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Community Corner

100 Years in 100 Days: Ribbon Cutting for Van Aken Shopping Center

100 photos that define Shaker Heights.

Shaker Heights Patch is celebrating the 100 years of Shaker Heights history by creating an online scrapbook. Each day for 100 days, we'll feature a photograph that helps tell the story of Shaker Heights.

Today's photo is of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Van Aken Shopping Center.  The center was opened in 1953, three years after the death of William R. Van Aken, the city's first mayor and an influential force in its development.  Here's what the Cleveland Press said about the event:

"Van Aken Center was opened in Shaker Heights today as Mrs. William J. Van Aken, wife of the late mayor, snipped the ribbon. Others aiding in the ceremonies were (left) Roy Scott, president of Miller Drug; Milton Wolf of Zehman-Wolf Construction Co., builders of the shopping center, and Shaker Heights Mayor John W. Barkley. The 27-store development is one of the largest in Greater Cleveland."

You can join our celebration of Shaker Heights history. Share your memories in the comments. Or upload your photos and we'll feature them in this scrapbook. Follow #ShakerCentennial on Twitter.

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