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 Unpublished historical sketch.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===
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 Minneapolis 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>

After performing traffic counts, Patterson was convinced of the bridge's economic viability, and convinced his employers, Johnson Drake and Piper, to get involved. Johnson Drake and Piper, along with St. Paul firm Siems Helmer and a third partner (who soon withdrew) formed the [[Pensacola Bridge Corporation]].<ref name="Letter" />

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==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>

[[Category:1930 deaths]]