Holden Arboretum (Kirtland, Ohio)

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Established in 1931 on a 100-acre parcel donated by Roberta Holden Bole, The Holden Arboretum has grown to 3,500 acres, making it one of the country’s largest arboreta.

Holden was created by Albert Fairchild Holden as a memorial for his daughter, Elizabeth, who died in 1908 at the age of 12. The president of the Island Creek Coal Co. and managing director of the American Zinc, Lead, and Smelting Co., Holden was familiar with the Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University and originally intended to leave his estate to that institution. However, his sister, Roberta Holden Bole convinced him that the people of Northeastern Ohio deserved an arboretum. When Holden died in 1913 at the age of 46, funds from his estate were placed in a trust for the development of an arboretum after a life interest for his two teenage daughters, Emery May and Katharine Davis. Originally, the arboretum was to have been located on the family estate in Bratenahl, but family interests precluded its use. An alternate site at the Lake View Cemetery was also considered, but later abandoned.

An extensive survey of the region was conducted before Lake County was chosen as the home for the new arboretum. Roberta Holden Bole again showed her support for the project, donating 100 acres in Lake County, which forms the core of Holden today. During its early years, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History oversaw Holden, creating a firm foundation in the sciences. In 1952, the courts permitted Holden’s separation from the museum and its incorporation as a not-for-profit organization.

Nurtured in its early years by the Bole family, Holden also gained the support of investor Warren H. Corning, who built his home Lantern Court on Kirtland-Chardon Road near the fledgling Holden. His support, as well as his success in gaining the support of other area landowners, helped Holden expand to 1,000 acres by 1956. The largest land purchase during that period was the Baldwin farm, a 556-acre parcel that is now home to some of Holden’s natural areas, its nut bearing tree collections, and its specimen collection. Corning served as the first unpaid “executive administrator” and would serve in that capacity until 1958.

In 1958, R. Henry Norweb, Jr., Albert Holden’s grandson, succeeded Corning. Holden’s first paid director; he would lead the organization until his retirement in 1983. Under his direction, land continued to be acquired, facilities and features aimed at attracting and serving the public were added, collections grew and long-term planning began in earnest for the day when the Holden Trust would be available.

Today, Holden is supported by funds from The Holden Trust as well as the contributions of members, donors and business partners.

Three sites in and immediately around the arboretum are designated collectively as a National Natural Landmark - Stebbins Gulch, Bole Woods and Hanging Rock Farm. The former is a deep ravine system with exposed layers of rock, while the latter two sites consist of stands of virgin hardwood forest.

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