Nomination for Old Federal Building and Post Office

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Form 10-306 - State UNI TED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE - County NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY FOR FEDERAL PROPERTIES (Type all entries - complete applicable sections) Old Federal Building (and Post Office) Federal Bldg. (or) U.S. Post Office, Custom House and Court House 201 Superior Avenue, N.E. at Public Square (Check One) X Building [X Public - Unoccupied - Structure - In Process X Unrestricted - Object - Being Considered - Preservation work PRESENT USE (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Agricultural X Government - Transportation - Comments 1 Commercial - Industrial - Private Residence - Other (Specify) 7 Religious Museum Scientific REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS: (If applicable) COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS, ETC: 1 Lakeside Avenue, N.E. H. A.B.S.

Photo-Data Survey DATE OF SURVEY: July 1967 X Federal - Local DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS: 10825 East Boulevard 039 035 1974 NAME Cuyahoga CATEGORY ACCESSIBLE MAY REGISTER NATIONAL OWNERSHIP CLASSIFICATION Ohio Cleveland STATUS Entertainment COMMON: CODE Military Educational Private Cuyahoga County Recorders Office Site Both Yes: District NOV91973 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Western Reserve Historical Society United States Government AGENCY Park STREET AND NUMBER: AND/OR HISTORIC: ENTRY DATE Public Acquisition: LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION TO THE PUBLIC CITY OR TOWN: TITLE OF SURVEY; ENTRY NUMBER (Oct. 1972) LOCA TION DATE REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS X Excellent - Deteriorated - Ruins - Unexposed M Unaltered * Original Site DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (if known) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

Description of the property

The Old Federal Building constitutes one of Cleveland's great monumental public buildings. Located on the N. E. frontage of the Public Square, the building also fronts onto the Mall. Occupying a full block, its other two facades face Superior building carry out the grand scheme of the Mall Plan of Daniel Burnham, originally The Old Federal Building was designed by Arnold W. Brunner of New York City. Its exterior wall surfaces and ornamentation are of gray granite. The street level from the facade) are characterized by a motif of semi-detached corinthian columns on the north and south sides, and similarly expressed pilasters on the east and west. Pavilions at each corner close the colonnade effect which embrace bronze Of note are two large stone sculptural groups in front of the Superior elevation of the building. Executed by Daniel Chester French, these massive pieces, named and plaster.

Only part of the original bronze grille work (elevators, cages and and west (the Superior and Mall elevations) and one hundred eighty five feet north the top of roof is one hundred eleven feet and six inches. NOV 9 1973 CONDITION NATIONAL REGISTER Moved Fair fine hardwood furnishings and trim. buildings carried out in classical revival architectural dress. having sculptured keystones.The upper three floors (the fifth floor being recessed Large murals adorn these rooms and others as does exotic stone detailing and windows in the spaces between columns. The concept is terminated by a strong balustrade and cornice concealing the top story. and south (the Public Square and East 3rd St.elevations).The building height to with the District Court Rooms of the Third Floor are particularly outstanding.

The overall dimensions of the building are as follows:two hundred ten feet east conceived in 1905,which envisioned a major public space bordered by great public able for the elaborateness of the marble walls and ceiling ornamentation in stone Avenue N.E.and East 3rd Street. Each of the four elevations of the five-story Interior areas have been altered and in some cases restored.They-are remark- entry doors) remains.The long-vaulted Public Lobby of the First Floor along (Check One) Good "Jurispreidence" and "Commerce" add meaningfully to the streetscape. DESCRIPTION RECEIVED floor is designed with strong rustication of stonework and with arched openings

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Pre-Columbian ] 17th Century SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as Appropriate) - Political X Urban Planning - Prehistoric Other (Specify) - Industry X Architecture - Landscape X] Sculpture - Social/Human- X Commerce - Literature - Communications - Military - Conservation - Transportation STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

Statement of significance

The Old Federal Building is a central feature of the two adjacent public spaces, As the only building fronting on both of these public spaces, the Old Federal Building is appropriately expressed in strong, monumental terms of classical character, at once a major example of the popular civic architecture of its day and a major example of the talent of the well-regarded Arnold W. Brunner As Cleveland's main downtown post office from 1911 until 1937, and as the con- tinuing locale for federal offices and courts, the building, has figured largely in Its, interiors are particularly striking in view of the elaboration of detail. and wide use of excellent materials, fine stone and hardwoods.

This is especially so in, the two third floor Courtrooms, two of the most richly executed interiors in: Additionally, the building exhibits, in sculpture and mural work, a considerable demonstration of the best of the fine arts available at the time of its construction. NOV 9 losophy Engineering Aboriginal NATIONAL REGISTER Science the-century. the region. Education Agriculture Music Theater Religion/Phi- both comprising Cleveland's most significant downtown planned areas:The RECEIVED Invention who designed numerous structures for the federal government at the turn-of- terms of events and personages in the Cleveland scene. Public Square and the Mall. itarian

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Historic American Buildings Survey. Cleveland project. 1967. Photo-data DEFINING A RECTANGLE LOCATING THE PROPERTY OF LESS THAN TEN ACRES APPROXIMATE ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY: one (1) NOV 9 FORM PREPARED BY 5 April 1973 Robert C. Gaede, A.I.A. 1621 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio In compliance with Executive Order 11593, I hereby Director, Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation ing that the State Liaison Officer has been allowed 90 GP0 938-449 Degrees Seconds Yes LATITUDE Date LONGITUDE STATE Minutes CORNER COUNTY: REGISTER Title ATTEST: CODE Ohio PHONE: National Register.

Degrees Minutes Seconds 1700 Keith Building BUSINESS ADDRESS: State Liaison Officer recommendation: LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE COORDINATES nominate this property to the National Register, certify- view Board and to evaluate its significance.The recom- National Regi STREET AND NUMBER: Liaison Officer State Liaison Officer Signature days in which to present the nomination to the State Re- survey (to be published, 1973). NATIONAL REGISTER VERIFICATION NAME AND TITLE: CITY OR TOWN: (216) 861-6367 None DEFINING THE CENTER POINT OF A PROPERTY - National [ State 2. CERTIFICATION OF NOMINATION 1973 039 RECEIVED mended level of significance is 10/24/73 Photos 3 MAY 3 1974.

Send-back HISTORIAN Maps ARCHEOLOGIST Re-submit Entered CONTROL REVIEW TECH REVIEW REVIEW UNIT CHIEF KEEPER BRANCH CHIEF Cuy ahoga INT: 741- 73 WORKING NUMBER 1-24-74 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM 10-301 A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM 1. NAME AND/OR HISTORIC NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) Old Federal Building US Court and Customs House 2. LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER 201 Superior Avenue, N.E. NOV 9 1973 3. PHOTO REFERENCE NEGATIVE FILED AT 4. IDENTIFICATION GSA, WASHINGTON, DC DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. Interior view of East Court Room, showing mural "The Law" by Edwin H. Blashfield.

GPO 932-009 1974 Cuyahoga TOWN Ohio Cleveland COMMON STATE COUNTY Martin Linsey PHOTO CREDIT (6/72) NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES RECEIVED PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER (Type all entries -attach to or en close with photograph) NATIONAL MAY DATE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FORM 10-301 A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM (Type all entries -attach to or en close with photograph) 1. NAME AND/OR HISTORIC NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NE% 2. LOCATION STREET AND NUMBER PHOTO REFERENCE NEGATIVE FILED AT 4. IDENTIFICATION GSA, WASHINGTON, DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. NOV 9 GPO 932-009 Cuyahoga DATE Cleveland MAY REGIST STATE Ohio TOWN COMMON PROPERTY OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER Exterior view from Southwest (from Public Square) October 2, 1965 Martin Linsey COUNTY PHOTO CREDIT NATIONAL 201 Superior Avenue, N.E.

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES (6/72) Old Federal Building US Court and Customs House RECEIVED UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FORM 10-301 A (Type all entries -attach toor enclose with photograph) NAME NUMERIC CODE (Assigned by NPS) AND/OR HISTORIC LOCATION 3. PHOTO REFERENCE NEGATIVE FILED AT GSA, WASHINGTON, 4. IDENTIFICATION DESCRIBE VIEW, DIRECTION, ETC. NOV 9 Cuyahoga MAY Cleveland Ohio March 7, 1966 DATE TOWN REGIST COMMON STATE NATIONA! COUNTY PHOTO CREDIT GP0932-009 201 Superior Avenue, N.E. US Court and Customs House PROPERTY PHOTOGRAPH FORM Interior view of Main Lobby, Superior Avenue side, first floor. NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Martin Linsey Old Federal Building STREET AND NUMBER (6/72) 1973 Form No. 10-301 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Rev. 7-72 MAY 3 1974 TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1.

Property broundaries where required. 2. North arrow. 3. Latitude and longitude reference. INT: 155-72 035 039 Cuyahoga COUNTY REQUIREMENTS STATE Cleveland DATE Ohio NATIONAL COMMON: REGISTER CODE ENTRY NUMBER SCALE: MAP REFERENCE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES SOURCE: Old Federal Building PROPERTY MAP FORM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND/OR HISTORIC: (Type all entries-attach to or enclose with map) 201 Superior Avenue, N.E. 1963 Revised 1970 US Court and Customs House FOR NPS USE ONLY CITY OR TOWN: STREET AND NUM BER: NAME MAY NOV DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CLEVELAND NORTH QUADRANGLE UNITED STATES CLEVELAND NORTH, OHIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OHIO-CUYAHOGA CO. N4595660 E442180 Bergatreaser Covered Bridge Iwinsburg Congregational Church Hon. Howard M. Metzenbaum Hon. Robert Taft, Je. Me. Dantel R. Porter, Director Mz.

Steven Ruttenbaun, GSA Location STATE Cuyahoga County MMott Name Ottawa County Monroeville Also Notified Huron County Paulding Summit County Paulding County Paulding County Courthouse Otway Covered Bridge ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER Seioto County Canal Winchester vicinity Tvinsburg Ottava County Courthouse Franklin County 5/7/74 Port Ciinton Otway vieinity Schug, Mary, House Interstate #7l at 17th Avenue Hon. James V. Stanton Hosford, John, House Hon. Samuel L. Devine Hon. Delbert L. Latta Hon. John M. Ashbrook 1974 MAY Date Entered State Historic Preservation Officer