| By the 1830s, Clevelanders had ample evidence that their community was transforming itself from a frontier village to an early western city. The villagers had recovered from an 1832 cholera scare, looked with pride upon the United States Lighthouse erected in 1830, grappled fitfully with the establishment of a water system, and organized a volunteer fire company in 1833. The 1834 incorporation of the Newburg Railroad Company was a source of particular pride. One resident said of the railroad: |
An early photograph demonstrating the rural nature of Cleveland Superior Avenue at E. 22nd Photograph, date unknown Courtesy of Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection |
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The line of route was directly through Euclid Street and a single passenger-coach carried all the human freight that sought transit; one horse was quite enough for any car-load, and we prided ourselves that we had a street railroad in real good earnest, and two trips a day was quite enough for all the travel. |
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Cleveland’s population in 1833 was 5,080, and in 1836 the village incorporated itself as a city. Describing Cleveland at this time, an eye witness presented a picture of activity: |
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Walking up Superior lane, a steep, unpaved road, you passed the stores of Denker & Borges; Deacon Whitaker’s, full of stoves; George Worthington, hardware; at the corner of Union lane, where Captain McCurdy had lately retired from the dry goods business; Strickland & Gaylord, drugs, etc.; Sanford & Lott, printing and book-store; and T.W. Morse, tailor. |
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Of course, Cleveland was not yet a metropolis, and while noting the city’s three or four hotels, our witness also took cognizance of the fact "pigs ran in the street." Despite its at least semi-bucolic nature, by the end of the 1830s Cleveland was legally a city. Its schools were established in 1837, and the public directory of that year listed eight church congregations. St. John’s Episcopal Church is one of Cleveland’s few extant churches from that era; its still standing original structure makes it the oldest church building in the city. |
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Euclid Avenue from about E. 4th looking toward Public Square Euclid Avenue Lithograph, circa 1838 Courtesy of Cleveland Public Library Photograph Collection |
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