Today in Wheeling History: April 12--Harry Walters Gee, founder and general manager of Wheeling's Gee Electric Company, was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (1880).
Harry Walters Gee, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1880, left an indelible mark on the Wheeling community. When his family relocated to Wheeling during his childhood, Gee's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a small electrical equipment shop at 1124 Market Street. Over time, this venture evolved into the Gee Electric Company, which played a significant role in the city's history. The company expanded its operations, moving to several locations. It started at 1126 Market Street, then shifted to 1215 Main Street, and later to 1217 Main Street. Finally, it settled at the intersection of Main and Fourteenth Streets, where Gee Electric was officially incorporated in 1909. By the 1920s, Gee Electric served 6 states and employed 75 people. Beyond business, Walter Gee actively participated in community initiatives, including wartime bond drives and church activities. He married Elizabeth Stifel in 1907, and together they raised 5 children. Despite the challenges, Gee's impact endured, and he passed away at the age of 91. Walter Gee's legacy endures through his contributions to Wheeling and the Gee Electric Company.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/nvnxahcd) (https://tinyurl.com/bdz4epz8)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave
Harry Walters Gee, born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in 1880, left an indelible mark on the Wheeling community. When his family relocated to Wheeling during his childhood, Gee's entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish a small electrical equipment shop at 1124 Market Street. Over time, this venture evolved into the Gee Electric Company, which played a significant role in the city's history. The company expanded its operations, moving to several locations. It started at 1126 Market Street, then shifted to 1215 Main Street, and later to 1217 Main Street. Finally, it settled at the intersection of Main and Fourteenth Streets, where Gee Electric was officially incorporated in 1909. By the 1920s, Gee Electric served 6 states and employed 75 people. Beyond business, Walter Gee actively participated in community initiatives, including wartime bond drives and church activities. He married Elizabeth Stifel in 1907, and together they raised 5 children. Despite the challenges, Gee's impact endured, and he passed away at the age of 91. Walter Gee's legacy endures through his contributions to Wheeling and the Gee Electric Company.
To learn more: (https://tinyurl.com/nvnxahcd) (https://tinyurl.com/bdz4epz8)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Find a Grave
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