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Cleveland, Ohio

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Redman Avenue

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Post-1906 name:

Redman Avenue

Location:

Between West 15th St and West 13th St, north of Denison Avenue.

Development:

1891 (earliest property transfer), with some limited sales until about 1910. Majority of sales came after 1910. Sewers were installed around 1907.

Named for:

Said to have been named for the many Indians that lived in the area and with whom the original owner, Ebenezer Foster, was friends. A 1909 deed transferring property from Henry Nehrenz to Mary Nehrenz mentions that the street was originally named Mohawk Street.

Historical Notes:

Redman was one of the first streets developed in this immediate area, thus some of the housing stock must be old, indeed. This is especially true of the single family homes which may have been constructed as early as the late 19th century. For instance, the lot at 1412 Redman Ave. was purchased in 1892; the one at 1400 Redman in 1896; and the two or three small houses at the lower end (1200 block) in 1894.
Early maps of this street show it extending down to Jennings Avenue. It is unlikely this street ever actually went that far because of the steep incline that existed at the eastern end. A three foot high concrete wall blocked the end of the street at the eastern end.
The State of Ohio bought all properties along Redman Avenue in 1965. Shortly thereafter, all the houses were demolished. This street was then, for all practical purposes, totally eliminated by the Jennings Freeway.

Comments:

One of the advantages of growing up on the north side of Redman Avenue was the spectacular unobstructed view of the Cleveland skyline and industrial valley. During thunderstorms the lightning was visible streaking across the sky from horizon to horizon.
Another was the slight hill that existed eastward from West 14th. The total drop was probably only about 6', but it was enough to allow sled riding and a pretty nifty roller skating experience. One winter after an ice storm, the street was glazed over and for a few hours, undrivable, however it provided for yet another opportunity for amusement: ice skating down a hill!
One of the disadvantages to growing up here were the house-shaking BOOMS! that were experienced when Republic Steel poured slag into train cars that may have had rainwater in them. The mighty explosions literally shook our house so much that we'd have to go around re-aligning the photo frames hanging on the walls. Another disadvantage were the awful smells wafting up from Harshaw Chemical and Stadler's who processed animal carcasses. Phew! Sometimes you'd get stuck behind one of the trucks from the stockyards headed for Stadler's down Denison Ave.; it dripping fluids you'd rather not know the origin of.

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