The Observation Deck

Enjoy the photos and the history:

Most of you have probably noticed the large crane blocking traffic at
Detroit and Warren. While you're waiting to go through the intersection,
take at look at the Bailey Building at the southwest corner. The current
owners are undertaking a major rehab of the building and removing the large
concrete panels. Underneath is the original exterior of the Bailey Building
in remarkably good shape.

There is a lot of great history on this corner. Originally, early settlers
Mars and Keturah Wagar built their stone house on here. Then, their son
Francis built a large, beautiful frame house on the location. Next came
Bailey Company, a first-class, four story department store. The Lakewood
store opened in 1930 as a the west side branch of the Cleveland store. The
building was refaced with imported marble in late 1954 and became Neville's
Department Store in 1965.

Historic photos are courtesy of The Cleveland State University Library
Special Collections. Look for more at http://www.clevelandmemory.org/lakewood

It's a great example of preservation and economic development at work in
downtown Lakewood!

Mazie Adams
Lakewood Historical Society
14710 Lake Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
216 221-7343
museum@lakewoodhistory.org
http://www.lakewoodhistory.org
http://www.lakewoodmuseumstore.com

Thanks for the photos! The building could not look better minus the Berlin wall of concrete facades.

Thanks for sharing Rhonda... It's awesome to see it going back to its roots... lots of that all down Detroit, and generally honoring the original architecture with some cool modern touches.

On the down side, my wife and I drove by the old Hall House site and looked on in disgust. They can't even dignify the rush to tear it down by [i]pretending[/i] to build a parking lot.

My toddler insists the big crane is his Christmas present early. He is so excited that I have to take him past this daily. Thank you to the city for the free entertainment for a 5 year old. WHOO HOOO!!!! (and thank you for giving me a break from Sponge Bob!!!)

I found out that my house is on the historical registry and my driveway originated on Grace. I am on Waterbury. Think anyone will mind if I take my driveway back? *giggles*

1455 Waterbury Avenue – Built in 1889, long before these streets were created, this house’s address
was 48 Grace Ave. in 1902, presumably with a long driveway off that street. Clarence P.
Nicholson was its owner. By 1916, the address was on Waterbury. Clarence was secretary-treasurer
of the Nicholson Realty Co. and the Nicholson Ship Log Co., working with his older brother, E. Louis.
courtesy of this Fifth Annual Lakewood History Walk (i found it in pdf form on the web)

I used to shop at Bailey's with my mom when I was very young.

You can see why they wanted the "modern" facade for the department store (less windows), but adding windows rather than removing the concrete overlay?

Rhonda, thanks for sharing this history..and Sharon, thanks for sharing your memories. And thanks to the current owners of the building for bringing it back to it to its original design with hopefully the original street level interest.

Listen on WTAM with Darren Toms today.
He is going to interview Mazie Adams about the Bailey Building.
Thanks Darren for you interest!
Rhonda Loje

I shopped with my mom and grandmom at Bailey's too. I was a champion model car builder because they had model car shows/contests. Great times as a kid.

Thanks for sharing Rhonda... It's awesome to see it going back to its roots... lots of that all down Detroit, and generally honoring the original architecture with some cool modern touches.
On the down side, my wife and I drove by the old Hall House site and looked on in disgust. They can't even dignify the rush to tear it down by [i]pretending to build a parking lot.Paul Schrimpf[/i]

Paul

I realize that I am new to town but am I missing something? The building seems very non-descript, even downright plain. People are reacting like they just saved some priceless structure from the wrecking ball. Not some typical 3-story plain, building. I had a good laugh with my wife when we walked down to gaze upon Lakewood's newest project, and was completely underwhelmed! No carved cornices, no gargoyles. Made me wonder if they were saving it because it was a Shaker Design?

I forget if it was at the shoe store or wine store the guy behind the counter told us, the same group that wanted it covered back in the 60s now wanted it uncovered! Is that true?

It seems like many Lakewood movers and shakers get really excited over some of the smallest things. Sorry I just do not see it.

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ken Wilder wrote:I forget if it was at the shoe store or wine store the guy behind the counter told us, the same group that wanted it covered back in the 60s now wanted it uncovered! Is that true?

It seems like many Lakewood movers and shakers get really excited over some of the smallest things. Sorry I just do not see it.

“We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the vitriolic words and actions of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good people.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ken

If you click on the quote box at the bottom right it will grab the quote.

Cerny's Shoes usually does the history. Rozi's Wine Shop usually does comedy. That
is unless the grand man of Lakewood, Warren Rossen, is at Rozi's. Then you can
get both.

As far as overtly excited I am willing to bet dinner right now LakewoodAlive will
award themselves, the city and the building owners awards for historical preservation,
while awarding the building owners right next to it awards for the exciting
modernization, along with themselves and the city. While giving themselves and the
city another award for keeping the Warren Building the same.

Of course as Paul pointed out a real piece of Lakewood's history and business was torn
down for a grass patch. I am sure LakewoodAlive will award themselves something for
helping to bring green space to the city, as they get ready to award themselves "best
use of empty field into parking lot" down the road.

Also really love that MLK quote.


.

I remember working in downtown Cleveland in one of the buildings that was torn down for the Key Bank building (118 St. Clair). It had a horrible concrete facade on it and I was not at all sorry to see it go. Then from my new office across the street I saw them peel off the concrete to reveal the prettiest little red brick office building you ever saw. Broke my heart...

I'm thrilled to see another monument to 50s/60s/70s archtechural "progress" bite the dust. What you see underneath the concrete is what it was, a nice solid, utilitarian building fitting of this city in its time. I think it's awesome, but I'm a helpless preservationist. I see as much beauty in a building's place in time as I do the building itself.

Paul Schrimpf wrote:I remember working in downtown Cleveland in one of the buildings that was torn down for the Key Bank building (118 St. Clair). It had a horrible concrete facade on it and I was not at all sorry to see it go. Then from my new office across the street I saw them peel off the concrete to reveal the prettiest little red brick office building you ever saw. Broke my heart...

I'm thrilled to see another monument to 50s/60s/70s archtechural "progress" bite the dust. What you see underneath the concrete is what it was, a nice solid, utilitarian building fitting of this city in its time. I think it's awesome, but I'm a helpless preservationist. I see as much beauty in a building's place in time as I do the building itself.

Granted I was not around in the 50's 60's or 70's,... but what were you people thinking covering everything up with concrete.

Jim DeVito wrote:Granted I was not around in the 50's 60's or 70's,... but what were you people thinking covering everything up with concrete.

Jim

Can't speak for everyone but I am willing to bet if you look at the people that were
pushing for it, you will find some of the same names as those excited about going back.

Some people ARE

others ARE constantly chasing it


.

One of my least favorite things was covering up store facades with wood.

Why people do that is beyond my understanding.

As for the Bailey building, since I am a geezerina and I vaguely remember my mother shopping there when I was very young, I can say that seeing that hideous facade come off is like seeing a wrongly convicted person released from jail. It's like seeing the Berlin wall being torn down.

That building isn't the loveliest building in the universe, but a horrible example of architectural brutalism is being corrected.

If you look at the images - although there is one missing - you can see how the scale of the building changed, first when the entire top portion was covered up and then later, slits were cut into the top, but all the street level windows were covered. It makes a difference in human interaction when you walk past a brick wall or a building with windows. Among other things, you can see people inside those buildings. Brick walls keep people out. They don't invite you in.

I assumed that building would be torn down rather than restored.

And I think that Five Guys has done a fantastic job in their rehab.

Not being a Lakewood native I find the history of the city very interesting. The architecture that I grew up around in southern California was completely different so I find all this so cool. I've made it a habit of going by the Bailey building each day after picking up my kids. I can't wait to see the final product.