🏷️ The Name Game: Who Are These Clevelandish Peeps?

Ever driven past Severance Hall, hopped off at West 25th, or strolled down Larchmere, and thought, “Wait...who named this stuff?” 

You’re not alone. 😆

Northeast Ohio is full of landmarks, neighborhoods, and bougie-sounding boulevards named after people who were either legendary locals…or just had money and a good PR team.

Let’s break down a few of the iconic names that keep popping up around Cleveland—and who we’re really honoring when we say them.

🎻 Severance Hall

Home of the world-class Cleveland Orchestra and built in 1931, Severance Hall is named after John L. Severance, a Cleveland oil tycoon and philanthropist who donated a whopping $1 million (big bucks at the time) to build it as a tribute to his late wife, Elisabeth. Fun fact? He didn’t just fund the building—he basically orchestrated the whole thing. 🤣💁‍♀️

🛤️ Terminal Tower

It’s not a “terminal” illness, we promise. This iconic skyscraper downtown is named after its role as part of a massive train terminal complex—the Cleveland Union Terminal, built in the 1920s by the Van Sweringen brothers (more on them in a sec). It was the tallest building outside NYC for decades. It’s not a metaphor. It was literally the terminal. (Sorry.)

🪴 Larchmere

Sounds like a character from Lord of the Rings, but it’s actually named for the Larch trees planted in the area and the mere (meaning “lake” or “pond”) that once sat nearby. The neighborhood used to be called East 121st Street, but let’s be honest—Larchmere has way more farmer’s market energy.

🏘️ Shaker Heights

Quaker? Almost. The Shakers, a religious sect known for simplicity and craftsmanship, once lived in the area. They built a settlement, made furniture, and did their Shaker thing until developers (hello again, Van Sweringen bros) bought the land in the early 1900s and transformed it into the suburban dream we know today. That’s why Shaker has such pristine planning—it was very intentionally built.

🧠 The Van Sweringen Brothers

Weird name, huge impact. Oris and Mantis Van Sweringen (yes, those were their real names) were real estate developers who shaped modern Cleveland. From creating Shaker Heights to masterminding the Terminal Tower, they were basically the OG downtown disruptors…with top hats.

🐈 Wade Oval

Named after Jeptha Wade, one of the original founders of Western Union and an early Cleveland philanthropist who donated the land that became Wade Park. He was also big into art—so, thank him for the Cleveland Museum of Art while you’re at it.

🥩 Slavic Village

Originally home to Czech and Polish immigrants working the steel mills, this neighborhood’s name reflects its roots—but its pierogi game is still going strong.

🍀 Kamm’s Corners

Named after Oswald Kamm, a Swiss immigrant who ran a general store and post office at the intersection. The store’s long gone, but the Irish pubs? Thriving.

🕯️ Tremont

Originally called University Heights because of a short-lived seminary, then Lincoln Heights, then renamed Tremont after a triangle-shaped street layout. We love a name with a journey.

🧱 The Flats

Not just a cool name—it’s literally the low-lying industrial area along the Cuyahoga River. Used to be gritty and grimy. Now? Rooftop bars and kayak launches. Glow-up complete.

🔄 Bonus Round: Streets & Suburbs

• Carnegie Avenue = Andrew Carnegie. Yep, that Carnegie. Donated $$$ to libraries and education across the U.S.
  

• Kinsman = Refers to the Kinsman family, early settlers in the area.
  

• Parma = Named after Parma, Italy. Why? Who knows. Someone liked the vibe.
  

• Mayfield Road = Named after Mayfield Township, which may have been named after a town in New York. Very meta.
  

• Hough = Pronounced "huff." Named after Oliver and Eliza Hough, who settled there in 1799. Not a cough.
  

Cleveland’s not just a city—it’s a living museum of the people who built it, bought it, believed in it, or just had a flair for naming things.

Next time you're sipping a latte on Larchmere or catching a concert at Severance, just know you’re stepping into a story that started way before your grandpappy was born—and might just be cooler than you thought.