Woodland Cemetery gate
Restored gate at Woodland Cemetery.
This gate was approved by Cleveland City Council approved in 1869. The architect was Joseph Ireland. Ireland's plan called for a structure estimated to cost $8,000 ($171,432 in 2021 dollars). Construction began in April 1870, replacing the original, wooden gate at this location.
The new gatehouse opened on November 8, 1870. The 80-foot (24 m) long structure was built of quarry-faced stone obtained near Independence, Ohio. The structure was Gothic Revival in style. The arch contained a central carriageway, with pedestrian gates on either side. The arch was surmounted by a belfry, whose tip reached 42 feet (13 m) into the air. The roof of the arch was wood. Side buildings, each 18 by 22 feet (5.5 by 6.7 m), were attached to the arch. Each was accessed by a door under the arch, and each building had windows in the north and south facades.
The western side-building was used as a waiting room, while the cemetery office occupied the east side-building. The structure's cost was reported as either $7,000 ($150,003 in 2021 dollars) or $8,000 ($171,432 in 2021 dollars).
A small addition was made to the east side-building in 1876. Designed by architect Alexander Koehler and built by contractor A.J. Piper at a cost of $636.37 ($15,703 in 2021 dollars), this addition contained a coal room (a room for storing heating coal) and bathroom.
Some time in the early 1980s, a fire severely damaged the Woodland Avenue gatehouse. The gatehouse was dismantled from 1995 to 1996. The stones were numbered and then piled in an unused area of the cemetery. Over the years, some stone was stolen, and some stone too damaged to be reused.
The Cleveland City Council approved legislation in October 2011 to spend $2.3 million restoring the stone gatehouses at the Erie Street Cemetery, Monroe Street Cemetery, and Woodland Cemetery. By 2014, the Erie Street and Monroe Street gatehouses had been restored, but too few funds remained to restore the Woodland gatehouse.
After three years of study and delay, the city of Cleveland requested bids in September 2018 to rebuild the gatehouse. The $1.754 million contract was awarded to Sona Construction in December 2018, and reconstruction work began in March 2019.
Architect Kevin Robinette, who had worked on the reconstruction of the smaller gatehouse structures at the Erie and Monroe Street cemeteries, oversaw the Woodland project.
A stonemason inventoried the materials, determined what stone remained safe to use, and began fabrication of replacement stone.
Reconstruction work included new concrete foundations, site work and paving, and slate roofing. Fiberglass eaves, friezes, entablatures, and doors were replaced the originals. Aluminum window and door frames were used rather than wood. Exterior lighting was also installed, and a new plaza (incorporating the original stone porch slabs) installed.
The work was completed in June 2021. The COVID pandemic meant that no new dedication ceremony occurred, unfortunately.
Woodland Cemetery gate
Restored gate at Woodland Cemetery.
This gate was approved by Cleveland City Council approved in 1869. The architect was Joseph Ireland. Ireland's plan called for a structure estimated to cost $8,000 ($171,432 in 2021 dollars). Construction began in April 1870, replacing the original, wooden gate at this location.
The new gatehouse opened on November 8, 1870. The 80-foot (24 m) long structure was built of quarry-faced stone obtained near Independence, Ohio. The structure was Gothic Revival in style. The arch contained a central carriageway, with pedestrian gates on either side. The arch was surmounted by a belfry, whose tip reached 42 feet (13 m) into the air. The roof of the arch was wood. Side buildings, each 18 by 22 feet (5.5 by 6.7 m), were attached to the arch. Each was accessed by a door under the arch, and each building had windows in the north and south facades.
The western side-building was used as a waiting room, while the cemetery office occupied the east side-building. The structure's cost was reported as either $7,000 ($150,003 in 2021 dollars) or $8,000 ($171,432 in 2021 dollars).
A small addition was made to the east side-building in 1876. Designed by architect Alexander Koehler and built by contractor A.J. Piper at a cost of $636.37 ($15,703 in 2021 dollars), this addition contained a coal room (a room for storing heating coal) and bathroom.
Some time in the early 1980s, a fire severely damaged the Woodland Avenue gatehouse. The gatehouse was dismantled from 1995 to 1996. The stones were numbered and then piled in an unused area of the cemetery. Over the years, some stone was stolen, and some stone too damaged to be reused.
The Cleveland City Council approved legislation in October 2011 to spend $2.3 million restoring the stone gatehouses at the Erie Street Cemetery, Monroe Street Cemetery, and Woodland Cemetery. By 2014, the Erie Street and Monroe Street gatehouses had been restored, but too few funds remained to restore the Woodland gatehouse.
After three years of study and delay, the city of Cleveland requested bids in September 2018 to rebuild the gatehouse. The $1.754 million contract was awarded to Sona Construction in December 2018, and reconstruction work began in March 2019.
Architect Kevin Robinette, who had worked on the reconstruction of the smaller gatehouse structures at the Erie and Monroe Street cemeteries, oversaw the Woodland project.
A stonemason inventoried the materials, determined what stone remained safe to use, and began fabrication of replacement stone.
Reconstruction work included new concrete foundations, site work and paving, and slate roofing. Fiberglass eaves, friezes, entablatures, and doors were replaced the originals. Aluminum window and door frames were used rather than wood. Exterior lighting was also installed, and a new plaza (incorporating the original stone porch slabs) installed.
The work was completed in June 2021. The COVID pandemic meant that no new dedication ceremony occurred, unfortunately.