1207 Oakridge Drive (1980, 2002)

This colonial revival home takes charming advantage of its dramatic natural landscape. The one-acre lot slopes northward to Edison Road and provides a winter view of Lake Erie. According to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Munroe Cooper, the architect, "became known for his adaptation of Pennsylvania Colonial domestic architecture, incorporating shallow gabled or hipped roofs and fieldstone walls." He designed over 2000 homes, including one for Harvey Firestone.

The building date is given variously as 1937, 1938, and 1939. It is important only as it impacts on a persistent neighborhood story that Eliot Ness, who was going through a well-publicized divorce at that time, once lived there.

The white brick home is built on several levels, with the living and dining room down one level from the entrance. Oak floors, cherry paneling in the living room, and cherry woodwork throughout the first floor are notable features. The fireplace in the dining room, one of four, burns coal. The present owners, who have been in the house fewer than three years, have accomplished extensive renovation and addition. They remodeled the family room and kitchen, refinishing cabinets and adding a "natural" stone wall (actually ceramic tile), which is "married" to regular tile. Throughout the home there is stunning art from South Africa.

Outside, they added to the stone patio, built a new deck overlooking their wooded backyard, built the bluestone walkway on the south side of the house, and replaced the copper gutters in the front. Some of the stones in the wall near the patio are from the original wall built by Munroe Copper.

The house is situated on a circular cul-de-sac. The lovely flower and vegetable garden in the circle represents the joint efforts of the seven neighbors on the circle..

LOOK FOR:

-- Art and artifacts from South Africa:

-- Jacaranda wood giraffe in front hall

-- Rhodesian teak settle in hall; dining room set in family room

-- Portrait of owner and daughter in upstairs hall

-- Painting in family room done by South African artist

-- Chess set of political figures in living room