Kulas, E. J., Estate Historic District

This 46-acre estate in Gates Mills, Ohio, sits on a bluff overlooking the Chagrin River valley. Built between 1929 and 1932 for E. J. Kulas, it centers on a large Tudor Revival residence faced in rock-faced Berea sandstone that gives way to stucco and half-timbering on the upper floor, under a steep, thick-shingled gable roof. Inside are carved butternut woodwork, stained glass depicting eight operas, and a concealed Aeolian pipe organ. Three more residences stand on the grounds: a superintendent's lodge at the entrance, a chauffeur's cottage and a gardener's cottage. Outbuildings include a greenhouse, a round storage building and a power house tied to a dam on the creek. Terraces, formal gardens, a pond and a stone bridge complete the setting. The estate was listed for its architecture. Charles R. Greco designed the buildings, and Rorimer Brooks designed the interiors. The district retains its original landscaped surroundings and many ancillary structures, which makes it an unusually complete country estate.