Lakewood Lore

Homes of early settlers rest in quiet seclusion

The homes of Lakewood's early settlers sometimes are hard to spot. They may be hidden by the encroachment of abutting newer construction, or masked by tree and shrubbery growth over the long years.

But once discovered, these time-worn abodes appear to smile resignedly and say to rubberneckers who comes poking around, "Yes, its me." Except, of course, the very lettered ones, who are more apt to say, "It's I."

Owing their seclusion to the foliage are the Beach Terrace on the northwest corner of Detroit and Beach Avenues and the Sheehan-Townsend "Lake Cliff" estate at 12984 Lake Avenue near Nicholson. Small wonder. The 10-unit terrace was built about 1870 and the Lake Cliff home in 1887.

The terrace is one of the earliest row houses in Lakewood. It belonged to Henry Beach for whom Beach Avenue was named. He was the first white child born in Elyria Township.

In 1864 he came to our community with his wife, Sabrina, and 5-year-old daughter, Emma, after buying 28 acres of land at Detroit and Beach for $100 per acre, with 5 percent off for cash.

He put up his homestead on the northeast corner of the intersection the year of his arrival. It was called "The Hemlocks." As he prospered it grew to 17 rooms. It stood there until it was torn down in 1939.

On his acreage, Beach drilled three gas wells, which provided heat for his home, the terrace, and apartments in nearby Clifton Prado. As a fruit grower and land developer, he became affluent enough to send daughter Emma to a finishing school -- the Cleveland Female Seminary at Woodland and E. 55th.

When 20, Emma wed Charles Townsend. Her husband and her father were among those who signed the petition that led to Lakewood's incorporation 100 years ago, after which Charles was named our first chief of police.

Emma, who died in 1950 at age 91, is remembered as having been a particularly active and kind person. After her cousin, Helen Townsend Hart, was widowed, Emma planned a number of social events to give the widow an opportunity to meet widower Amos Kauffman. He eventually married Helen and went on to become Lakewood's longest-serving mayor (1932-55).

In the 1940s, Emma's grandson, William Townsend, who died four years ago, founded the Society for Crippled Children (now known as the Achievement Center for Children) and its affiliate, Camp Cheerful, in Strongsville.

He and his wife, Colette Sheehan Townsend, were residents of the Lake Cliff estate. Colette was only 11 when she moved there after it was bought by her father, Richard N. Sheehan, in 1923. Today the Victorian Lake Cliff is occupied by Dorothy F. Sheehan, sister-in-law of Colette. Colette continues to live on the premises but in a separate dwelling that was known as the gate house.

This article appeared in the Lakewood Sun Post November 23, 1989. Reprinted with permission.

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