Category: Business and Industry

WEBER'S RESTAURANT, a popular Cleveland eatery, served downtown diners under several names for 75 years. Owned by Leonard Schlathler, the restaurant opened in 1899 as the Casino Restaurant and Cafe.

WEDDELL HOUSE, Superior Ave. and Bank (W. 6th) St., was the best known of the early hotels built in Cleveland in the first half of the 19th century. Early settler and businessman PETER M. WEDDELL employed Geo. P. Smith to build the hotel on Superior St., replacing his successful mercantile store.

The WEIDEMAN CO., from the 1890s through the 1940s, was one of Cleveland's largest companies and one of the largest wholesale grocery firms in the U.S. The original Weideman Co., founded by German-born JOHN C. WEIDEMAN, was a wine and liquor firm established in 1861 on Old River Rd. in the FLATS.

WEINBERGER, WILLIAM SIDNEY (8 Feb. 1913 - 8 Aug. 1996) a casino industry leader and philanthropist, was president of Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and Bally's Park Place in Atlantic City, NJ, and a founder of Bluecoats, Inc.

The WEST SIDE FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSN. was one of Cleveland's oldest savings and loans. Founded by GERMAN immigrants, the Cleveland West Seite Bauverein Co. began in 1886 with a capital of $439,000 and an office at 2621 Lorain Ave.

The WEST SIDE MARKET, Cleveland's oldest publicly owned market, began in 1840 when JOSIAH BARBER and RICHARD LORD gave OHIO CITY a tract of land at the corner of Pearl (W. 25th) and Lorain streets with the stipulation that it always be kept as a public market site.

WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., the manufacturing and supply subsidiary of AT&T, was founded in Cleveland in 1869. The company evolved from a telegraph supply shop bought by Geo. W. Shawk in 1856. Shawk sold out to Enos M. Barton and Elisha Gray in 1869, who then formed Gray & Barton to manufacture fire and burglar alarms and telegraph equipment at 93 St. Clair (498 W. St. Clair). The partnership, which soon included Gen.

The WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP., established by Geo. Westinghouse in 1886, was an early manufacturer of electrical equipment that evolved into a multipurpose engineering firm. Westinghouse became a manufacturer in Cleveland partly as the result of an 1894 patent-infringement lawsuit against the Cleveland-based Walker Mfg. Co.

The WESTLAKE HOTEL, built in 1925 and dubbed the "pink palace" by locals, was one of the first luxury suburban hotels in the nation. Located at Detroit Ave.

WESTLAKE REED LESKOSKY, an architectural firm, was founded in 1905 by ABRAM GARFIELD, son of President JAMES GARFIELD. In 1897, Garfield moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to work with fellow architect FRANK MEADE after completing his studies at M.I.T.

The WHEELING & LAKE ERIE RAILROAD, planned to run from the Ohio River through the coal fields of southeastern Ohio to ports on Lake Erie, was founded in 1871. By 1877 only 13.5 mi. of track had been laid.

WHITE CONSOLIDATED INDUSTRIES, INC., a diversified conglomerate, was originally founded by THOS. H. WHITE as the White Mfg. Co. in 1866. Ten years later it was known as White Sewing Machine Co., with 600 employees producing the White Rotary Bobbin sewing machine in a 5-story factory on Canal St. Sales at the company reached $2.5 million by 1878.

WHOLESALE GROCERS. Cleveland's wholesale grocery industry has played an important role in feeding the city—and the region—for more than a century and a half. The industry developed as the pioneer forwarding and commission merchants, who dealt in all types of goods, began to specialize in groceries alone.

AMANDA (HUNT) WICKER (1900-September 19, 1987) was born in Sandersville, Georgia, and was raised by her mother, who was widowed when Wicker was very young. Wicker was one of seven children. She graduated from Tuskegee Normal School for Teachers in 1923. The following year, Wicker was an apprentice at the Clarke Training School in Washington, DC, where she learned the dressmaking trade under Mrs. Addie Clarke.

The WILLARD STORAGE BATTERY CO., an early leader in the development and manufacture of automobile batteries, was founded by Theodore A. Willard as the Willard Electric & Battery Co. at 33 Sheriff (E. 4th) St. in 1896, relocating to 49 Wood (E. 3rd) St. the following year. Willard reorganized the company as the Willard Storage Battery Co. in 1902.

The WILLIAM EDWARDS CO., a pioneer manufacturer and wholesaler of food products in Cleveland, was considered one of the foremost food distributors and food processors in the country. It was founded in a 2-story building on Old River Rd. (then River St.) in 1853 as Treat and Edwards, wholesale groceries and liquors, by William Edwards (1831-98) and Marcus A. Treat.

The WILLIAM FEATHER CO., a commercial printing house, was opened in 1916 by WILLIAM FEATHER.

WILLIAM TAYLOR SON & CO. was one of Cleveland's leading department stores. Wm. Taylor and Thos. Kilpatrick opened a 1-room dry goods store on EUCLID AVE. at PUBLIC SQUARE, 21 Apr. 1870. Taylor, Kilpatrick & Co.

WILLIAMS, EUGENE (25 Sept. 1901-19 Oct.

WILLIS, (WILBUR) KIRK (31 Mar. 1906 – 17 Nov. 1966) was born in Adams County, Ohio. He was an actor and director of theatre and film for over 40 years.