It was the dawn of the 20th century, and Cleveland, Ohio, the nation's
sixth largest city, was on a roll. Featuring a magnificent downtown with
skyscrapers and classic public buildings, a waterfront bristling with
shipping, cruises, and industry, thriving neighborhoods of millionaire
mansions and suburban bungalows, fine parks linked by scenic boulevards,
and unrivaled cultural institutions, this powerhouse city was in the
midst of its genesis. Balancing this forward growth were the towns of
the Western Reserve, which retained their distinctive New England
character and provided a peaceful contrast to the vigorous city that was
expanding daily.