Cleveland Trip #5 : First Skyscraper, "Tiffany Window" Church, Court House

 Today's blog will explore a couple of downtown Cleveland, Ohio buildings that I saw on the city tour- one features 4 Tiffany windows, and another once held the title of the city's biggest skyscraper! 

THE OLD STONE CHURCH AND FOOTBALL -The Old Stone Church is a historic Presbyterian church located at 91 Public Square, downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and is the oldest building on Public Square. It is also the second church built within the city limits. The church is known for its famous stained glass windows, four of which were designed by the famed Louis Comfort-Tiffany. You don't often see sports themes blended into religious depictions on stained glass windows, but inside the Old Stone Church, one of the towering, colorful windows has a tiny Municipal Stadium tucked into the corner. "It's the only stained glass window I know of that has a sports stadium in the scene," says the Rev. Dr. Mark Giuliano, the church's senior pastor.  

CLEVELAND'S OLDEST "SKYSCRAPER" - The Red Stone building, also known as the Society for Savings Building or Society Corp. Building was constructed in 1889 and stood as the tallest building in Cleveland until 1896, when it was surpassed by the 221-foot (67 m) Guardian Bank Building. The building stands 152 feet (46 m) tall, with 10 floors. The Society for Savings Building is often considered to be the first modern skyscraper in Cleveland and the state of Ohio  It was designed by John Wellborn Root of the Chicago-based architectural firm Burnham & Root

THE COURT HOUSE/POST OFFICE KICKED OFF URBAN PLANNING - The Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S. Courthouse is a historic courthouse and post office building located on Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland,.  it was the first building erected under Cleveland's 1903 Group Plan, which illustrates the urban planning ideals of the City Beautiful movement

NEXT:  2 Cool Statues in Downtown Cleveland