Nov. 14: Cleveland Landmarks Commission
Covered by Documenter Nick Ventura (live-tweets)
Preserving Cleveland’s religious landmarks
New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church – formerly known as the Kinsman Jewish Center – is set for landmark status after a recent Cleveland Landmarks Commission meeting. The church is located in Mount Pleasant on East 147th Street and led by lifelong Clevelander Pastor Vincent E. Stokes II, who took the post in 2023.
Originally a synagogue built in 1931, the Kinsman Jewish Center was formerly home to one of the city’s first Orthodox congregations: B’nai Jacob Kol Israel. By 1940, the congregation had roughly 400 families, according to historical records.
As the Jewish population began to leave the city for suburbs such as Shaker Heights, the congregation moved with it. The congregation sold the building to the church in 1958 and eventually merged with Warrensville Center Synagogue in 1959.
“Cleveland is full of these kinds of stories,” said one of the commission members. “This stresses the importance of our cultural heritage and how we’re still living the history of everything … with this building,” he said.
The commission also approved the nomination of Calvary Presbyterian Church to the National Register for Historic Places. The church is located in Ward 6 on Euclid Avenue. Last year, a tornado ripped the roof off of the church. It recently received a grant to help repair the damage.
Cleveland has thousands of landmarks, but how does the city designate them? Find out more about the city’s guidelines for achieving “historical” status.
Remembering Ohio City’s Third Baptist Church
The commission also approved multiple projects in Ohio City, including the demolition of structures at 2828 Clinton Ave. The demolition clears the way for new construction at the site, which is still pending final approval from the commission.
Leaders from Malachi House, located at 2810 Clinton Ave., wrote a letter in support of the demolition. The letter cited concerns over safety and security and hopes that new construction will bring new opportunities to the area. Malachi House is a donation-based organization that provides care to people who are terminally ill and cannot afford care.
One resident also wrote in to share concerns about losing the history of Third Baptist Church – formerly First Baptist Church – which was one of the first in the city. The church also played a role in desegregation, according to historical records.
The church left the building in 1901 before Randall Mattress Co. purchased it in 1902. Cleveland Vibrator Co. took over the space in the 1940s and recently relocated.
The commission is open to putting up a plaque to commemorate the history of the Third Baptist Church, according to one of the commissioners.
Read the live-tweets from Documenter Nick Ventura:
Watch the full meeting on Cleveland’s City Planning Commission YouTube.
