Near Medway in Clark County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Benjamin Garver Lamme / Bertha Lamme

Lower Valley Pike Scenic Byway

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, June 8, 2021

1. Benjamin Garver Lamme / Bertha Lamme Marker

Inscription.

Benjamin Garver Lamme, also, Bertha Lamme. Lower Valley Pike Scenic Byway. Benjamin Garver Lamme. Born January 12, 1864 on a farm on Lower Valley Pike, Bethel Township. Died July 8, 1924 Pittsburgh, PA., Lamme joined the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1880, where he helped develop the Niagara Falls power system. He became Westinghouse's chief engineer in 1903, a position he held the remainder of his life. An inventor and developer of electrical machinery, Lamme was granted 162 patents during his lifetime. He pioneered the design of rotary converters, developed direct current railway motors, produced the first commercially successful induction motor, and received patents on electrical ship propulsion and gyroscopic stabilizer systems. His development of alternating current was responsible for the ability to transmit electricity over long distances, aiding the industrialization of the Midwestern United States., Lamme was awarded the IEEE Edison Medal "For Invention and Development of Electrical Machinery” for a "Career of meritorious achievements in electrical science". On January 11, 1923 The Ohio State University presented Lamme with the Joseph Sullivant Gold Medal in recognition of "notable achievement in the form of an important invention, discovery, contribution to science...", Bertha Lamme. Born December 16, 1869 on a farm on Lower Valley Pike, Bethel Township. Died July 8, 1942 Pittsburgh, PA., Bertha graduated from Olive Branch in 1889 and The Ohio State University in 1893, where she became the first woman in the United States to receive an engineering degree specializing in electricity. She joined her brother at Westinghouse, working on the design of the turbo generator for Niagara Falls Hydroelectric Company. Her engineering skills gained attention both in and out of Westinghouse, earning her a reputation among other gifted electricians and inventors. Bertha married Russell Feicht in 1905. He was her colleague at Westinghouse and a fellow graduate of The Ohio State University. Although she had broken through gender barriers and social norms while at Westinghouse, setting standards for a generation of engineers, she now followed the route typical of her times; her 12-year career came to an end with her marriage., Captions Olive Branch School The first class of Olive Branch High School graduated in 1883. The study courses were: Mathematics, Higher Mathematics, Algebra and Geometry, Higher English, Grammar, Rhetoric, Latin, English Literature, U.S. and General History, Science, Physical Geography, Physiology, Natural Philosophy, Book Keeping, Orthography, Reading and Penmanship. Benjamin G. Lamme was among the first graduating class in 1883 and Bertha Lamme graduated with the class of 1889. Lamme Farmstead Benjamin and Bertha grew up on the Lamme farm in a family of eight children. The farm was established in 1803 and is still owned by descendants of that family. While they no longer live in the area, their working farm continues to add to the local economy through the production of agricultural products.

Benjamin Garver Lamme Born January 12, 1864 on a farm on Lower Valley Pike, Bethel Township. Died July 8, 1924 Pittsburgh, PA.

Lamme joined the Westinghouse Electric Company in 1880, where he helped develop the Niagara Falls power system. He became Westinghouse's chief engineer in 1903, a position he held the remainder of his life. An inventor and developer of electrical machinery, Lamme was granted 162 patents during his lifetime. He pioneered the design of rotary converters, developed direct current railway motors, produced the first commercially successful induction motor, and received patents on electrical ship propulsion and gyroscopic stabilizer systems. His development of alternating current was responsible for the ability to transmit electricity over long distances, aiding the industrialization of the Midwestern United States.

Lamme was awarded the IEEE Edison Medal "For Invention and Development of Electrical Machinery” for a "Career of meritorious achievements in electrical science". On January 11, 1923 The Ohio State University presented Lamme with the Joseph Sullivant Gold Medal in recognition of "notable achievement in the form of an important invention, discovery, contribution to science..."

Bertha Lamme Born December 16, 1869 on a farm on

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Lower Valley Pike, Bethel Township. Died July 8, 1942 Pittsburgh, PA.

Bertha graduated from Olive Branch in 1889 and The Ohio State University in 1893, where she became the first woman in the United States to receive an engineering degree specializing in electricity. She joined her brother at Westinghouse, working on the design of the turbo generator for Niagara Falls Hydroelectric Company. Her engineering skills gained attention both in and out of Westinghouse, earning her a reputation among other gifted electricians and inventors. Bertha married Russell Feicht in 1905. He was her colleague at Westinghouse and a fellow graduate of The Ohio State University. Although she had broken through gender barriers and social norms while at Westinghouse, setting standards for a generation of engineers, she now followed the route typical of her times; her 12-year career came to an end with her marriage.

Captions
Olive Branch School The first class of Olive Branch High School graduated in 1883. The study courses were: Mathematics, Higher Mathematics, Algebra and Geometry, Higher English, Grammar, Rhetoric, Latin, English Literature, U.S. and General History, Science, Physical Geography, Physiology, Natural Philosophy, Book Keeping, Orthography, Reading and Penmanship. Benjamin G. Lamme was among the first graduating class in 1883 and Bertha Lamme graduated

Courtesy of Thomas P. Martin, June 8, 2021

2. Benjamin Garver Lamme / Bertha Lamme Marker

Marker is on the right.

with the class of 1889.
Lamme Farmstead Benjamin and Bertha grew up on the Lamme farm in a family of eight children. The farm was established in 1803 and is still owned by descendants of that family. While they no longer live in the area, their working farm continues to add to the local economy through the production of agricultural products.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Science & Medicine • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is January 12, 1864.

Location. 39° 52.91′ N, 84° 0.553′ W. Marker is near Medway, Ohio, in Clark County. Marker is at the intersection of Spangler Road and East Main Street, on the right when traveling north on Spangler Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 East Main Street, Medway OH 45341, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Medway in the 20th Century (here, next to this marker); Olive Branch High School (approx. 2.3 miles away); Bethel Township Civil War Memorial (approx. 3.1 miles away); Honey Creek Presbyterian Church (approx. 3.1 miles away); John Paul, First White Settler in Clark County, Ohio (approx. 3.2 miles away); Gordon I. Henslee (approx. 3.7 miles away); John Dillinger's First Bank Robbery

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(approx. 3.8 miles away); Honey Creek Presbyterian Historical Marker (approx. 3.9 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 328 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 16, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.