The Barton Deming House, an iconic Cleveland Heights landmark that’s stood at the corner of Cedar and Fairmount for a century, hit the market in late December 2020. Once a single-family home, the Deming House had been sectioned off into five units, including an owner’s suite, with plenty of options to use the units as apartments or offices.
In February, it sold, though the transaction has yet to officially post to the Cuyahoga County Auditor’s site.
As it enters its next phase of history, let’s take a look back at the last century and at what the iconic building looks like these days.
Canadian-born Cleveland real estate developer Barton Roy Deming was smitten with the verdant beauty of a craggy knoll just south of the recently closed Euclid Golf Club, which stood near the intersection of what are now Norfolk and Derbyshire Roads. In 1914, having decided to create a large suburban residential allotment nearby, Deming set out to build his own home on this sliver of land where Fairmount Boulevard branches off of Cedar Road. The home would serve as a unique marquee advertisement and gateway to Deming’s Euclid Golf Allotment. Deming contracted with architects Howell and Thomas to design 2485 Fairmount, nestled into a narrow, steep, and rocky site with a deep gorge running through it. Howell and Thomas relished the challenge of building in such a location, and Deming was proud of the resulting four-story French Eclectic mansion, which embodied his aspirations for Euclid Golf.
Black and white photograph of Barton R. Deming House. Close up of Fairmount Boulevard facade of the home. Includes crisp detail of all aspects of home. Back of photograph reads “1915.” Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. 1915Black and white photograph of Barton R. Deming House as seen looking southeastward, as one heads southeast on Fairmount Boulevard. Includes home, gate, lawn. Back of photo reads, “1915.” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.black and white photo of Barton R. Deming House centered around living room fireplace. Black and white photo close up of Fairmount Boulevard facade with streetcar tracks and wiring in the foreground. This crisp, high-contrast photo appears to be taken during construction, where some windows are unfinished and debris is evident. Uninstalled clay tile pipe is awaiting installation in the center of Fairmount Boulevard. Back of photo reads, “1914.” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.Black and white photograph of “Elaine’s play house” with pergola in background at Barton R. Deming House. The photo is taken looking southward from the house, is dated 1916, and shows the walkway to the pergola and foreground is play house with wooden siding and roof. Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.Black and white photograph taken from inside second floor of the Barton R. Deming House looking out an open casement window. View includes stream with a small wooden footbridge and another makeshift bridge; small stone outbuilding; and woods. Interior details include portions of windows, trim, light fixture and a part of a chair. Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount BoulevardBlack and white photograph of Dining Room (second floor) of Barton R. Deming House. Includes beamed ceiling, leaded glass round-top windows, dining room table, light fixtures, etc. Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. 1916Black and white photograph of garden room of Barton R. Deming House (second floor). Includes lattice work on walls, windows, light fixture, plants, fountain, furnishings, bird cage. Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. 1916Black and white photo of exterior of Barton R. Deming house and grounds looking northeastward. Taken from top of wall with view of landscaping, house, garage and apartment buildings in background. Back of photo reads, “1916, Notice-no bldg on golf links–site of Alcazar,” clarifying that the Alcazar had not yet been built (it was built in 1923). Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.Black and white photograph of Barton R. Deming house looking northeastward. Primarily shows grounds and pergola, with house in background. Stone path with rose bushes growing over simple fencing. Of interest is the somewhat rural character of the land in the background (the Euclid Heights development). Back of photograph reads “1916.” Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.Black and white photograph of children and man playing behind (southeast) Barton R. Deming House. While house is in background, three young girls and one young boy play with sticks in the stream and woods behind the house. A man, whose face is hidden, helps one child cross the stream. It has been suggested that, perhaps, the man is Barton R. Deming and one of the girls is his daughter, Elaine Allen Deming. Back of photo has 1917 written in red pencil. Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.Black and white interior photograph of Barton R. Deming House dining room with bay window. Ceiling has beams and also present in room is chandelier, table, rug, chair, fireplace, tea pots, clock. Back of photo reads, “Return to B.R. Deming, 3565 Stow(?) Rd, Clev 22, Phone Lo7428.” Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.black and white close-up photo of Barton R. Deming House fireplace with painted surround. Includes pewter or silver plates, teapots, candlesticks and a kettle. Fireplace has tile work and turned post supports. Back of photo reads, “Return to B.R. Deming; 2475 Lee Blvd.–Suite 2C; Very old English Hob Grate; ‘The Kettle on the hob’ –” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.Black and white photograph from pergola taken northward toward the Barton R. Deming House. House is in background and flowers, fence, path, birdbath are in foreground. Back of photo reads, “1915; before roof was on terrace; awning.” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.Black and white photograph of Barton R. Deming House taken looking northwestward toward back of house on a snowy day. Bridge is in foreground and the full three stories of the home are evident from this angle. Back of photo reads, “1919.” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.Black and white photograph of Barton R. Deming House looking northeastward with boulevard and pergola in foreground. Streetcar tracks are easily seen and home is in background. Back of photo reads, “1918.” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.Black-and-white photograph of Barton R. Deming House path, pergola, fence, with Fairmount Boulevard in background. Back of photo reads, “1916.” Barton R. Deming. Euclid Golf. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.Black and white photograph of Barton R. Deming house as taken from near intersection of Cedar Road and Fairmount Boulevard. Streetcar tracks and wiring are in foreground, house, garage and pergola in background. Also, Arts and Crafts style house (located just west of Deming House, 12500 Cedar Road) which later burned is evident in background. Back of photo reads, “1919.” 2485 Fairmount Boulevard. Euclid Golf.Black and white photograph of grounds of Barton R. Deming House. Photo is taken from house looking southward to the pergola, fountain and beautifully landscaped grounds. The background shows house on Fairmount Boulevard, streetcar tracks and an automobile. Back of photo reads “1920.” Euclid Golf Allotment. 2485 Fairmount Boulevard.
