National Town and Country Club
Also known as: Fenn College; CSU--Fenn Tower (CUY-140-1)
Why it's listed
Rising twenty-one stories at Euclid Avenue and East 24th Street in Cleveland, this buff brick and steel-frame tower was completed in 1930 as the clubhouse of the National Town and Country Club. New York architects George B. Post and Sons designed it, with Thompson-Starrett Company as general contractor, at a cost of $1.5 million. Its setbacks, ranks of vertical windows and abstract geometric ornament, reminiscent of Mayan design, make it a good example of Art Deco skyscraper design. When built it was one of the tallest buildings in the city. The site had held the Rufus K. Winslow House, one of the Victorian mansions that once lined Euclid Avenue. The first eight floors held club facilities and the next ten held 122 bedrooms. Fenn College took over the building in 1937, and it later became the main classroom building of Cleveland State University.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a good example of Art Deco or Modernistic skyscraper architecture in downtown Cleveland, with a setback design, vertical emphasis and streamlined geometric ornament. It was designed by the New York firm George B. Post and Sons and was among the tallest buildings in Cleveland when built. It also reflects the city's club life and the last eastward push of commercial development along Euclid Avenue.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03001102, listed October 30, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2401 Euclid Ave., Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | October 30, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001102 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architect / builder | George B. Post and Sons, NYC, architect; Thompson-Starrett Co., Chicago, contractors |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement - Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fenn College moved into the building in 1937, and it became the main classroom building when Cleveland State University was formed in 1964. The form lists its current function as education (college). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.50240, -81.67207 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03001102.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14716415
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.