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The Canton-Massillon district has aptly been called the
'Cradle of Alloy Steel' for the first large scale production of alloy steel for
automobiles, the first stainless steel heats for commercial application, and the
first pressed structural steel were all developed here. Employees, executives
and owners of steel corporations that lived in the neighborhood included
George H. Charles (232 19th Street, N.W.)
Homer Geissen (125 21st Street, N.W.) Assistant Treasurer
Shirley French (2129 Market Ave. North) President of Berger
John S. Remsen (334 19th Street, N.W.)
Theodore H. Bernhard (409 23rd Street, N.W.)
John W. Alden (806 24th Street, N.E.)
William E. Umstattd (227 21st Street, N.W.)
John G. Obermeier (132 22nd Street, N.W.)
Henry and Robert Timken
Ralph L. Wilson (301 21st Street, N.W.)
Miss J. R. Murphy (407 22nd Street, N.W.)
Edwin H. Austin (1011 22nd Street, N.E.)
Robert Foulks (1011 24th Street, N.E.)
Mark Downes (1018 24th Street, N.E.)
Anthony Wilson (123 22nd Street, N.E.)
Harry Hutchinson (351 23rd Street, N.W.)
James H. Hughes (148 19th Street, N.W.)
Ralph T. Shipley (2233 University Ave., N.W.)
William H. Harris (255 21st Street, N.W.)
Darwin S. Luntz(231 19th Street, N.W)
Charles T. Luntz (179 23rd Street, N.W.)
Harold G. Smith (414 25th Street, N.W.)
Harold S. Voges (814 24th Street, N.E.)
In 1950 there were seventeen stamping and enameling
companies in the United States and two were in Canton. They represented 18% of
the total U.S. production, making Canton the largest center for stamping and
enameling production in the country.
CANTON STAMPING & ENAMELING COMPANY by 1930 was the largest producer of gray
enameled ware in the world with a capacity of 100,000 pieces per day. Ridgewood
residents included:
Ralph Staley (337 19th Street, N.W., 356 19th Street, N.W., 119 University Ave.,
N.W.)
He built 3 houses in Ridgewood as he advanced from factory superintendent to
president!
Sherman Guental (124 21st Street N.W.) Secretary
Homer E. Black (317 19th Street, N.W.) Chairman of the Board
Harvey M. Coyle (427 23rd Street, N.W.)
REPUBLIC STAMPING AND ENAMELING produced 'old English gray ware' and a
triple-coated white coat enameled ware. By 1920 output had reached 160,000
pieces per day and they were the largest enameled ware company in the country.
Executives building in Ridgewood included:
Ralph M. Fawcett (234 19th Street, N.W.) President and Treasurer
Howard B. Fawcett (223 22nd Street, N.W.) Secretary
Parker M. Seymour (151 21st Street, N.W.) Vice President
Canton was the home of the two oldest and largest producers of water softeners
and cleansers in the country.
THE CLIMALENE COMPANY was co-founded by Calvin E. Ball (201 19th Street, N.W.)
and the company was guided for close to forty years by George H. Deuble (247
19th Street, N.W.) Its products included 'Climalene', 'Bowlene' and 'Softo'.
HYGIENIC PRODUCTS COMPANY is best known as the manufacturer of 'Sani-Flush'
which they began to manufacture using the first automatic packaging machine in
1911. Key management personnel included:
Robert E. Whippy (335 21st Street, N.W.)
Lester C. Roderick (318 23rd Street, N.W.)
Stark County's rubber companies differed from the giants headquartered in Akron
in that many did not produce for the automobile market but rather specialty
items.
CANTON RUBBER COMPANY produced electricians' gloves, surgeons' gloves and other
molded rubber goods. Ralph M. Fawcett (234 19th Street, N.W.) was president from
1927 until World War II rubber restrictions forced the company to suspend
operations.
WILSON RUBBER COMPANY was incorporated in 1916 to produce surgeons', linemen's
and acid-proof gloves, and within eight years of its founding it was the world's
largest producer of rubber gloves. They originated the pure gum centered and the
curved finger in linemen's gloves and in 1931 received the first license for the
dipping of liquid latex to manufacture latex rubber gloves. Ridgewood residents
included:
Fred J. Wilson (240 21st Street, N.W.) Founder, General Manager, and President
Wendell Herbruck (145 19th Street, N.W.) Vice President and Secretary
MONARCH RUBBER COMPANY manufactured solid industrial tires and other automotive
rubber. Ridgewood residents were:
Robert J. Himmelright (408 23rd Street, N.W.) President
Ralph M. Fawcett (234 19th Street, N.W.) Vice President
Parker M. Seymour (151 21st Street, N.W.) Secretary
TRIANGLE TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY manufactured automotive tires. Curtis A. Hanner
(350 21st Street, N.W.) was secretary of the company.
In the 1950's Canton was the second largest provision center exceeded only by
Cincinnati. The major companies all had their beginnings before World War I.
CANTON PROVISION COMPANY marketing its products under the 'Pioneer' trade name
has been managed by three generations of the Wade family. Ralph J. Wade (421
22nd Street, N.W.) was Vice President and Sales Manager.
SUGARDALE PROVISION COMPANY:
Leo Lavin (356 23rd Street, N.W.) Vice President
Arthur Lavin (256 21st Street, N.W.) Treasurer
One of the strengths of Canton's industries is its diversity. Following are
other companies with Ridgewood ties.
WEBER DENTAL COMPANY produced the first modern fountain cuspidor and the
first dental unit which organized all the various gadgets required in a dental
office into a unit. R. Verne Mitchell (145 19th Street, N.W.) was the son-in-law
of the founder and became a director in 1921 and president in 1930.
THE HOOVER COMPANY was the world's largest vacuum cleaner producer.
Residents of Ridgewood included:
John Frank Hattersley (310 23rd Street, N.W.) President from 1951-1953
Herbert J. Hoover, Jr. (123 22nd Street, N.E.) President
Floyd M. Rhed (2316 Market Avenue, North)
Lloyd Taylor (344 25th Street, N.W.)
William F. Bailey (326 19th Street, N.W.)
Henry C. Hettelsater (326 21st Street, N.W.)
George M. Plover (2111 Market Avenue, North)
DIEBOLD SAFE & LOCK COMPANY is one of Canton's oldest companies, having
been founded in 1859. Adolph J. Roos (408 19th Street, N.W.) spent his entire
career with Diebold and was elected president in 1931.
UNION METAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY manufactured Ridgewood's beautiful
ornamental light standards. William A. Porterfield (325 22nd Street N.W.) was
employed by Union Metal.
U.S. QUARRY TILE (SPARTEK, INC.) was led by Davis A. Cable (245 21st
Street, N.W.) to become one of the greatest producers of floor and wall tile in
the country. Their tile has been used in Rockefeller Center, the Panama Canal,
the T.V.A. and the Hoover Dam, and many major tunnels. His home was a showcase
for his company's products. Even the roof was tile.
GEORGE C. REITER COMPANY was for many years the country's dominant
manufacturer of gongs and bells used in warning and signal systems for schools,
factories and mines. The business was operated by Mrs. Helen Reiter (2226
Harvard Ave. N.W.) from 1927 to 1949.
OTHER INDUSTRIES AND COMPANIES
There were also many other smaller companies in
Canton, some of which supplied the larger industrial concerns and others that
manufactured a limited number of products for local or regional distribution.
Kittoe Boiler and Tank Company, B. C. Holwick Company, Canton Culvert & Silo
Company, Mahoney Sash & Door Company, and the Ney Manufacturing Company are only
a few of the companies that fall into this category. Their contributions to
Canton industrial growth and development in the 1920's is significant.
Canton's industrial growth was reflected in the growth of the community as a
whole and in the proliferation of mercantile establishments to serve the
community. Like the industrial concerns they were largely home town owned and
managed. Many of the owners of these businesses chose Ridgewood in which to make
their homes.
STARK DRY GOODS
William B. Erlanger (2210 Market Ave. North) President and Founder
Bernard Erlanger (2130 Market Ave. North) President
George Ostrov (1011 24th Street, N.E.)
Jerome Blate (260 19th Street, N.W.)
WILLIAM R. ZOLLINGER & CO.
Harry C. Zollinger (336 19th Street, N.W.)
STERN & MANN COMPANY
Harry S. Mann (236 23rd Street, N.W.)
Lawrence Mann (206 21st Street, N.W.)
Philip S. Mann (2410 Market Ave. North)
LIVINGSTON'S FURNITURE COMPANY
David L. Livingston (147 21st Street, N.W.)
THE PARISIAN
Simon & Rhea Fischgrund (2303 University Ave., N.W.)
KLEIN & HEFFELMAN
E. J. Heffelman (336 19th Street, N.W.)
DEUBLES JEWELRY
Homer C. Deuble (805 22nd Street, N.E.)
HIRSCHHEIMER BROTHERS COMPANY
Milton L. Hirschheimer (200 19th Street, N.W.)
LEFKOVITZ
Clarence Lefkovitz (134 21st Street, N.W.)
GEORGE C. WILLIE COMPANY
George C. Willie (236 22nd Street, N.W.) and (2404 University Avenue, N.W.)
J. B. ROSE & COMPANY
James B. Rose (415 19th Street, N.W.)
In addition to the industrial concerns and the merchants, many other business
interests found in our community had ties to Ridgewood. These included real
estate companies and agencies, insurance agencies, lumber companies,
contractors, auto agencies and transportation companies. Bankers, lawyers and
physicians also made their homes in Ridgewood.
Ridgewood is very proud to have been home to two very prominent educators.
John H. Lehman (140 19th Street, N.W.) was superintendent of schools at the turn
of the century. Lehman Junior High School, which has served the neighborhood for
fifty years, was named for him. Jesse G. Mason (414 22nd Street, N.W.) was
superintendent of schools from 1928 to 1947, and had the longest administration
in the history of the Canton City Schools. Jesse G. Mason Elementary School
serves the children in part of the Ridgewood neighborhood.