Ohio City in Cleveland in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Market Square

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2019

1. Market Square Marker, side one

Inscription. Market Square, home to the Pearl Street Market, was located on the corner of Pearl and Lorain Streets (now West 25th St. and Lorain Ave.) in what was then known as the City of Ohio. The land that Market Square occupies was donated by local businessmen Josiah Barber and Richard Lord in 1840 for the public’s use. Farmers and food vendors gathered to sell their wares after a public market moved here in 1859. In 1868, an enclosed wood-framed Pearl Street Market building was erected.

Market Square was a meeting place for new immigrants and longtime neighborhood residents seeking both food and community. By 1901, the Pearl Street Market was inadequate to serve Cleveland’s rapidly growing population. Mayor Tom L. Johnson appointed a commission to acquire land and develop a plan for a new public market. The old market was torn down in 1915, three years after the completion of the West Side Market across the street. The park honors the district’s long history as a destination for food shoppers.

Erected 2012 by Ohio City Incorporated/West Side Market Centennial Fund and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 109-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Landmarks • Notable Places

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. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.

Location. 41° 29.066′ N, 81° 42.229′ W. Marker is in Cleveland, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. It is in Ohio City. Marker is at the intersection of West 25th Street (U.S. 42) and Lorain Avenue, on the right when traveling south on West 25th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1996 W 25th St, Cleveland OH 44113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Saint Ignatius High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ohio City / Monroe Street Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Welcome to Monroe Street Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); LGBT Civil Rights Movement (approx. half a mile away); John W. Heisman Birth Site (approx. half a mile away); The Cleveland Skyline (approx. 0.6 miles away); Industrial River Valley (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cleveland.

Market Square Marker, side two image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2019

2. Market Square Marker, side two

Market Square and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2019

3. Market Square and Marker

The intersection of West 28th Street and Lorain Avenue is behind the photographer.

West Side Market with Market Square in the foreground image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 21, 2019

4. West Side Market with Market Square in the foreground

West 28th Street separates Market Square from the West Side Market. Lorain Avenue is on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 355 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 20, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.