Moreland Hills in Cuyahoga County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hiram House

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 22, 2019

1. Hiram House Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Hiram House was Ohio’s first settlement house and among the earliest in the nation, opening in October 1896 in Cleveland’s Whiskey Island neighborhood. Representing the ideals of a late-1800s urban progressive movement, settlement houses provided— through “service, not charity”—health, recreational, and self-development opportunities that were not widely available in this era. Founded by Hiram College divinity graduate George A. Bellamy (1872-1960), Hiram House administered a wide range of social services for people of different ethnic and economic backgrounds. Bellamy established the “Fresh Air Camp” circa 1900; Cleveland industrialist Samuel Mather donated this tract of land in 1903. In continuous operation since its founding, Hiram House has provided outdoor experiences and educational programs for thousands of Ohio children.

Erected 2001 by the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, the Longaberger Company, the Hiram House and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 21-18.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:

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Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1896.

Location. 41° 26.919′ N, 81° 26.644′ W. Marker is in Moreland Hills, Ohio, in Cuyahoga County. Marker is on Hiram Trail just west of Som Center Road (Ohio Route 91), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 34775 Hiram Trail, Chagrin Falls OH 44022, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Birthplace of James A. Garfield (approx. 0.8 miles away); Raw Jackson (approx. 1.4 miles away); The Cleveland Grand Prix (approx. 2 miles away); The Chagrin River's "High Falls" (approx. 3 miles away); David Berger Memorial (approx. 3.2 miles away); Ursuline College (approx. 3.4 miles away); Saint Angela Merici (approx. 3½ miles away); Solon Town Center (approx. 4.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Hiram House Camp History. “Beginning in the summer of 1896, the first Summer Camps were held at local farms and fairgrounds. By the early 1900s, Hiram House had

Photographed By J. J. Prats, June 22, 2019

2. Hiram House Marker

opened a permanent site for the Camp at its present location and started its highly-respected camping and outdoor education program. Eventually, this site became the organization’s sole home. In continuous operation since its founding, Hiram House has provided enriching outdoor experiences and educational programs for thousands of Ohio children for over 100 years.” (Submitted on July 25, 2019.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 25, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.

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