The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-07-30
A BRIEF HISTORY

1t will be remembered that the War
wick Electric Manufacturing Company
of Cleveland, o., were awarded the con-
tract for the wiring of the Congregation
al church, in the early part of the year
1895, and it was during the perfor
nance of this contract that they made
a proposition to the village, as follows;
"That inasmuch as their facilities
were inadequate, they would, upon the
condition that the village grant them
an exclusive franchise for period OF
fifteen years, and a contract for light
ing the streets during that time, move
their factory to Wellington and agree
to furnish continuous employment for
not less than twenty-six hands.
They represented that their company
was incorporated with capital stock
of 500, ,OOO, 1880 paid up, and that
they had assets to the amount OF
$l7 600 with which to erect and pat in
operation the proposed plant
Upon these representations they
were given the franchise asked for, and
also contract for street lighting. No
sooner had this been done, however,
than the company commenced negotia-
tions for loan of $l5 900, which result
ed in each of the two banks, agreeing
to take 1880 of the company's bonds
upon certain conditions, but those con
ditions were never complied with on
the part of the company. They next
began to look for a site upon which to
erect the plant, and finally settled
upon the present location, and COM
menced negotiations with Mary and
Della Mullen, the owners of the land,
for it's purchase. The Mullen sisters
agreed to sell the company four acres
of land for 81 900; but, before the con-
tract was completed, the company de-
cided to purchase six acres, and an
agreement was made with Mary Mullen
whereby they were to purchase the six
acres of land for $1,000. This agree
ment was ratified at meeting of the
stockholders of the company, and Mr..
Cunningham, the president, was en-
powered to enter into contract with
the Mullen girls for the purchase OF
the land at the price stated
On the second day of May, 1895, a
land contract was made between the
company, represented by Mr.. Cunning
ham, and the Mullen girls, Mary and
Della, securing to the former six acres
of land owned by the sisters, jointly,
as a site for the proposed Electric
Lighting plant: the consideration be-
ing 81 300 payable on the first day OF
August of the same year. This con-
tract was signed by Mary Ann, who
also signed for her sister Della, as hei
agent. In the meantime, a contract
for the building had been let to Mr.
Slatmeyer of Cleveland, who came
here to begin the work at once, but
upon investigation, concluded to throw
up the contract as he was not satisfied
to take the company's notes payable
upon the conditional agreement OF th'
two banks
Thus matters ran along month be
fore the company succeeded in finding
a contractor willing to undertake th'
work upon such terms as the compan!
could offer. But about the first o
June, a contract was made with JohI
w. Mitchell of Cleveland, for the cree
tion of the building, which was to bt
completed within thirty days. The
building was erected and the entire
plant completed and in operation abou
the first of August, the time on which
the terms of the contract fell due
Contractors, material men and labor
had been furnished on credit to thu
amount of $500; knowing the law
of the state allowed the creditors I
right of lein upon the whole property
During the progress of the work botl
Mary and Della were cognizant of wha
was being done and offered no protest
On the eighteenth of June Mary wa
adjudged insane, and on the twenty
first day of the same month, was com
mitted to an asylum. Afterwards Mr.
Cunningham visited Della at Vermil
lion for the purpose Of having her rati
fly the contract which Mary haC
signed. This she refused to do; dis
claiming any right on the part of he
sister to sign the contract for her, Il
her agent, but offered to relinquis
her title to the property for so
cash. In the meantime a contract ha,
been entered into by the company 70
the excavating of a large reservoir.
The contractor came on from Cleve
land with large force of men and be
gan the work but, no sooner had h
done so, than an injunction was ot
tained by the Horr Brothers estraiI
ing him from continuing the work III
til the matter could be heard and d,
| termined upon by the court; howeve
J an agreement was made between IL
company and the Horr's by which Il
4 work was completed
j During this time Mr.. Cunningha
t again visited Della at Vermillion +