With the Narthex deconstructed and the Religious Education and Church Offices wing demolished, work began on the demolition of the Nave.
Four massive columns and flying buttresses provided incredible structure to the Nave’s Chancel.
Once the structural members were removed, the roof came down quickly.
After the removal of the cornerstone, demolition was quickly completed. All that remains is removal of the foundation and site clean-up.
Lauren, many thanks for documenting the sad end of the most beautiful building in Cleveland. Your photos are gripping and beautifully done. “They paved paradise to put up a…” Holiday Inn…
Thanks for the Joni Mitchell memories, Ethan! And so much better a place where families can stay while their loved ones are receiving the medical attention that they need, than a parking lot!
It was sad but interesting to see details of the demo, especially the self-supporting masonry arches which as a choir boy I’d walked under many times, wondering if there was any steel in them. Now I know.
Especially sad to see the place go only for more Cleveland Clinic. Back in the ’60s when the Clinic really began expanding, we used to joke that if the Clinic expanded to the east and Western Reserve (now CWRU) expanded to the west, would there be a mushroom cloud at 105th and Euclid when they met?