Gypsy Heart
Gold Member
The Cliff House was at the western end of the Dummy railroad. It stood about where Riverside Avenue now runs into Edanola Avenue, and was owned by the Dummy Railroad Company. This tavern was built with the idea of attracting parties from Cleveland, thus providing additional passengers for the railroad. There was a bar on the first floor and many guest chambers on the west side. The dining room was on the second floor and an unusually beautiful ballroom and a few guest chambers were on the third floor. It had a large hall, and a verandah extended around the entire house.
On the lawn were beautiful fountains, and a picnic grove extended from the Cliff House to the lake, embracing much of the territory, which we now know as Clifton Park. Ezra Nicholson, one of the promoters of the railroad owned this picnic grove at that time, and he offered to give the grove with its Fine beach to the city of Cleveland for a public park. The newspapers of that day record the ridicule, which was showered upon Mr. Nicholson's proposition. It was referred to as "Nicholson's Folly."
At one time, as an added attraction, two buffaloes were confined in a small enclosure near the Cliff House; and many children were taken to see them.
Cliff House was later taken over by Joe Murch, who called it the Murch House. It is told that he had a special wagon ornamented with mirrors with the name "Murch House" on each side. This wagon was driven into Cleveland every day to fetch supplies for the hotel. There were many balls and parties given in this house, not only in the summer time, but also in the winter. One time a home talent play was given there.
Some of those who operated this house were Charley Webber, John Jones, A.T. Van Tassell, James Starkweather and William Hall. The tavern finally burned down in the eighties and was never rebuilt.
On the points below Cliff House there were several roadhouses which had a bad reputation for gambling. Two of them were called Baff House and Dubber House.
Mr. B. Martinetz came to this country from Switzerland where he had trained as a gardener.
With his wife, and adopted daughter of John Knoll who kept Knoll's Tavern, he bought a large vineyard on Madison Avenue, east of Belle Avenue, and made wine from the grapes in the
Swiss manner.
In a very short time his wines were well known in Cleveland, and many customers drove out to Martinetz's for their private supply. Mrs. Martinetz was called upon to serve lunches to these guests. Special dinners followed, and Martinetz's soon became a famous tavern. It was never a public restaurant, but kept to the policy of serving dinners only on special order. Mr. Martinetz was very particular about the people who patronized his place, and it was almost necessary for one to be especially introduced by someone who was in his good graces to gain admission. Mr. Martinetz had large wrought iron gates made and placed at the entrance, and these gates were always locked at eleven o'clock. When the property was allotted, Martinetz's passed into history.
KIDNEY'S TAVERN
MISS ANSLEY'S NOTE BOOK (An interview with Arthur Hall)
Where the hospital now stands. One night pioneers coming from Duchess county N.Y. sighted lights…spent the night and next morning traded oxen and wagon for the tavern. The previous owner left for Australia or New Zealand. New owner of tavern nearly died of typhoid fever. An Indian squaw from a settlement of Indians in R. R. Valley wrapped him in a blanket, soused him in river. He got well and lived a long time.
CLIFF HOUSE
ANNALS OF CLEVELAND - Vol. 59 - #5349 5349 - L Sept. 2:7/2 (Newspaper Digest, 1821)
The third annual reunion of the 1st regiment, Ohio Light artillery, was held at the Cliff House, Rocky River, yesterday. Representatives of batteries A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I were present, in all 40 men. After the election of officers, dinner was served, and the meeting was adjourned. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in talking over old times.
The reunion this year was not as well attended as usual, and very little interest was manifested.
CLIFF HOUSE
MISS ANSLEY'S NOTE BOOK (An interview with Arthur Hall)
1870 - 1880 Cliff House at end of Edanola, burned in 1882. Very tough place - known all over country - dummy car line went from Cleveland to Rocky River - Saturdays and Sunday - debris - Rope walker across Rocky River.
ASHTON HOUSE
MISS ANSLEY'S NOTE BOOK (An interview with Arthur Hall)
Near Brockley and Cranford.
Had a mill at R.R. on left side of bridge - 1840. It burned, was rebuilt, and burned again. Old mill wheels were made in France. One now in Hall yard.
Gov. Reuben Wood, of Ohio, 1859 -- old fashioned gentleman's estate.
George B. Merwin, his son-in-law, lived next door.
http://www.lkwdpl.org/history/taverns.htm#0:3
On the lawn were beautiful fountains, and a picnic grove extended from the Cliff House to the lake, embracing much of the territory, which we now know as Clifton Park. Ezra Nicholson, one of the promoters of the railroad owned this picnic grove at that time, and he offered to give the grove with its Fine beach to the city of Cleveland for a public park. The newspapers of that day record the ridicule, which was showered upon Mr. Nicholson's proposition. It was referred to as "Nicholson's Folly."
At one time, as an added attraction, two buffaloes were confined in a small enclosure near the Cliff House; and many children were taken to see them.
Cliff House was later taken over by Joe Murch, who called it the Murch House. It is told that he had a special wagon ornamented with mirrors with the name "Murch House" on each side. This wagon was driven into Cleveland every day to fetch supplies for the hotel. There were many balls and parties given in this house, not only in the summer time, but also in the winter. One time a home talent play was given there.
Some of those who operated this house were Charley Webber, John Jones, A.T. Van Tassell, James Starkweather and William Hall. The tavern finally burned down in the eighties and was never rebuilt.
On the points below Cliff House there were several roadhouses which had a bad reputation for gambling. Two of them were called Baff House and Dubber House.
Mr. B. Martinetz came to this country from Switzerland where he had trained as a gardener.
With his wife, and adopted daughter of John Knoll who kept Knoll's Tavern, he bought a large vineyard on Madison Avenue, east of Belle Avenue, and made wine from the grapes in the
Swiss manner.
In a very short time his wines were well known in Cleveland, and many customers drove out to Martinetz's for their private supply. Mrs. Martinetz was called upon to serve lunches to these guests. Special dinners followed, and Martinetz's soon became a famous tavern. It was never a public restaurant, but kept to the policy of serving dinners only on special order. Mr. Martinetz was very particular about the people who patronized his place, and it was almost necessary for one to be especially introduced by someone who was in his good graces to gain admission. Mr. Martinetz had large wrought iron gates made and placed at the entrance, and these gates were always locked at eleven o'clock. When the property was allotted, Martinetz's passed into history.
KIDNEY'S TAVERN
MISS ANSLEY'S NOTE BOOK (An interview with Arthur Hall)
Where the hospital now stands. One night pioneers coming from Duchess county N.Y. sighted lights…spent the night and next morning traded oxen and wagon for the tavern. The previous owner left for Australia or New Zealand. New owner of tavern nearly died of typhoid fever. An Indian squaw from a settlement of Indians in R. R. Valley wrapped him in a blanket, soused him in river. He got well and lived a long time.
CLIFF HOUSE
ANNALS OF CLEVELAND - Vol. 59 - #5349 5349 - L Sept. 2:7/2 (Newspaper Digest, 1821)
The third annual reunion of the 1st regiment, Ohio Light artillery, was held at the Cliff House, Rocky River, yesterday. Representatives of batteries A, B, C, D, E, G, H, and I were present, in all 40 men. After the election of officers, dinner was served, and the meeting was adjourned. The remainder of the afternoon was spent in talking over old times.
The reunion this year was not as well attended as usual, and very little interest was manifested.
CLIFF HOUSE
MISS ANSLEY'S NOTE BOOK (An interview with Arthur Hall)
1870 - 1880 Cliff House at end of Edanola, burned in 1882. Very tough place - known all over country - dummy car line went from Cleveland to Rocky River - Saturdays and Sunday - debris - Rope walker across Rocky River.
ASHTON HOUSE
MISS ANSLEY'S NOTE BOOK (An interview with Arthur Hall)
Near Brockley and Cranford.
Had a mill at R.R. on left side of bridge - 1840. It burned, was rebuilt, and burned again. Old mill wheels were made in France. One now in Hall yard.
Gov. Reuben Wood, of Ohio, 1859 -- old fashioned gentleman's estate.
George B. Merwin, his son-in-law, lived next door.
http://www.lkwdpl.org/history/taverns.htm#0:3
