Vintage Lakewood Corner: Jared Kirtland Estate, Wippoorwilll.
The Lakewood Historical Society, in conjunction with the Lakewood Observer, is reaching out to all of Lakewood, present and past, whether you live here now or used to call Lakewood home, to help us remember Lakewood’s history in photos. Each month, we will post a different photo of Lakewood’s past along with the story that goes with it, to help everyone remember what Lakewood was, and get a feel for how the past informs the times we are living through now.
This picture is part of the Cleveland Memories Project. Mazie Adams (the Executive Director of the Lakewood Historical Society) posted this picture to our Facebook Site and now it is featured in our third “Vintage Lakewood Corner.” It is a picture of Jared Kirtland’s home “Whippoorwill.”
Dr. Jared Potter Kirtland was one of Lakewood's most famous residents. He was an internationally known doctor, scientist, naturalist, professor, civic leader, state legislator, horticulturalist and editor.
In 1842, he built his home, called Whippoorwill, at the southwest corner of Detroit and Bunts. The 163 acre estate became a show farm and rural laboratory. His famous gardens and orchards extended from Madison to Lake Erie and included the land where Lakewood High School is now. The gardens included rare varieties from around the world, winding paths, a greenhouse, barn, workhouse and caretaker's house.
He studied the local soil and encouraged fruit farming in Rockport (now Lakewood). He developed over 30 new varieties of cherries. He also helped found Case Medical School, conducted medical exams during the Civil War and identified and studied mullusks, birds, fish and snakes. He was an amazing individual.
After his death, his daughter remodeled the house. Eventually, the house was bought by Hudson Willard in 1905. He and his family lived there until 1952. The house was torn down in 1953 to make way for a Kroger supermarket (later Giant Eagle, now empty).
What stories do your pictures have to tell?
If you would like to see your pictures of Lakewood’s past in the Vintage Lakewood Corner, submit them to the Vintage Lakewood Facebook page (at http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id= ... 3047936066), or to the Lakewood Observer online, by signing into the Member Center at http://www.lakewoodobserver.com and clicking on the Vintage Lakewood category. If you have actual photos and don't want to scan them into a computer, send them to Rhonda Loje, care of The Lakewood Observer at 14900 Detroit, Suite 205, Lakewood, and remember to send a self-addressed stamped envelope, so your photos can be scanned and returned to you.
The Lakewood Historical Society will choose a picture for each month's Vintage Lakewood Corner and publish it in the paper, along with posting it to the Vintage Lakewood Facebook page, and the Lakewod Observer's Observation Deck-- where you can see posts without signing up-- so the whole city can share in the fun and discussion, in whichever format you prefer.
Come join us in celebrating Lakewood's history.