WEIDEMAN, KENT & CO., Cleveland, OH. (1861-1919)

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WEIDEMAN, KENT & CO.
Cleveland, OH.
1861-1919
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The following information on company history was kindly provided by Bill Krejci (9/2008):

The original name for this company was Weideman & Co, Wines and Liquors. First opened in 1861 by John Cristian Weideman and Jacob D. Hildebrand. Mr. Hildebrand had previously owned a distillery at 76 River Rd. Mr. Weidemann had previously worked for the grocery firm of Edwards and Iddings on Water St. (now West 9th.) The new firm was established at 138 and 140 River Rd.

The following year, Mr. Weideman sold his interests in this firm and began a partnership with his long-time friend Hannes Tiedemann. Tiedemann was the man most famously known today as the builder of Cleveland's Franklin Castle, regarded by many to be the most haunted house in Ohio. The new firm was called Weideman and Tiedemann, Wholesale Liquor and was located at a building at 70 Merwin Street in the flats. Mr. Hildebrand meanwhile retained the building on River Rd. and continued in the Liquor industry.

Hannes Tiedemann, 1908

A few years later, Mr. Weideman and Mr. Tiedemann took on a partner named Oliver Granger Kent. The new name was Weideman, Tiedemann and Kent.

During the late 1860's another partner was added to the firm: Clark Thomas Hasbrouck, thus the company was now called Weideman, Tiedemann, Kent and Co. The firm also moved to a larger store at 30 Merwin Street.

Around 1871, Hannes Tiedemann sold his interests in the firm to O. G. Kent and retired for a time before becoming involved in the founding of many Cleveland Banks (one in particular in 1883 with J. C. Weideman).

The company used the brand names:
"Auld Lang Syne", "Belle of Frankfort", "Cardinal Brand", "Chatham", "Commodore", "Cricket", "Cruiser", "Crystal Spring", "Crystal Spring Gin", "Dew of Erin", "Forest City Club", "Halcyon Pure Rye", "Lion & Unicorn", "Lion & Unicorn Gin", "Melfort", "Old Chatham Rye", "Old Deposit", "Old Frankfort", "Old Mountain Inn", "Old Piper", "Prescription", and "Tyrone."

Business name timeline:
Weideman, Kent & Co. (1871-1883), Weideman & Co. (1886-1888), The Weideman Co. (1889-1919)

Address timeline:
70 Merwin St (1862), 30-32 Merwin (1871-1873), 53-65 Water (1874-1905), 1266 W 9th NW (1906-1919)

The Weideman Co., W 9th St

Business category timeline (abbreviations decoded below):
W

Years that company appeared in directories
Years directories were consulted
Cleveland directory notes

The images below are thumbnails linked to listing pages containing larger, more detailed images and links to related material.
Click on the thumbnails for more information.

BUY ME!

Appearance in directories:
1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1882, 1883, 1886, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919

Directories consulted:
1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1886, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919

Cleveland directory notes:
W = Wines & Liquors, V =Wines, V-R = Wines & Liquors Retail, D = Distiller, DA = Distiller's Agent. The 1870's & 1880's directories were erratic and inconsistent in classifying the wholesalers and retailers, until 1883. In 1881 or 1882, Pearl Street and Detroit St (and possible others) were renumbered. 1886: listings for distillers. V-R is missing for 1895, 1896 directory pages are totally absent. There is a city-wide street renumbering that is hinted at in 1904, begins in earnest in 1905 (many numbers are the same but designated as "old"), and takes full effect in 1906.

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