisabeth died unexpectedly early in the design process, and John Severance made additional contributions toward the building in her memory. The building’s architectural significance has been recognized by local and national preservation societies, including the Cleveland Landmarks Commission and the National Register of Historic Places. Severance Hall is a recipient of the Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Named for the streetcar turnaround once located at Euclid Avenue and East 107th Street, University Circle is a 600-acre district that is home to many of Cleveland's major cultural, educational, medical, and service institutions. The area was first settled in 1799 by tavern keeper Nathaniel Doan and became known as Doan's Corners. In 1882, Western Reserve College moved here from Hudson, followed in 1885 by the Case School of Applied Science from downtown Cleveland. These two colleges federated in 1967 to become Case Western Reserve University. In 1882, Jeptha Wade, founder of early telecommunications giant Western Union, donated the large tract of land that became Wade Park. In 1916, in accordance with the terms of Wade's gift, The Cleveland Museum of Art opened in the park. Over the years many other institutions, as well as their benefactors, have made their homes here. In 1931, The Cleveland Orchestra found a permanent home in Severance Hall and University Hospitals of Cleveland was dedicated, firmly establishing University Circle as a premier urban district. The Circle is unique for its concentration of diverse organizations. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06622
Subjects: Cleveland Orchestra; Cultural Ohio; University Circle (Cleveland, Ohio); Severance Hall (Cleveland, Ohio); Cities and towns--Ohio; Urbanization--United States--History
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)