A summer tradition in Cleveland is taking a ride and strolling around the historic village of Chagrin Falls, located on the curiously-named Chagrin River. One story is that early settlers were aiming for the Cuyahoga, the next big river over, and were ‘chagrined’ when they discovered their error; more likely, the name derives from an Indian word.
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The Lower Falls
The principal feature of the town is the falls, which once provided power for mills and other industry. Main Street divides the Upper and Lower Falls, and once provided with ice cream, you can walk in Chagrin Falls Park on the one side, or cross the street and descend stone steps to the Lower Falls.
Upper Falls and pool alongside the park.
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Main Street is lined with old Victorian commercial buildings, which now host an array of clothing, book and antique shops, as well as restaurants.
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| Perhaps carrying the high-toned theme a bit too far... |
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| Don't speed, or you might catch sight of this in your rear-view mirror. |
My favorite part of Chagrin Falls is its large collection of 19th-Century houses. The ones depicted here are mostly Victorian—these are perhaps outnumbered by Greek Revival and other early wooden clapboard houses, but I didn’t seem to be in the right part of town that day.
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Although CF is famous for earlier architecture, these beautiful Italianates also abound.
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| The Police Department is located in this beautifully-restored brick house. |
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| An old hitching post and flagstone walk are reminders of earlier times. |
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A mallard duck adds an appropriate accent to this preppy enclave.
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