/arts-culture/what-it-was There’s architecture with a story to tell around every city in Northeast Ohio. Join Senior Arts Reporter Kabir Bhatia as he visits historic buildings to find out “What It Was.” en-US Copyright Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:41:56 GMT /arts-culture/2026-04-15/what-it-was-the-akron-armory Once occupying the corner of South High and East Bowery streets in Downtown Akron, the Akron Armory was the city’s epicenter of entertainment for decades. Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:41:56 GMT /arts-culture/2026-04-15/what-it-was-the-akron-armory Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-03-19/what-it-was-olney-art-gallery-in-tremont The Olney Art Gallery opened its doors in 1893 and became Cleveland's first publicly-accessible art space, predating the Cleveland Museum of Art by more than two decades. Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:47:55 GMT /arts-culture/2026-03-19/what-it-was-olney-art-gallery-in-tremont Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-02-25/what-it-was-the-mathews-hotel The Mathews Hotel on N. Howard Street was right in the heart of Akron's jazz district. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:33:50 GMT /arts-culture/2026-02-25/what-it-was-the-mathews-hotel Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-the-elysium The Elysium opened in 1907 as "the largest artificial ice skating plant in the world." Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:00 GMT /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-the-elysium Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-opera-house-in-kent Built in 1889, the Kent Opera House was once a destination for traveling shows. Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:00:00 GMT /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-opera-house-in-kent Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-sterling-lindner-davis-in-cleveland The Sterling Lindner Davis department store on Euclid Avenue was known for its large Christmas tree during the holiday season. Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:00:00 GMT /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-sterling-lindner-davis-in-cleveland Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-the-lorain-theater-in-ohio-city The new home of Visible Voice Books in Ohio City used to be a theater dating back to the 1920s. Wed, 03 Dec 2025 16:00:00 GMT /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-the-lorain-theater-in-ohio-city Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-the-idea-center-in-cleveland The building that houses ����Ӱҵ in Downtown Cleveland held many tenants since 1912, including a furniture story and public library. Wed, 12 Nov 2025 16:00:00 GMT /arts-culture/2026-03-03/what-it-was-the-idea-center-in-cleveland Kabir Bhatia, Jean-Marie Papoi