7145 Harper Avenue
Dime Savings Bank, Varney Welfare Station, S. L. Richman Company, Drayton’s Memorial Apostolic Church, Holy Redeemer Church of Christ Church, True Deliverance Community Fellowship Outreach Church
7145 Harper Avenue was built around 1920. Sources have reported that it was completed by 1922; however, there was a Dime Savings Bank Branch at the corner of Frontenac and Harper as early as 1920, according to their ads in the paper.
This structure was designed by George M. Lindsey, who worked on other Dime Savings Bank branches around the city. It’s a stunning structure, but the front portion was covered at some point.
In 1940, there was a welfare distribution center inside. It was called the Varney Welfare Station, and it distributed food stamps from the Federal Surplus Marketing Administration. This agency was created in the early 1930s as the Federal Surplus Relief Corporation and combined with other New Deal programs in 1940 to create the Surplus Marketing Administration.
By 1954, the S. L. Richman Company had moved into the space. The company was a clothier, but I’ve only found one mention of the business in the newspaper. Initially, I thought it might be tied to the Richman Bros. of Cleveland, but I haven’t found any ties between them.
By the early 1990s, the structure was being utilized as a church. At this time, the corner of Frontenac and Harper had a structure that was originally a church but was abandoned, and two churches occupying buildings that were initially other things. By 2007, Holy Redeemer Church of Christ operated out of the old Dime Savings Bank Building.
Last year, a new congregation moved into the space led by Pastor Dr. Larry Johnson Sr. I had the chance to meet Dr. Johnson a few days ago while shooting the theatre across the street. In addition to offering me information about the structure I was documenting, he had a wealth of knowledge about the neighborhood and its history. Growing up, his aunt lived down the street, so he’s been spending time here his whole life.
In addition to maintaining the former bank building, the facade was painted blue. Don’t worry—not the brick portion.
There aren’t many commercial structures left in this neighborhood, and even fewer are active. Kitty corner from the former bank building is an abandoned theatre, and down Frontenac, at Strong Street, there’s a long-time vacant Slovak Home that’s about to collapse. To get to an active business, you’ve got to a few blocks up Haper to Hong Moy, a Chinese takeout joint.
Hopefully, Dr. Johnson can utilize the structure for a long time. His work to stabilize it keeps a history that dates back over a century alive, and that’s worth commending.
