PURPOSE
Western Reserve Architectural Historians was founded in 1965 to provide an opportunity for persons from all professions and backgrounds to meet regularly so that they might understand and enjoy the region's architectural heritage.  At least six times a year, through walking tours, on-site visits, lectures, and discussions, WRAH members explore the notable, unusual, and significant in the built environment.

WESTERN RESERVE ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS

CLEVELAND, OHIO

A Chapter of the SOCIETY of ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIANS

Saturday March 11, 2023
 We toured Saint Mary's Romanian Orthodox Cathedral and Romanian Ethnic Art Museum in Cleveland, OH. Ovidiu Lucian Vatamanu, PhD and the church cantor were our guides.
The congregation moved to this church in 1960
Doctor Vatamanu shared the treasures in the ethnic museum with a group of more than 30 WRAH members
The iconography of the santuary frescoes was explained to the group
The view of the sanctuary from the  choir loft
 On Sunday April 16 at 2:00 PM we toured the restored 1892 McDowell Philips House, 205 South Prospect Street, Medina, Ohio 44256.  Our Guide was Brian Feron, President of the Medina County Historical Society.
The imposing front facade of the McDowell Phillips house welcomed us to Medina
A side perspective of the recently restored landmark building
Brian Feron, president of the Medina County Historical Society told us the story of the house and its family
A welcoming foyer greeted the WRAH members as they entered the house
On Sunday, May 7 at 2:00 PM, we toured the Frostville Museum - A living history museum of 19th-century Ohio.  Frostville is located at 24101 Cedar Point Road, North Olmsted, Ohio.  Representatives from Frostville staff and Olmsted Historical Society Members acted as our guides. 
Photo credits to Steve Kish and Ken Goldberg


An early Western Reserve Village Scene at Frostville
Pictures showing  how the village church was restored.
WRAH members meet to start the tour.
Discussing how lath and plaster construction was done.
An early 1900's kitchen invokes nostalgia in the visitor
On Saturday & Sunday, June 24 and 25, WRAH members attended a lecture on "Mid-Century Splendor:  Architect William B. Morris and His Residential Portfolio" The lecture was by Rabbi Roger C. Klein of The Temple-Tifereth Israel and Martina Morris, daughter of the architect.  The event included two days of tours to various homes in the eastern suberbs of Cleveland which were designed by William B. Morris.  Photo credits to Steve Kish.

1966 Moreland Hills home
1955 Cleveland Heights home with recently installed solar panels
The two day seminar on the legacy of architect William Morris began with lectures at Temple-Tiferath Israel
An interior showing the use of a glass wall to bring the outside.
On Saturday, September 23, 2023 we toured the Tremaine-Gallagher House in Cleveland Heights.  Our Guide was Sarah Phelps Smith, Ph.D., Homeowner and professional art historian



The 1914 Beaux Arts house is one of the finest on Fairmount Boulevard
Dr. "Sally" Smith, home owner, tour guide, and hostess led us through her home
Classical references abounded throughtout the house
A secret door bookcase opened into a cozy speakeasy hideaway
A secluded Chinese pagoda hidden away led to a private place for meditation
On Sunday, October 8, 2023 we visited The Judge Lester Taylor House in Chardon, Ohio.

An authentic 1828 Western Reserve Greek Revival survivor in the same family for over 100 years
The north elevation from the driveway
A cozy fire in the fireplace welcomed us on a blustery fall day
The dining room was set for a family meal