Historic Euclid Golf Allotment 

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The History of Euclid Golf

The Development of Euclid Golf

In 1912, the Euclid Golf Club disbanded and migrated to the Shaker Heights and Mayfield Country Clubs.[1]   In addition to the residential development, the members had grown tired of having only nine holes to play on Sunday, their favorite golfing day.[2]  In 1913 Barton R. Deming, who had been involved in real estate on Cleveland’s East side since 1907, convinced Rockefeller to enter into a purchase agreement with him that would enable the 141 acres to be developed into a high-quality residential allotment.  The deal they struck gave Deming the rights to improve the property and sell it for home sites.  Deming would negotiate and oversee all improvements with the approval of Rockefeller’s Abeyton Realty Company.  Deming relied on Rockefeller’s influence and prestige, as well as his bankroll, in gaining the cooperation of the various improvement and utility companies, such as The East Ohio Gas Company and The Cleveland Street Railroad Company, as evidenced by several letters exchanged between the two parties.

 Rockefeller considered Deming’s allotment plan very carefully.  Others had approached him about developing the golf links; however, his Abeyton Realty Company had gained wisdom from both its own ventures and those of other developers.  Abeyton believed Calhoun’s Euclid Heights lots were too large and impractical.  Mr. Clarence C. Terrill, Manager of Abeyton, said this of Barton Deming’s Euclid Golf proposal: “It offers a medium between the large and extravagant allotment, like the [Euclid] Heights Allotment [of Patrick Calhoun], and the smaller and cheaper of the City allotments some of which are on the Heights.” He went on to say that, “I think the proposed plat a good medium between this sort of a proposition and the one of to [sic] small lots and inexpensive houses, a very practical and salable size lots at a price within the reach of a man of ordinary means, who could be interested in and afford to own a house and lot costing ten thousand dollars.”[3]  So, although Deming’s proposal contained some large lots (along the boulevard), it also contained smaller lots for a more middle class owner.  Deming’s carefully planned allotment would both ensure the profitability of the venture and the neighborhood’s design quality.

 Competition from neighboring allotments and Patrick Calhoun’s bankruptcy and subsequent sheriff sale of his remaining Euclid Heights property in 1914, negatively affected sales of Euclid Golf.[4]  Because his cash flow did not enable Deming to make timely payments to Rockefeller and he required additional loans for the necessary property improvements, Deming was forced to renegotiate the terms of his agreement with Rockefeller. In 1915 Deming secured an agreement to continue as the sole agent for the development and sale of lots in Euclid Golf until July 31, 1920[5].  Deming paid $89,747 upfront, and Abeyton Realty agreed to invest up to $320,000 in physical improvements such as gas, sewers, water, electricity, paving, guttering, and curbing.  Abeyton Realty also set a minimum price on the lots, thus guaranteeing a minimum payment from Deming.  When Deming fulfilled all aspects of the contract, he was to be given a warranty deed for the unsold remainder of the property in exchange for a purchase mortgage of $430,000 or the balance of the purchase price then due[6].  Finally, on October 3, 1919 Deming received the mortgage deed for the property for $463,158.40[7].

 Following Garden City principles, Euclid Golf was designed to take advantage of the natural beauty of its environment.  As Deming said in his very first Euclid Golf advertisement in Cleveland Town Topics: “the natural beauty of this property suggests and demands the upbuilding of a community of homes of refinement and character.”[8]  The change in grade at the intersection of Fairmount Boulevard and Cedar Road forms a majestic entrance to the allotment.  The gentle curving side streets make the most of natural vantage points and add a picturesque quality to the housing sites.  A planted circle graces the intersection of Ardleigh Drive and Fairmount Boulevard.  Homes are designed in a wide variety of eclectic American and European revival styles.  Yet, they blend harmoniously with the landscape and with each other due to features such as high-quality, natural materials, uniform setbacks and regulated investment levels.  Garages and utility lines are generally located behind the homes where they do not interfere with the garden-like aesthetic.  Deming worked to preserve many of the mature trees that existed during the property’s golf course days, as early photographs demonstrate. Additional street trees were planted to create a green canopy.

 Seven deed restrictions spelled out setback requirements, minimum construction costs, and prohibited uses in Euclid Golf.  The first specified that the house built had to be “exclusively for private dwelling house purposes”.  It also specified a minimum investment level and defined the setback requirement, which varied according to where the house was built within the allotment.  Further, it specified that The B.R. Deming Company must approve the plans and specifications for the house.  Deming hired the architectural firm Howell & Thomas to design a variety of housing styles to fit the varied lots and sizes in Euclid Golf.  These model homes sought to set high standards while limiting the risk of appearing arbitrary in enforcing the deed restriction.[9]

 The second deed restriction dealt with the setback and minimum investment level of garages and outbuildings. It also prohibited separate “water-closets” because all lots were connected to the sewer system. The next restrictions prohibited various undesirable uses of property: the third deed restriction prohibited fences over three feet high and gave setback requirements for permitted fences; the fourth restriction strictly prohibited undesirable uses such as public entertainment houses, apartment houses, boarding-houses, hotels, taverns, dance halls, or other resorts; the fifth restriction prohibited the manufacture or sale of “spirituous, vinous or fermented liquors”; and, the sixth restricted the use of advertising signs and devices that would endanger or disturb the neighbors.[10]  The seventh restriction seems to have been added later (the type is slightly larger and appears to be from another typewriter) and required that the landscaping be maintained in accordance with the standards set by the B.R. Deming Company.[11]  Thus, although the architectural style was not specified, Deming endeavored to create a harmonious and beautiful neighborhood. 

 These restrictions were in force until May 1, 1950.[12]  In several advertisements placed in the society weekly, Cleveland Town Topics, Deming refers to the careful planning of the neighborhood and the deed restrictions in order to assure prospective homeowners that their investment would be safe.  The strategy paid off handsomely, for Deming was later able to boast that Euclid Golf was “the place more and more Clevelanders of culture and refinement want to make their homes” and he listed their names in his advertisements.[13] 

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[1] Seagrave, Alice D., Golf Retold: The Story of Golf In Cleveland, 1940, pages 43-55.

[2] Pamphlet published by the Mayfield Country Club on their 75th Anniversary, 1986.

[3] Letter dated 5/2/1913, from Clarence E. Terrill, Manager of Abeyton Realty Company to Mr. Charles O. Heydt, Secretary, Rockefeller Archives.

[4] Letter dated 9/18/1914, vol. 328 p488, Rockefeller Archives.

[5] Memorandum of Agreement between Barton R. Deming and Abeyton Realty Company, June 1915, Rockefeller Archives.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Mortgage Deed transferring ownership of Euclid Golf from Abeyton Realty to Barton R. Deming Company, October 3, 1919, Rockefeller Archives.

[8] Cleveland Town Topics, October 18, 1913, page 17.

[9] Smith, Howard Dwight.  “’Euclid Golf,’ Cleveland, Ohio”, The Architectural Forum, May 1921, page 168.

[10] Warranty Deed for property of M.L. Hopkins, 2334 Roxboro Road, Jan 1918.

[11] Warranty Deed for property of M.L. Hopkins, 2334 Roxboro Road, Jan 1918.

[12] Ibid.

[13] The B. R. Deming Company, Euclid Golf Allotment, 1913; Cleveland Town Topics, February, 25, 1922, page 12; and Cleveland Town Topics, March 4, 1922, page 12.

 

 

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