Editing O. H. L. Wernicke

{{Infobox Biography
| subject_name   =O. H. L. Wernicke
| image_name     =Ohlwernicke.jpg
| image_size     =220px
| image_caption  =
| date_of_birth  =[[June 18]], [[1862]]
| place_of_birth =Calumet County, Wisconsin
| date_of_death  =[[August 20]], [[1930]]
| place_of_death =Pensacola
| occupation     =Manufacturer, lumberman
| religion       =
| spouse         =Ida E. Darby<br/>Loula Abbey
| parents        =
| children       =Carl F. G. Wernicke II<br/>Julius F. Wernicke<br/>Walter A. Wernicke
| signature      = OHLWernickeSignature.png
| signaturesize  =200px
}}
'''Otto Heinrich Louis Wernicke''' ([[1862]]&ndash;[[1930]]) was a manufacturer and lumberman known for his involvement in the construction of the first [[Thomas A. Johnson Bridge|Pensacola Bay Bridge]], which linked [[Pensacola]] to the [[Fairpoint Peninsula]] and [[Santa Rosa Island]], opening [[Gulf Breeze]] and [[Pensacola Beach]] to development.

==Early life==
Wernicke was born in [[1862]] at Hayton, Calumet County, Wisconsin to Carl Frederick Wernicke and Sophia Frickey. In [[1880]], he was attending Commercial College in nearby Fond du Lac.<ref>Western Historical Company. ''The History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.''</ref>

===Wernicke Elastic Bookcase System===
[[Image:Wernickecobookcase.JPG|right|thumb|Turn of the century ad for the Wernicke Elastic Bookcase System]]
On [[December 6]], [[1892]], Wernicke was granted a patent for what he called a "sectional stock case" &mdash; what would come to be known as stackable, modular, or elastic bookcases.<ref>[http://www.google.com/patents?id=PEB2AAAAEBAJ&zoom=4&dq=1892%20wernicke&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=1892%20wernicke&f=false Google Patents]</ref> He formed The Wernicke Company and opened a factory on Nicolett Island in Minneapolis to manufacture the bookcases.<ref name="Julia">Julia Wernicke, "Globe-Wernicke Company." Unpublished historical sketch.</ref> In [[1897]], needing more space, Wernicke moved his manufacturing operation to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

===Globe-Wernicke===
In [[1899]], The Wernicke Company merged with The Globe Company to form [[Wikipedia:Globe_Wernicke|The Globe Wernicke Company]]. Globe president Henry C. Yeiser retained his title, while Wernicke became secretary and general manager of the combined company.

The company's manufacturing operation was relocated to Norwood, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. 

Globe-Wernicke endured a series of mergers and acquisitions, becoming Globe-Weis in 1963. The brand continues to operate as a subsidiary of Kansas-based [http://cardinalbrands.com/ Cardinal Brands].

===Macey Company===
After a falling out with Globe-Wernicke president Henry Yeiser in [[1904]], Wernicke purchased the Fred Macey Furniture Company, renaming it The Macey-Wernicke Company and later simply The Macey Company.

Macey began to produce stackable bookcases, prompting Globe-Wernicke to unsuccessfully sue for patent infringement.<ref name="Julia" />

==Time in Pensacola==
Wernicke moved to Pensacola in [[1916]], purchasing the [[Pensacola Tar and Turpentine Company]].

===Pensacola Bay Bridge===
[[Image:OldBayBridgeConstruction.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Thomas A. Johnson Bridge|Pensacola Bay Bridge]] under construction.]]
In the early 1920s, Wernicke became interested in the development of a bridge spanning [[Pensacola Bay]] and linking Pensacola to the [[Fairpoint Peninsula]] and [[Santa Rosa Island]].

Around [[1925]], Wernicke rented office space at 15 West [[Garden Street]] and began to pursue the idea seriously, investing more than $50,000 of his own money to get the project up and running. While travelling the state, he found engineer [[R. G. Patterson]] of the firm Johnson Drake and Piper constructing bridges in the Panama City area. After a visit to Pensacola, Wernicke convinced Patterson of the viability to a bridge over Pensacola Bay, and Patterson agreed to help Wernicke with the project.<ref name="Letter">Letter from Julius F. Wernicke to Jack Crowley, first chairman of the Santa Rosa Island Authority.</ref>

The first stake for the bridge was driven in February [[1929]]. The bridge was eventually opened on [[June 13]], [[1931]], less than a year after Wernicke's death.

==Death==
Wernicke died of a heart attack on [[August 20]], [[1930]]. He is buried at [[Roberts Cemetery]].

His papers from the last four years of his life were donated to the [[University of West Florida]] in [[1982]] by his grandson Julius.

==References==
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[[Category:1930 deaths]]