Category: Business and Industry

The Wilson Feed Mill was originally built and operated as a grist mill by Andrew and Robert Alexander in 1855. Following the construction of the OHIO & ERIE CANAL in 1827, the grain and feed industry in the WESTERN RESERVE grew exponentially.

The WILSON TRANSIT CO., a pioneer in the use of safety equipment on the Great Lakes, was founded as a freight-transportation business by Capt. Thomas Wilson in 1872. Beginning with a single wooden ship, Wilson prospered, building several more steamers, including the Spokane in 1886, the lakes' first steel steamer. The firm also pioneered in the use of electric lights on the Yakima in 1887.

WINTON CROSS COUNTRY AUTOMOBILE TRIP. See FIRST CROSS-COUNTRY AUTOMOBILE TRIP.

The WINTON MOTOR CAR CO. was an early pioneer in the American automobile industry. The Winton Motor Carriage Co. was founded in March 1897 by Cleveland bicycle manufacturer ALEXANDER WINTON who, along with Thos. W. Henderson and Geo. H. Brown, established a factory at the corner of Belden and Mason streets.

WOHL, MAX (20 Sept. 1908 - 27 Oct. 1999) was a life long socialist, a former chair of the American Civil Liberties Union of Cleveland and an executive for Tremco Manufacturing Co. He was born in Cleveland to Sarah (Chenkin) and Solomon Wohl. After graduating from East Technical High School in 1928, he went to work as an office boy for Tremco. He was vice president of finance when he took early retirement in 1969.

The WOLF ENVELOPE COMPANY, a pioneer in the mechanization of envelope-making, was incorporated in Cleveland in 1899. Three friends and co-equal business partners founded the Company: Alfred Wolf (1854-1928), Louis Littman (1855 -1937), and Nathan I. Dryfoos (1860-1949). Wolf Envelope products quickly became a favorite among Cleveland businesses and beyond.

WOLF'S FINE ART GALLERY AND AUCTIONEERS was the Cleveland region's first permanent auction gallery. It was established in 1979 by Michael Wolf, a native of CLEVELAND HTS., who has continued to serve as the company's president. The firm was located at 13015 Larchmere Blvd., near SHAKER SQUARE, until Sept.

The WOMEN'S ADVERTISING CLUB (WAC) was an early Cleveland advocate of the role of women in the business world. In 1919 20 women, all employed in advertising for women's departments of the downtown department stores, clothing specialty shops, newspapers, and other advertising related businesses got together to establish the Women's Advertising Club.

The WOMEN'S FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK of Cleveland was the first savings and loan association in the nation founded and operated by women. The Women's Savings & Loan Co., founded by CLARA E. WESTROPP and LILLIAN M. WESTROPP and a group of business and professional women, opened in Feb. 1922 with $89,000 in capital.

The WOODLAND AVE. AND WEST SIDE RAILWAY CO. was the first streetcar line to allow passengers to travel between the east and west sides without requiring a transfer. The line, controlled by MARCUS A. HANNA and his sons, was formed in February 1885 with the merger of the Woodland Ave. and West Side street railway companies. The Woodland Ave. St.

The WORK WEAR CORP. was incorporated as the Cleveland Overall Co. by SAMUEL ROSENTHAL in 1915 to manufacture industrial work clothes. In 1919 he bought the Natl. Railway Overall Co., which made bib overalls and other work garments.

The WORLD PUBLISHING CO., a major publisher of Bibles, dictionaries, and children's and trade books, was begun in 1902 by Alfred H. Cahen, a Polish immigrant. Practicing his trade as a bookbinder, by 1905 Cahen had opened the Commercial Bookbinding Co. in the CAXTON BLDG., and by 1912 he added a printing plant.

WRIGHT, JOHN D. (25 June 1905 - 2 May 1997) was chairman of the board and chief executive officer at TRW, INC. from 1958 until his retirement in 1969. He was born in Pittsburgh to Charles R. and Annie (Williams) Wright. He earned his B.A. from Adelbert College of Western Reserve University in 1927, and a law degree from the Western Reserve University School of Law in 1929.

WYSE ADVERTISING, a Cleveland-based agency, was founded by Marcus (Marc) and Lois Wyse in 1951.

The YELLOW CAB CO. became Cleveland's major taxicab service after receiving a monopoly within the city from city council in 1934. A Yellow Cab Co. was organized in Cleveland as early as 1923, operating from E. 49th St. and Superior. It had apparently merged with the Red Top Cab Co. by 1926, altered its name to the Cleveland Yellow Cab Co., and moved into Red Top's former location at 1500-1538 Lakeside Ave.

The YODER CO. was the largest manufacturer of electric welded tube and pipe mills and roll-forming mills for the agricultural, automotive, petroleum, appliance, electrical, and aerospace industries. Founders Carl M. and Henry Yoder were draftsmen for the Swartwout Mfg. Co. in the early 1900s, when Carl devised a way to mold scrap sheet steel.