History Lesson

On 21 of the Rockefeller homes, tile roofing hasbeen used instead of slate. According to thespecifications for the eighty-one homes, theinclusion of tile roofing on a percentage ofthe homes was defined on an Addendumpage. Originally, all of the homes were tohave slate roof.

The tile was specified as “ImperialWeathered Surface Provincial ShingleRoof Tile” as manufactured by theLudowici-Celedon (sic) Company.Color was specified as “…fullvariation of X-61 formula, but not toinclude green.” The range of colorfor each house would be selectedby the architect and graduationor blended application wouldalso be approved prior to install.

In the Sweet’s Catalogs of the era, thecompany describes the tiles in this way, “TheProvincial Shingle an inexpensive, yet artisticpattern is used in its dull colored andweathered effect to subdue the roofor in a range of brighter tones togive it accent.”

The Ludowici-CeladonCompany isstill in existence.The CeladonRoofing TileCompany was formedin 1888 in Alfred, NewYork and lead by GeorgeBabcock (of the Babcock & WilcoxBoiler Company.) During his tenure hemade many improvements and earned 28patents for patterns and functionality. Celadonpurchased the Imperial Brick Plant in New Lexington,Ohio in 1902. This plant became the largest clayroofing tile plant in the United States.

The Ludovisi family made a name for itself in Rome,Italy with their clay tile and roofing in the 1600’s. Abranch of the family moved to Germany, where theirproduct was gaining repute and the family namemorphed into the more Germanic, Ludowici. In the

1800’s Carl Ludowici moves to Chicago and in1893 forms the Ludowici Roof Tile

Company with Henry W. Kingand Cyrus I. McCormick. In

1906 they buy Celadon andchange the name to Ludowici-

Celadon with five productionfacilities. The Alfred, NY plant

and the Chicago Heights plantultimately burn while the already

large New Lexington plant doublesin size by 1914.

Like many companies,Ludowici-Celadon

diversified during thedepression adding

wool insulation andfire brick to their

line. DuringWorld War IIthe plant was

converted to apottery plant making

tableware. Theycontinued to make some

roofing for military installationssuch as Hickam Field at Pearl Harbor.

Post war meant a building increase, but muchof it was low-cost and the company began to shrink.

When better product became fashionable again inthe 1970’s, the new kilns installed in 1941 wereremodeled to allow for a more cost effective roof tile.They became relevant again.

In 1976, they were sold to CSC, Inc., who in 1989sold them to Certainteed, a well known buildingmaterials company. They remain a part ofCertainteed today, still making quality roofing tiles.

FFoorreesstt HHiillll HHiissttoorriicc PPrreesseerrvvaattiioonn SSoocciieettyyGuardians of the Rockefeller Legacy to Cleveland

Summer 2013

The 1930 Forest Hill DevelopmentLandscape Plan

By

Sharon E. Gregor

Spring comes to Forest Hill, especially this year, withwelcome relief, especially this year, from Lake Erie’swinter storms and shrouded overcast days. But it isalso a time to marvel at the remnants of the original1930 landscape plan designed by architect Andrew J.Thomas and the planting material that heincorporated into and with which he surrounded thefirst 81 homes that were built in the Forest HillDevelopment. Those homes, our well-known“Rockefeller’s,” now comprise Forest Hill HistoricDistrict which was placed on the National Register ofHistoric Places in 1986.

Perhaps the most beautiful and certainly theshowiest of the surviving landscape design are theoriginal Japanese azaleas. Thomas placed thoseazaleas at the sidewalk creating a dramatic entranceto the front yard through the privet hedge whichlined the sidewalk and defined the front of eachhomeowner’s property. They can be clearly seen inthe low aerial view of the Wyatt block flanking thecurved sandstone walks leading to the front porchesand doors of Thomas’s French Norman farmhouses.The aerial view along with photographs of theoriginal landscaping can be found in the promotionalsales book “Forest Hill Homes” which was publishedin the early 1930’s. While there appears to be threeazaleas in a triangle, judging from today’s existingconditions and my own recollection, each azalea wasaccompanied by two low and eventually sprawlingevergreen yews.

The original 1930 Japanese azaleas can bedifferentiated from more recently cultivated azaleas

by their brilliant, iridescent fuchsia color. Theseazaleas absolutely glow and can be spottedthroughout the Historic District where they havethrived and survived. They can also be identified anddistinguished from their modern cousins by theirpetite dark “Forest Hill” green leaf. The slender waxyleaf only measures about an inch long and staysgreen with a slight reddish color throughout thewinter.

Over the years many “Rockefeller” homeowners tookout the privet hedge that had enclosed their frontyard and in doing so also removed the originalazaleas. Some owners apparently moved andsuccessfully transplanted the early azaleas up to thefront of the house incorporating the shrubs into theirfoundation planting. Whether next to the house or atthe sidewalk, the now ninety year old beauties willbe obvious next spring…an heirloom plant and giftfrom Andrew J. Thomas.

Watch For East ClevelandForest Hill District Signs

In the coming weeks, the city of East Cleveland willbe installing the Forest Hill Historic District markersat three intersections in the area. Look for them atthe corner of Lee and Brewster, Newbury and Wyattand Cleviden and Mount Vernon. A dedicationceremony will be announced as well.

Forest Hill Historic PreservationSociety Trustees and Officers

Board of Trustees: Jeffrey R. Dross, Dawn Jordan, Mark Lowe andTrina PruferHonorary Trustees: Sharon Gregor, Cathryn Kapp and Nancy MoodyOfficers: Vice-President – Jeffrey R. Dross, Treasurer – Mark Lowe andArchivist/Historian – Marcia Steele

Azalea photos by Sharon E Gregor, Spring 2012