Beech Brook

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In 1852, Beech Brook opened its doors to nine orphaned children in a rented house in the heart of Cleveland. This was the beginning of a long legacy of service to children and families which continues today. Beech Brook was founded as the Cleveland Orphan Asylum in response to a cholera epidemic that had swept through the city, leaving many children alone and homeless. With the donation of an acre of land from the Rev. E.H. Sawtell and the support of many of Cleveland's leading philanthropic families, the institution's first permanent home was built in 1855 at the corner of what is now E. 55th Street and Woodland Avenue. In the years that followed, the number of children needing care continued to grow and, in 1878, a second structure for 100 children was built at 5000 St. Clair Avenue. Leonard Case donated the land and Jeptha H. Wade paid for and personally supervised the construction of the building. By the turn of the century, the rapid industrial expansion of Cleveland had once again surrounded the orphanage with factories. The search began for a country home to be located within an hour's drive of the city. In 1916, Jeptha Homer Wade, Jr. and his wife gave a gift of the Beech Brook Farm to the orphanage, and plans began for a move to the country. By the 1920's, building was underway and, in 1926, the children moved to the present campus on Lander Road. However, as the children coming into Beech Brook's care seemed increasingly troubled, the focus of the agency began to...

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