South Euclid in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
William E. Telling / William E. Telling Mansion
In 1928, William E. Telling began construction of the 26-room, 20,000 square foot mansion designed by John Sherwood Kelly. The residence is on the original Telling family homestead. Its style is a mix of English Tudor and French Normandy. The interior includes an abundance of marble, hand-carved wood door panels, and hand-adzed beams and rafters. Telling enjoyed the greenhouse, aviary for exotic birds, mushroom cellar, and conservatory for tropical plants. The house was the first air-cooled residence in the area. Telling occupied the home until his death in 1939. The Cuyahoga County Public Library System purchased the property in 1951. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Erected 2003 by the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, the Longaberger Company, South Euclid Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 52-18.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 41° 31.208′ N, 81° 30.776′ W. Marker is in South Euclid, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. Marker is on Mayfield Road (U.S. 322) east of Oakmount Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4645 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland OH 44121, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. John Carroll University (approx. 2.3 miles away); Florence E. Allen (approx. 2.6 miles away); Saint Angela Merici (approx. 3 miles away); Ursuline College (approx. 3.1 miles away); David Berger Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Euclid v. Ambler Realty Site (approx. 3.3 miles away); Horseshoe Lake (approx. 3.6 miles away); Jacob Russell (approx. 3.7 miles away).
Regarding William E. Telling / William E. Telling Mansion. The mansion is now the Museum of American Porcelain Art. Between 1951 and 2015 it was the Lyndhurst Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library System. The South Euclid Historical Society’s offices are in the gatehouse.
Also see . . .
1. William Telling: The Man and his Mansion : A South Euclid "rags to riches" story. This online exhibit of photographs tells the story of Telling and his estate. “It was also the time when John Sherwood Kelly became known for his architectural ability. He was a cartoonist but became an architectural apprentice in the 1920s, working for several firms without any formal training in architecture. He formed his own firm in 1925 and designed 42 of the most notable Shaker Heights homes within a 16-year period.” (Submitted on July 24, 2019.)
2. Museum of American Porcelain Art. “Established in 2014 by Richard A. Barone, a private collector, the Museum of American Porcelain Art is a registered not-for-profit organization. Considered to be the first museum of its kind, it is located in South Euclid, Ohio, less than four miles from University Circle, Cleveland’s great cultural district, which includes the Museum of Art; the Cleveland Orchestra; the Institute of Art; and the Institute of Music.” (Submitted on July 24, 2019.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,105 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 24, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photos of the interior • Can you help?