Cornering Stokes Blvd and Carnegie Avenue and situated in the bustling area of University Circle, towers the majestic Tudor Arms Hotel.

As I explained in my earlier heart blogs, I had booked my pre-surgery nights here at the Tudor Arms for a few different reasons.

One being, it was in close proximity to the Cleveland Clinic hospital.

Another, was that it offered a far more economical rate than the other adjoining chain hotels.

And lastly, it was rumored to be, well, “haunted.”

The third reason being somewhat childish I know, but hey, I needed a distraction, and I had always wanted to stay in a supposedly “haunted” hotel but never really had the nerve.

Call it a bucket list check off or a “double-dog-dare-ya” kinda thing, but I figured, with something looming over me the next morning such as open heart surgery, I thought, what the heck?!

As we continued down Carnegie Ave on that Sunday evening, Mother’s Day it was, I immediately recognized its Gothic Revival style architecture, blocks before we ever even approached it.

I was intrigued from that moment on, and for good reason.

The Tudor Arms has quite the story to tell…

The History

Photo courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library of Cleveland State University

The building was designed in 1929 by renowned Cleveland architect Frank Meade and was completed in 1933.

Originally, the twelve-story building was created exclusively for the Cleveland Club, a prestigious men’s group.

Its structure adorned nothing but the best, both inside and out.  Intricate limestone details frame the outer windows and main doorway entrances. Even a sculpture of Cleveland’s founder, Moses Cleaveland, overlooks the Carnegie intersection midway up the corner of the building.

Some of the elaborate inside features were an indoor swimming pool, two breathtaking grand ballrooms, and even a game room with its own bowling alley.

Cleveland Club’s Men’s Lounge, Photo courtesy of Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, Donor: Joseph E. Cole, Cleveland Memory Project

High society frequented the Cleveland Club, hosting many lavish parties and events on a regular basis.

One of its most popular inhabitants was the infamous American mobster Al Capone who entertained guests at the club quite often. Apparently, Mr. Capone was not fond of swimming with other guests, so he saw to it that a second swimming pool be constructed in the club just for him. Capone was also linked to the underground tunnel that led from the basement of the club straight into Cleveland’s Italian community of “Little Italy.”

Al Capone’s private swimming pool he had constructed at the Cleveland Club

Despite the support of regular members, even the most famous ones, the Cleveland Club was unfortunately unable to withstand the bouts of the Depression and was finally forced to close its doors in 1939.

Later that same year, with the Depression era drawing to a close, the building was converted into a hotel opening its doors under the name “The Tudor Arms Hotel.”

Photo courtesy of the collection, Post cards of Cleveland, and the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University

 

Quickly picking up where the Cleveland Club left off, it continued to be a favored spotlight for dining and entertainment, specifically for its jazz entertainment.

With its popularity widely spreading, the Tudor Arms welcomed not only celebrity jazz entertainers, but a variety of many famous performers including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Lawrence Welk, Patrice Wymore, Bob Dylan and many more.

Over time, the surrounding community of University Circle began to frown upon the night life of The Tudor Arms and felt as if it was damaging the neighborhood’s historic image.

Photo courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, Donor:Joseph E. Cole, Cleveland Memory Project

Two neighboring University Circle institutions, Western Reserve University and Case Institute of Technology, took over the property in 1960, slowly starting to use some of its space as graduate student dormitories, while continuing to rent other rooms nightly as a hotel. By 1963 the building was a full-fledged student dormitory. During that span of three years, the Tudor Arms underwent somewhat of a $500,000 facelift, but even at that price tag it wasn’t a complete remodel by any means. Through the years, only necessary repairs and maintenance were done to keep the building operating.

Photo courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University,

creator: Bill Nehez 11-15-1962

Eventually Case Western leased the property to the Cleveland Job Corps. While Cleveland Job Corps has, for years, been co-ed, it started out as one of the first three Job Corps centers for women in the country.

During their stay at the Tudor Arms, Job Corps did their own remodeling, installing walls and partitions as needed to create the class and trade rooms needed for their students. Job Corps remained there until the building was, once again, sold in 2007.

The purchasers of the property, Cleveland developers MRN Ltd, had a vision of restoring the famous Tudor Arms back to its glory days of the 1930’s.

As the restoration plans began, they uncovered many unexpected treasures, one being the original and detailed plaster appliques in the Tudor Ballroom. Thankfully, they had remained hidden and protected beneath the drywall walls that were installed years before.

Restoring the Tudor Arms didn’t come quickly or cheap, but four years later and to the tune of $22 million dollars, they succeeded.

Finally, in 2011, and in conjunction with Doubletree hotels by Hilton, the grand doors of the Tudor Arms Hotel opened once more, again unmasking the beauty of decades’ past.

Upon entering the Tudor Arms foyer entry, you will see two beautifully hand painted murals that line both walls that lead up to the main lobby.

There, you will be greeted by one of their most accommodating and friendly staff, and not without a hot and freshly baked package of cookies given to you upon check-in.

And while the lengthy renovation does take you back to the glitz and glamour of yester year, all 157 guest rooms include our modern-day conveniences of free Wi-Fi, cable channels and spacious rooms and baths for comfort and relaxation.

The manager that currently serves the Tudor Arms knows it’s history inside and out and is quite proud to show it off and share with you these stories and many more.

When he is available, he offers evening tours of the hotel, which include an extensive tour of, of course, the main floors and magnificent ballrooms, but also the hidden nooks and crannies, such as the basement, the floor that is believed to be where the old kitchen was located, and even Capone’s pool.

 

Although it may seem as though the Tudor Arms has completed their renovations, they are still working on many other projects to serve their guests in the future such as the restoration of the original indoor pool and a spacious library that will overlook University Circle.

Photo courtesy of the Michael Schwartz Library at Cleveland State University, creator: Clayton Knipper

The manager does a great job at taking the time to tell the Tudor Arms’ story, as well as answering any questions you may have. As my first tour was rather hard for me to complete, we returned for a second stay, this time bringing our son.

The “Haunts”

During one of our tours, the manager had explained to us that he once agreed to take on a tour for a group of paranormal investigators.

In one of the rooms that once served as a dance studio located on the “old kitchen” floor, the investigators supposedly had gotten some of their stronger “readings” and even witnessed several “orbs.”

The manager went on to clarify that several fire trucks and rescue vehicles had passed by the hotel during that evening and may have contributed to some of those lighting illusions coming in from the Tudor’s tall windows.

When the staff is prompted with questions about any “ghost stories” or regular “spirits” that might still be lingering as unregistered guests, their responses are generally the same and  followed by a courteous smile. “Not that we have ever seen.”

After hearing the stories of the Tudor Arms, though, one can only imagine…

Down in the boiler room, deep in the basement, and right outside the now blocked off tunnel that Capone once used to make his way into Little Italy, stands a large incinerator.

It looks as though it has been there since the building was first constructed.

The black iron apparatus has two very large door compartments, one on the top level, another on the bottom.

I had asked about it during one of our tours.

Apparently, the doors have been sealed shut for many decades.

To which the manager added, “And I have no desire to open them now, either!”

 

Glancing inside the empty and quiet Crystal Ballroom, I wondered what it might have been like to attend one of those lavish parties during the 1930’s…

I let my mind drift back to a time where the ballroom suddenly fills with men in their finest tuxedos and bowties.

Where ladies gracefully glide across the dance floor in gorgeous bias style silken gowns.

Where there is fancy eating, and drinking.

Dancing and smoking.

Where the sounds of laughter and joyous celebrating echo off these muraled and mirrored walls.

Where the chandeliers glisten from above as the band takes the stage and begins to play the elegant sounds of “Moonlight Serenade.”

And where, if I peer hard enough through the crowd and smoky air,

I can see a man there in the back-corner table.

He’s an Italian fella, maybe in his mid-to-late 30’s, sitting by himself, smoking a cigar, and smiling as he watches the crowd…

 

Although I can’t attest to witnessing any apparitions or having any ghostly encounters during my stays here at the Tudor Arms Hotel, I’m not necessarily discounting any either.

According to the Historic Hotels of America Directory, the Tudor Arms Hotel is labeled as “haunted.”

As far as ghosts go, though, look at this place,

I mean if you were Al Capone, or anyone else for that matter,

would YOU ever leave??