The changing use of this land, now Lakewood Park, reflects the
development of Lakewood, Ohio from a small agricultural community
to a thriving modern suburb. Early settler John Honam''s property
stretched north from Detroit Avenue to Lake Erie, between Belie and
Cook Avenues.
His 1834 home
restored by the Lakewood
Historical Society and now serves as the Oldest Stone House Museum.
Later, the property was the site of the lavish Robert Russell Rhodes
estate, "The Hickories." As the population grew. so did the need for
civic amenities. In 1919, the City of Lakewood purchased the estate,
using the land for Lakewood Park and the mansion as a
hospital annex
during the Flu Epidemic and then as City Hall until 1959. Only one
piece of "The Hickories" remains; the original stone wall engraved
with the estate name.
Robert Russell Rhodes built his summer cottage, "The
Hickories," in 1881. Over the years, he expanded the
home, eventually making Lakewood his year-round
residence. "The Hickories" was one of
many large estates
lining Lake Avenue. The City of Lakewood converted
the mansion into government offices in 1919, housing
47 employees by the 1950s. For instance, the original
family sitting room was converted into the Engineering
Department. "The Hickories"
was torn down in 1959.
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