East Fourth Street Historic District

East Fourth Street between Euclid and Prospect Avenues in downtown Cleveland holds thirteen commercial buildings built between 1876 and 1935. It is described as the last block in the downtown area that survives as an intact, pre-1935 street along its full length. The buildings range from the five-story Windsor Building of 1875-1876 to the eight-story Sincere Building and a mix of terra-cotta and brick structures, many in the vertically emphasized Chicago and Commercial styles. They line the sidewalk without gaps, and old overhanging signs and painted window advertisements add to the crowded, pedestrian character. The street, once called Sheriff Street, grew as Cleveland's population rose from about 93,000 to nearly 800,000 and became known for theaters, restaurants, shops and offices. Its listing recognizes the architecture and its unusually complete record of how a downtown commercial street looked in the early twentieth century. Stores and restaurants still occupy many of the buildings.