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The Groh Mansion was
built in 1872 by
Michael Groh as his
residence. He was an
important
businessman in the
area of lime-making
in Ohio as he was
instrumental in the
supply of limestone
and related products
for the Midwest
region. Michael Groh
was also a
significant builder
who also built St.
Peters Church in
Cleveland.
The Groh Mansion is
the solitary
surviving
residential building
from this time of
growth in Cleveland
following the Civil
War. It showcases
the fine American
architecture of the
era at a Superior
Avenue location
which was, at the
time, the home to
some of the most
fashionable
residences in
Cleveland.
The house was
occupied between
1912 and 1918 by the
city’s oldest and
largest medical
fraternity, Nu Sigma
Nu. To accommodate
the fraternity, the
former attic was
converted to a large
meeting hall space,
necessitating a new
stairway and fire
escape plus the
elimination of the
cornice such that
larger windows could
be installed in
front.
From around 1944
till 1997, the
building was used as
a union hall for
electrical workers.
Michael E. Chesler
purchased the
mansion in 1997 and
the complete
rehabilitation and
redevelopment was
completed in 1999.
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