The Cleveland Knoll tract was purchased and named in 1923 by developers from Cleveland, Ohio. These developers built the first legs of Cleveland and Idlewood Roads, between Kenneth and Glenwood, and many of the homes here date to this period. The tract was originally a citrus grove.
The name “Cleveland Knoll” reflects not only the developers’ origin but was also likely intended to help attract home buyers from the Midwest. Two other streets in the tract carry names related to the Cleveland, Ohio area: Idlewood and Olmsted (a road which intersects Cleveland and Idlewood Roads) are the names of communities in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where the city of Cleveland is located.
Virtually all of the homes in this area were built between 1923 and 1941, and reflect three primary architectural styles: Spanish Revival, Tudor (or English Revival), and a style of the 1930's sometimes referred to as Minimal Traditional. The Spanish and English Revival styles predominated between 1923 and 1934, while Minimal Traditional homes were built primarily between 1935 and 1941. About 45% of the homes in the area are in the Spanish Revival style, about 10% are Tudor, and about 30% are Minimal Traditional, with the remainder being a mixture of Craftsman, Monterrey, Colonial Revival, and other styles.
A walk around the neighborhood will reveal its rich architectural heritage. Homes here are cozy, predominantly one-story structures which have now housed several generations of Glendalians. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
Contact Information:
Name: Michael Fedrick
Email: mike.fedrick@stanfordalumni.org
1920's Newspaper Clippings
Cleveland Knoll Architecture
Fun with Architecture