Christmas in Cleveland - Part I
I was walking down Euclid Avenue a few days past when I was struck by a few thoughts…the first being, it really does not feel like Christmas or the Holiday Season downtown this year. I don’t believe I am the only one who feels this way. Despite the beautiful decorations in Playhouse Square and the annual Festival of Lights at Public Square - the rest of Euclid Avenue just doesn’t seem to have the spirit of years past. Which got me to thinking - what was the Christmas Season like in years past in Cleveland? I found some very spirited photos showing what Christmas used to be like in Cleveland and they are marvelous. And next year I promise to do some more research on Christmas on Euclid Avenue - because I have a sneeky suspicion that are some great photos I did not get to uncover year.
Hey - are you ready for a Christmas Parade?
Where did all these people come from? This photo was taken in 1955 moments before Cleveland’s annual Christmas Parade along Euclid Avenue. This particular shot was at the Cole Shoe Store on the south side of Euclid between East Fourth and Euclid pointing towards Public Square. Very near where House of Blues would be today. The crowd is crazy large.
This photo was snapped very close to where the above photo was taken - East Fourth and Euclid albeit from a different vantage point and different year - 1966. But what a gorgeous street scape. Look at all those signs and Christmas decorations!
The next shot is one of my favorite photos in the bunch - it was taken in 1967 under the canopy of the Sterling Linder Store (which would be on the corner of E. 13th and Euclid again looking west toward Public Square).
Look at all these shoppers! Crazy. Look how bright Euclid Avenue looks with the Halle Building across the street. Very exciting.
Speaking of Sterling Linder - it was a Cleveland tradition to take the family to visit this gorgeous department store to view the large Christmas tree that was set up in the lobby.
What a magnificent lobby! With the tiered floors looking down on the large Christmas tree. It is a shame that half of this store was torn down to make a surface parking lot. Just doesn’t seem fair to destroy this beautiful building for a few cars, does it? In my next column I will be reviewing some old photos offering a wonderful view of Christmas displays in some of Cleveland’s finest Department Stores.
