Werner Company Building

The Werner building was constructed in 1895; the building functioned as the administrative building for the Werner Publishing Company. The Werner Publishing Company was founded by Paul E. Werner, a German immigrant. Werner was originally born in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1850, in 1867 Werner immigrated to the United States. Werner began his career in printing in 1874, when he purchased the German newspaper in Akron called the Germania. Werner continued his career by founding the Sunday Gazette and the Akron Tribune. In 1886 Werner founded the Werner Printing and lithographing Company.

The Werner Printing and Lithographing Company began publishing many various texts. One such text was the Werner Edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica. This book was fraught with controversy, as this reprint was unauthorized. This reprint was banned from distribution in the United States due to it being an unauthorized text. The company was re-organized in 1983 and was renamed to the Werner Company. The company began facing financial difficulties in 1908, including a $1,000,000 loss due to the legal battles with the Encyclopedia Britannica. In 1909 the Werner Company officially went under. 

Werner moved Kansas City in 1914 due to the public backlash against him for his pro-German rhetoric during World War 1. In 1926 he returned to Akron and attended a dinner in his honor by F.A. Seiberling. Werner published the Akron Germania until his death in 1931. A host of companies has occupied the Werner Building since 1909, most recently the building was the headquarters of the Famous Supply Company.

Johannesen , Eric . The Werner Company Building . National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form . Published October 22nd 1976. National Register of Historic Places .

109 N Union St - Historic Werner Building, https://www.loopnet.com/. November 5th 2019. Accessed November 14th 2019. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/109-N-Union-St-Akron-OH/6540041/.