Volunteers keep Henn Mansion and Euclid's lakefront history alive, and the city is recruiting more

The Henn Mansion at 23131 Lakeshore Boulevard opens its doors because someone shows up to unlock them. That someone is a neighbor — a volunteer who greets a wedding party, deadheads the garden beds, or tells a visitor about the century of lakefront history inside the walls. Right now, the city is asking for more of those neighbors.

The City of Euclid's Henn Mansion volunteer page, updated September 15, states that the Friends of the Henn Mansion are recruiting volunteers to help with special events at the historic landmark in Sims Park. The group describes what it needs: event planners, greeters, history sharers, container gardeners, and people willing to do light building maintenance. The city also lists a Henn Mansion Event Host role, for volunteers who provide a welcoming experience for people renting the mansion.

Charlene Mancuso, president of the Friends, is the one doing the asking. Prospective volunteers fill out a Volunteer Interest Form so the Friends' Board of Trustees can learn their skills, interests, and availability. A board member then contacts them to discuss matching opportunities, and if there is a fit, they get a volunteer application and are welcomed to the team.

A century on the lakefront

The mansion was built in 1923 for industrialist Albert W. Henn at a reported cost of $120,000, designed by architect Earl J. Andrews as a private lakefront residence for Henn and his wife Gertrude. Henn lost his fortune in the Great Depression and settled his tax debt by giving the house and surrounding land to Euclid; he was allowed to live there until his death in 1947.

The building nearly didn't survive the century. In March 1996, the City of Euclid planned to demolish it. The Friends of the Henn Mansion formed to stop that, led by founders June Daugherty and Meg McGarry, and incorporated that August. The mansion was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 28, 2000. Its mission, as the Friends state it: preserve, maintain, and ensure the continued viability of the Henn Mansion as a resource for Euclid and surrounding communities.

A full calendar, waiting on volunteers

The calendar is not empty. A reservation is booked for September 26, from 4 to 11 p.m. October brings a Murder Mystery Dinner on the 17th, a Garden Club meeting on the 18th, a Democratic Club meeting on the 14th, and other reserved dates. Every one of those nights needs someone to unlock the door, greet the guests, and keep the rooms ready.

HennFest '26, the ticketed wine and beer tasting fundraiser, drew a crowd on Saturday, August 1, with general admission at $75 and a souvenir 9-ounce tasting glass and punch card for food and beverage tastings. Last year's Hennfest celebrated the 100th anniversary of the mansion's completion, with proceeds supporting the venue's continued use as a community event asset.

The mansion is available for rental for weddings, memorial services, fundraisers, family reunions, birthdays, and business meetings; the rental line is 216-731-5060. The Friends meet every fourth Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the mansion.

How to raise your hand

Every date on that calendar — the September 26 reservation, the Murder Mystery Dinner, the Garden Club meeting — depends on volunteers to greet guests, share the building's history, and keep the rooms ready. The city's volunteer application page is the entry point, and the Friends' page invites residents to complete the Volunteer Interest Form to be matched to a role.

The question is who the next neighbor will be: the next person to open the doors, staff a wedding, or tell the mansion's century of lakefront history. The answer starts with filling out the form — or showing up at the next fourth-Tuesday meeting and saying you want to help.