1832 Cleveland Manuscript Map
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GUEST:
I brought a map that's been in my family for three generations. My third great-grandfather's brother drew it for his father, 1832, of the village of Cleveland.
APPRAISER:
I think it's a very cool map. 1832 is four years before Cleveland was incorporated as a city.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
It was founded in 1796. A unique manuscript map.
GUEST:
Mm.
APPRAISER:
It's also unusual, which makes it a little hard to situate yourself on it, is, south is at the top. The city was developed from the water out, so they're starting at the bottom and moving, moving out. Individual homeowners' names along here.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
And the Public Square, in the center, which is still the center of the city.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
The map shows the Cuyahoga River as it leads into Lake Erie. It's just got a lot of really interesting detail. The town was only about 1,200 people in 1832.
GUEST:
Hm.
APPRAISER:
And it's got this really neat inscription on the back, which... And what does that inscription say?
GUEST:
It says "To Dr. John Anders from his affectionate son J.W.," in 1832, mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
1832, yeah, no, that's, that's a really neat touch.
GUEST:
Yes, it is.
APPRAISER:
You must have, uh, kept it out of light.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
Because these kinds of things are, they're not air-sensitive or time-sensitive, but they're very light-sensitive.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
That brown ink could just fade away to, to nothing...
GUEST:
Right.
APPRAISER:
...if it didn't get proper...
GUEST:
Right, it's in an interior hallway in my house.
APPRAISER:
Then, then, then you're good. It's both interesting from a map point of view, from an historical point of view, and also, to a degree, it's a piece of folk art.
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
For insurance purposes...
GUEST:
Mm-hmm.
APPRAISER:
...you're looking at $25,000.
GUEST:
Wow, wow. Okay.
APPRAISER:
Now, I'm assuming you weren't ever planning to sell it, anyway.
GUEST:
No, it's-- oh... I'd be drawn and quartered if I tried to.
APPRAISER:
(laughs)
GUEST:
It's very special, very unique to all of us in my family.
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