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Warwood: a Walking Tour of its History and Architecture
Item 3 of 23
The Lasch House stands tall representing one of the earliest families in Warwood. Conrad Lasch, a Wheeling Island resident, was born in 1857 to German-born parents, Jacob Lasch Sr. and Katrine Lasch. He bought land in Glenova (now Warwood) from his brother, Jacob Lasch Jr., on March 6, 1894. His property ran from “the hilltop” to the Ohio River, and from what is now 6th Street to 8th Street. Conrad Lasch and his wife, Julia Klebe Lasch, built their home and raised their eight children at what is now 603 Warwood Avenue. His land west of Warwood Avenue was used for farming, while the rest was used for pastures. His son, Albert Lasch, was a notable florist in Warwood and ran his business on the property from 1907 to 1973.

Facing NW, taken Oct 2016, photo courtesy of Christina Rieth

Facing NW, taken Oct 2016, photo courtesy of Christina Rieth

Jacob Lasch, Jr.'s house, taken Oct 2016, photo courtesy of Christina Rieth

Jacob Lasch, Jr.'s house, taken Oct 2016, photo courtesy of Christina Rieth

The house is located in Warwood, Wheeling's northern most neighborhood. the neighborhood is named after Henry Warwood, who founded the Warwood Tool Company in 1854 in Martins Ferry. The company was relocated to Warwood in 1907.

As early as 1795, Thomas Glenn is the first known owner of the land; he bequeathed the land to his son, William, sometime before 1795. Farmers initially settled in the region north of Wheeling for its rich, fertile soil.

Farmland in Warwood made way to industrial and residential development at the turn of the century. Foreseeing the potential of Warwood’s future, R. J. McCullagh founded the Warwood Land Company in 1903. The company sold the lots at a very low price at the time, starting at $300 each. The land was far less susceptible to floods than other parts of Wheeling, and streetcars ran between Warwood and Wheeling every 15 minutes, which became excellent selling points for prospective residents. Working-class families who came to the area sought employment at the industrial plants and built their residences, businesses, and churches nearby. Coal mines were abundant in Warwood, and an oil boom hit Warwood in 1911.

Warwood became an incorporated community on May 26, 1911, and as part of the “Wheeling Greater Movement”, Wheeling annexed the Warwood neighborhood in 1919.

Hinrichs Bissett, Mabel, & Bertha Cupp Jones. "Warwood: a History, 1669-1975." Ernest St. C. Benfield, 1993.
Interview with Chad Thalman, April 2017.
Rieth, Christina. "Warwood: a Walking Tour of its History and Architecture". Wheeling Heritage, 2017.