Diagonal Alley
Hilliard is a Lakewood street that is unique in many ways. Most streets change their names when they leave Lakewood, but Hilliard keeps its name all the way to Hilliard Lakes Golf Club in Westlake.
It also cuts through Lakewood at a 45-degree angle instead of heading east-west or north-south. I noticed most of the houses on Hilliard were still facing due north or due south, so they were angled to the street. There is only a short section of Hilliard just west of Harding Middle School where the houses are angled to be parallel to the street.
I also passed an 11-story condominium building near the Madison intersection. I took a picture of the Richard Hilliard House Condominiums. Several years ago, I was lucky enough to attend an event for the Lakewood Historical Society on the top floor. The views are spectacular. It is the only building close to its height in the area, and you can see Lake Erie, the nearby Metroparks and even Downtown Cleveland. I think this building is a hidden gem in Lakewood.
As I was nearing the end of my walk I also passed a pair of Little Free Libraries. One was for adult books and the other was the “Children’s Section”. They were well stocked and well maintained. There was even a hitching post for your furry friend so you could examine the books with both of your hands.
