Van Sweringen Company

Real estate development firm formed by Oris P. and Mantis J. Van Sweringen, two brothers who, in 1905, began purchasing land in what is now Shaker Heights, Ohio, 8 miles southeast of Cleveland. The land, originally part of Warrensville Twp., was settled in 1822 by the celibate North Union Shaker community, which disbanded in 1889. The Van Sweringen idea was the development of a comprehensively planned "garden city" suburb which included the maintenance of natural topography and lakes, curving roads, and specific locations for apartments, commercial areas, public schools, churches and private secondary schools. The plan was achieved in the 1920s and 1930s, with the company managing and enforcing strict zoning and building restrictions, deed (including ethnic and racial) restrictions, and architectural design guidelines. The suburb grew to a population of nearly 18,000 by 1930, in large part due to the construction by the Van Sweringens of the Shaker Rapid Transit, a high-speed, convenient railway link to downtown Cleveland with a traffic-free right-of-way. The Van Sweringens were very private men, and most of their personal and company records have been destroyed.

From the description of Records, 1923-1934. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 23968496

The Van Sweringen Company (f. 1905) was formed by two brothers, Orris Paxton and Mantis James Van Sweringen, to develop rural acreage in Warrensville Township, Ohio, part of which had been the site of the North Union Shaker Community in the 19th Century. their idea was to build a planned residential community for affluent business and professional people. The Van Sweringen brothers had attempted a similar venture on the west side of the City of Cleveland, Ohio, but had overextended themselves financially, and the venture failed. Starting with their first purchase of land in 1905, they eventually accumulated more than 4,000 acres, most of it purchased through the Sedgwick Land Company, predecessor of the Van Sweringen Company. One of the reasons their first development on Cleveland's West side failed was the lack of a transportation system from downtown Cleveland to the new area. The Van Sweringen's avoided this problem by building their own railway system from the new development, known as Shaker Village, to a terminus in downtown Cleveland. by 1920 the high-speed commuter service was in full operation. The combination of a planned community with gracious homes and easy access to the city by commuter railway helped Shaker Village grow from a population of 200 when it was incorporated in 1911, to 1,600 in 1920, and 18,000 by 1930, when it officially became the City of Shaker Heights, Ohio.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Orris Paxton and Mantis James Van Sweringen

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Shaker Heights, Ohio

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Shaker Square click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Shaker Heights Rapid Transit

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Daisy Hill, the estate of the Van Sweringen brothers

From the guide to the Van Sweringen Company Records, 1923-1934, (Western Reserve Historical Society)