Cuyahoga County Archives
2905 Franklin Blvd.
216 443-7250
Web: www.cuyahoga.oh.us/cs/archives/default.htm

Call first to check hours and to see if you need to schedule an appointment. Give them the permanent parcel number and the address. They have maps of Lakewood dating back to 1860 and can help you find more dates of transfer and property owner names. Ask to see the “big maps,” which have Lakewood clearly labeled on the spine. Each map has an index on the first page.

Another way to pinpoint the date of your home’s construction is to review tax duplicates, which are listed by the owner’s name. Your property’s value would have jumped dramatically in the year in which your home was constructed. The Archives also have tax assessor’s cards, which often have a 1950s-era photograph of your house. These “building cards” also include building materials and dimensions. Be warned: the guy holding up your permanent parcel number in the picture often blocks the architectural detail you really want to see!

They also have marriage, birth, and death records, probate court estate files, naturalization records, etc. All of these can provide information about your property's owners.

Lakewood City Hall — Building Department
12650 Detroit Avenue
521-7580
Web: www.ci.lakewood.oh.us/citydept_housing.html

Ask to see the file on your home. It may provide you with all permits filed since the property has been in existence, including architect’s name, if possible. The permits are on microfiche and are available back to 1910. They may have blueprints for your home, but you must ask for this specifically.

Lakewood Library — Main Branch
15425 Detroit Avenue
226-8275
Web: www.lkwdpl.org

The Cleveland City Directories will list names of people who lived at your address (adults only), may list occupation and office address. Census records on microfilm date from 1920 and prior, although most houses were built after 1900. Census data will tell you names, ages, education, occupation, country of origin, language spoken, etc. Use the index reel to determine the enumeration district for your street, then go to the appropriate reel to find the census records.

As Lakewood resident Craig Bobby comes across information on Lakewood buildings during his research, he saves it for the Library. With his assistance, the Library has developed Historic Buildings of Lakewood, a collection of articles, advertisments and images of Lakewood buildings. Photocopies are kept in binders; an index by address is maintained online. Mr. Bobby also provides architectural research services for a fee. Phone 216-228-9608.

Cleveland Public Library
325 Superior Avenue NE
Web: www.cpl.org

The Cleveland Public Library has a wealth of information including photograph archives, necrology (death) records, and past issues of local newspapers. The Library’s map room also has plat maps and Sanborn maps on microfilm. Both maps will show a footprint of the building and the construction material used. The necrology file is online at www.cpl.org. Enter necrology file at the site search. It will take you to a selection of files. Click on Cleveland Necrology File.

HeritageQuest Online features three significant genealogy resources including the complete U. S. Census, 1790-1930. Heritage Quest is available in Cleveland Public Library branches and remotely to card holders. Several other Ohio libraries, including Cuyahoga County Public Library, subscribe to Heritage Quest. Remote access for cardholders at subscribing libraries. (Lakewood Public Library is not a subscriber.)

Cleveland State University Library
1860 E. 22nd Street
Special Collections Web: web.ulib.csuohio.edu/SpecColl

The library owns the Cleveland Press archives, which include clippings and over 500,000 photographs, from the paper’s history (1878-1982). Go to www.clevelandmemory.com/Lakewood to view “Yesterday’s Lakewood.” Here you will find more than 1,300 photographic images from the Lakewood Historical Society and Cleveland State University Special Collections. Photos date from the early 20th century until the early 1980's.

Western Reserve Historical Society
10825 East Blvd.
Web: www.wrhs.org/

The library includes a detailed photograph archive, historic postcards, historic maps, books on Cleveland history, City Directories on microfilm, personal papers of prominent Clevelanders, and architects’ files.

Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970
Online database

The Sanborn Maps are large scale street plans produced by the Sanborn Fire Insurance company from 1867 to 1970. Sanborn Maps show the outline of each building including the location of windows and doors together with street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers. Access to the database is available in Ohio public libraries and remotely to Ohio public library card holders through the Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN). Go to Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps. You will be prompted for a library card number and library. Use the help function.

Previous owners and neighbors — may have pictures, stories, and names.

Prepared by M. Gagen, 2/2000
Rev. Mazie Adams. 6/2001
Rev. Technology Center 5/2005

Visit Lakewood Heritage Advisory Board's Home Preservation for information on maintaining, repairing, and improving an older home, inside and out, while being respectful of its architecture and design.

Lakewood Historical Society