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.
WILSON, CURTIS (27 Feb. 1932 - 13 Dec. 1996) was a professor of history and the director of the black studies program at CLEVELAND STATE UNIVERSITY for eighteen years, during which he oversaw the addition of many courses dealing with black history and culture to various departments at CSU.
WILSON, ELLA GRANT (7 Sept. 1854-16 Dec. 1939), florist and author who wrote about EUCLID AVE.'s "Millionaires' Row," was born Ella Lawton Grant in Jersey City, N.J., to Gilbert W. and Susan Lawton and came to Cleveland when she was 6.
WILSON, JOHN (28 Nov. 1893-2 Jan. 1993) a master marble setter who helped create some of the outstanding buildings in the area, was born in Milngavie, Scotland, the son of John and Mary (Smith) Wilson and came to the Cleveland area when he was 19.
WINDSOR HOSPITAL in CHAGRIN FALLS VILLAGE is a 71-bed not-for-profit hospital for the treatment of acute neuropsychiatric disorders and chemical dependency in adolescents and adults. Windsor Hospital was founded in 1898 by Dr.
WING, MARIE REMINGTON (5 Nov. 1885-27 Dec. 1982), lawyer, feminist, and reformer, was born in Cleveland to federal judge Francis J.
WINGER, CLAIRE HARRIS (January 18th, 1891-October 26th, 1968) was an American science fiction author who primarily wrote during the early to mid-20th century. Born in Freeport, Illinois, Claire was the eldest child of Mary Porter Stover and Frank Stover Winger. She graduated from Lake View High School in Chicago in 1910 and went on to attend Smith College in Massachusetts, but dropped out in order to marry Frank Clyde Harris.
The WINGS OVER JORDAN CHOIR (WOJC), a prominent African American choir during the late 1930s and early 1940s, made broadcast history with the first independently produced national and international radio programs created by AFRICAN AMERICANS. The group made contributions to choral music and the improvement of race relations.
WINSLOW, LOUISE MARJORIE OTTERMAN (19 August 1917 - 16 May 2001) was a Cleveland based pioneer in sewing, cooking, and craft "how-to" programs on radio and television in the late 1940s, 50s, and 60s.
WINTER, HAROLD EDWARD (14 Oct. 1908-22 July 1976), a writer, and his wife, THELMA FRAZIER (17 Dec. 1908-24 June 1977), a sculptor, were both enamelists who studied at the CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF ART and married on 21 Dec. 1939.
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.
WINTON, ALEXANDER (20 June 1860-21 June 1932), automobile developer and popularizer, was born in Grangemouth, Scotland, to Alexander and Helen Fea Winton. He came to the U.S. at 19, and worked in Delameter Iron Works and a marine engine shop before arriving in Cleveland in 1884. In 1891 he organized Winton Bicycle Co., manufacturing a bicycle design he patented that year.
WIRTZ, JOHN J. (November 1, 1914 - August 20, 1992) outstanding football and basketball coach for many years at St. Ignatius High School, was born in Columbus, the son of Frederick and Barbara (Greene) Wirtz. He played football, basketball, and baseball at Columbus St. Mary high school and at the University of Dayton where he received his degree in business administration in 1938.
WISE, SAMUEL D. (28 Nov. 1875-25 Mar. 1953), Jewish industrialist and philanthropist, was born to Daniel and Leah (Flesheim) Wise. He was educated in Cleveland and began work in 1889 as an office boy and bookkeeper for Atlantic Refining Co., which produced roof coating, lubricating oils, axle grease, and industrial paints. Wise and some associates acquired all the company's stock when owner Geo. C.
WISH, HARVEY (4 Sept. 1909-7 March 1968) was named Elbert J. Benton Distinguished Professor of History at CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIV. in recognition of his renown in the field of American social and intellectual history. A Chicagoan by birth, he earned a baccalaureate from Illinois Institute of Technology, a master's from the Univ.
WITT, PETER (24 July 1869-20 Oct. 1948), politician and transit expert, was born in Cleveland to Christian and Anna Witt. He attended school through the 5th grade and then worked in a basket factory. He later worked as an iron molder and foundryman. Rebellious and outspoken, Witt took part in union activities and was blacklisted in 1896.
WITT, STILLMAN (4 Jan. 1808-29 Apr. 1875), railroad president and philanthropist, was born in Worcester, Mass., to John and Hannah (Foster) Witt. At 13 he moved to Troy, N.Y. and apprenticed with Canvass White of the U.S. Engineer Corps, then was sent by White to administer Cohoes Mfg. Co., employed to build a bridge at Cohoes Falls and on other building projects.
WITTKE, CARL FREDERICK (13 Nov. 1892-24 May 1971), historian, was born in Columbus, Ohio to Carl William Oswald and Caroline Kropp Wittke, received his A.B. from Ohio State University (1913), and M.A. (1914) and Ph.D. (1921) from Harvard University before becoming a history instructor (1916-21), assistant professor (1921-25), and full professor and chairman of the department at OSU (1925-37).
Radio station WJMO began broadcasting on 1 June 1947 at frequency 1540. WENTWORTH J. MARSHALL was the station owner and David M. Baylor its general manager. The station's specialty was recorded music, and one of its personalities was GENE CARROLL.
WJW-TV (Channel 8) became the last of Cleveland's 3 VHF television stations when it signed on over Channel 9 as WXEL on 17 Dec. 1949. Built by the Empire Coil Co. of New Rochelle, NY, it originally occupied quarters at Pleasant Valley and State roads in PARMA. Franklin Snyder was its first general manager and Russell Speirs was program director.
WKYC (Channel 3) for most of its existence was one of 5 network-owned television stations of the National Broadcasting Co. It first went on the air 31 Oct. 1948, as WNBK over Channel 4. A move to Channel 3 was mandated in 1954, when its erection of the most powerful antenna in the Midwest caused interference with other local channels.
WMMS began as WHK-FM in 1946 when WHK received one of the first experimental FM licenses. By the early 1950s, the FM station, broadcasting at 100.7 megacycles, was playing adult-oriented music. In Aug.
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.
WOLDMAN, ALBERT A. (1 Jan. 1897-30 Dec. 1971), lawyer and CUYAHOGA COUNTY JUVENILE COURT judge, was born in Russia to Isadore and Gertrude (Kudish) Woldman. He came to Cleveland with his family at 18 months. Woldman graduated with an A.B.
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.
WOLF, EDITH ANISFIELD (1889-23 Jan. 1963), poet, businesswoman, and philanthropist, was born in Cleveland to Doniella (Guttenberg) and JOHN ANISFIELD and graduated from Women's College (later Flora Stone Mather College). On 7 Aug.
WOLF, FREDERICK C. (22 April 1902-23 Sept. 1972) became noted in Cleveland RADIO as a pioneer in nationality and classical music programming. A native of Prague, Czechoslovakia, he was the son of Vaclav and Magdalena Rosmanova Wolf. After attending the Prague Commercial Academy, he worked for the Krupp Munition Works before emigrating to Cleveland in 1927.
WOLFENSTEIN, MARTHA (1869-16 Mar. 1906) was, perhaps, the first Jewish woman author to write Jewish stories for the secular press. She was born in Insterburg, Prussia, to Samuel and Bertha (Briger) Wolfenstein and brought to the U.S. as an infant when her father became rabbi of Congregation B'nai El in St. Louis.
WOLFRAM, CHARLES J. (5 Nov. 1871-8 June 1951) played an influential role in the political, cultural, and fraternal affairs of Cleveland's GERMAN population (see GERMANS). Born in Connersville, Ind., he was the son of Claus and Margaret Baumgartner Wolfram and came with the family to Cleveland.
The WOLPERT FUND was founded in 1980 by Samuel A. and Roslyn A. Wolpert to "create opportunities for people to develop and work together." It was created as one of the CLEVELAND FOUNDATION's supporting organizations.
WOLSEY, LOUIS (8 Jan. 1877-4 Mar. 1953), the first American-born and trained rabbi to serve ANSHE CHESED CONGREGATION, was born in Midland, Mich. to William and Frances (Krueger) Wolsey. He graduated from Hebrew Union College and was ordained in 1899. He served at Congregation B'nai Israel in Little Rock, Ark.
The WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION CONVENTION in Cleveland 18-20 Nov. 1874 institutionalized TEMPERANCE as a social movement, marking the formal organization of the national Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). On 15 Aug.
The WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, NON-PARTISAN, OF CLEVELAND, formally organized in March 1874 as the Woman's Christian Temperance League, was one of the city's principal TEMPERANCE organizations and participated in the founding of the national non-partisan group.
The WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY was founded in 1872 at Second Church on Superior St., with the purpose of helping and supporting female Presbyterian missionaries in their work in foreign countries.
WOMAN'S GENERAL HOSPITAL (1878-1984, inc. 1894) founded as the Women's & Children's Free Medical & Surgical Dispensary, was the only hospital in Cleveland entirely founded by women. Although initially devoted to care of women and children, it later expanded to provide in-patient care in medicine, surgery, and pediatrics for women and men.
WOMAN'S TEMPERANCE LEAGUE OF CLEVELAND. See WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION, NON-PARTISAN, OF CLEVELAND and TEMPERANCE.
WOMANKIND MATERNAL AND PRENATAL CENTER, established in 1975 as Birthcare Inc. by nurse Michele Rogers, among others, has provided prenatal and maternal medical care to WOMEN of the Greater Cleveland area with unplanned or stressful pregnancies, regardless of age, ethnic group, religion, or ability to pay. More than two-thirds of the almost 1,700 clients served per year are single mothers.
WOMEN. Tabitha Stiles, who accompanied her husband on MOSES CLEAVELAND's survey expedition, remained on the shores of Lake Erie and was rewarded with a sizable land grant. She was an exception. Women helped tame the wilderness but seldom held title to it. Nor did many women own the homes, stores, and factories that marked the urban landscape in the years that followed.
WOMEN SPEAK OUT FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE is a group dedicated to protesting for peace and justice and against war, racism, injustice, and inequalities in society. It was formed in 1968 out of a group of Cleveland women who traveled to Washington, DC, to join a protest march against the Vietnam War. Organizer and first chairperson of Women Speak Out was Mrs. Louise Peck. The second chairperson was Mrs.
WOMEN TOGETHER. See CENTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
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 ART CLUB OF CLEVELAND, the first art organization in Cleveland to be composed entirely of women, was also known as the Women Artists of Cleveland and Cleveland Women Artists Club. Founded in Sept. 1912, the original club had 25 members, whose goal was the mutual improvement of women artists in Cleveland through exhibitions, sketching trips, life classes, and monthly meetings.
The WOMEN'S BUREAU OF THE CLEVELAND POLICE DEPT. (CPD) provided the only police work open to women for nearly 50 years, although the CPD had employed women as jail matrons since 1893.
WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSN. OF CLEVELAND. See YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSN. (YWCA)
The NATIONAL WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1874. The initial purpose of the WCTU was to promote abstinence from alcohol, which they protested with pray-ins at local taverns. Their membership grew rapidly, and the WCTU remains one of the oldest non-sectarian women’s groups in the United States of America.
The WOMEN'S CITY CLUB of Cleveland was founded to encourage women’s interest in civic affairs, to provide women with a place to meet for public discussions, and to promote Cleveland’s welfare.