A Description of What the Cleveland Section is All About

Prior to 1946 the section included much of northern Ohio. In 1946, the section approved a split to form a new section in Akron and Canton leaving the Cleveland Section with Branches in Mansfield, Massillon, and Youngstown. By 1984 the Mansfield and Massillon Branches had transferred to the Akron-Canton Section. Presently the Cleveland Section encompasses the counties in northeastern Ohio extending from Elyria on the west to the Pennsylvania border on the east and south to Jefferson County with the exception of the Akron-Canton and Mansfield area.

The Cleveland Section has supported student chapters at the University of Akron, formed in 1924, Case School of Applied Science(presently Case Western Reserve University), formed in 1925, Ohio Northern University, formed in 1937, and Fenn College(presently Cleveland State University), formed in 1951. Today the Section supports student chapters at Case Western Reserve University, Washkewicz College of Engineering at Cleveland State University and Youngstown State University. See how you can help our Scholarship Committee fund and create permanent endowments for our best and brightest Civil Engineering students.

The Cleveland Section is proud to have had two of its members, G. Brooks Earnest, who served as the ASCE Society (National) President in 1962 and Randall S. Over, who served in 2014. Prior to the formation of the Cleveland Section in 1915, Charles Paine, of Cleveland served as the 1883 National President. Four members have served as Society Directors and currently approximately eighteen section members serve on various Society technical institutes and professional committees. Today the Cleveland Section and Youngstown Branch have more than 700 members.

ASCE Makes an Early Impact

The Cleveland Section was politically active as early as 1919 when they worked on an Ohio Engineering Registration Bill. A later draft of the bill became law in 1933. The Section helped to revise the Cleveland City Building Code in 1946.

The Section's early community involvement included a series of Vocational Guidance Programs that aired on local television in 1953 and 1956. The programs were designed to encourage high school students to work toward careers in engineering.

Our Heritage

January 6, 1915

The National Board of ASCE approved the Cleveland Section's Constitution.

December 19, 1914

The first officers were elected.

October 28, 1914

The first meeting of the "Cleveland Chapter, ASCE" was called to order.

April 11, 1914

Then Cleveland Engineering Society President, A. J. Himes, Bridge Engineer of the Nickel Plate Road, called a meeting at the Society's headquarters in the Chamber of Commerce Building on Public Square. At this meeting a committee was appointed to organize an ASCE Chapter in Cleveland. 

1909-1911

Efforts were being made to establish an ASCE Section in Cleveland. There were some local objections because of the potential for competition with the Cleveland Engineering Society.

1880

A group of Cleveland engineers formed the Civil Engineers Club. This group, which was not affiliated with ASCE, later changed its name to the Cleveland Engineering Society.