Firm Recently Celebrates Anniversary – Electrical Jobs Through Out This Section Outstanding
From the 1938 centennial edition of The Times-Register
The Richardson-Wayland Electrical Corp., now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary, was incorporated in January 1913, a quarter of a century ago, beginning with a staff of only six employees including the boss.
The original officers were J.M. Richardson, president-general manager, and J.E. Wayland, vice-president. Later, Mr. A.D. Miller joined the organization in the capacity of secretary-treasurer, followed by O.F. Carmack as superintendent.
The original store was located in the same block that the retail store and offices now occupy. The entire business then consisted principally of the wiring of houses and the sale and installation of lighting fixtures. Electrical contracting was paramount in the minds of these six men and naturally, they were on the lookout and ready to submit estimates on any jobs within their reach.
The company now has jobs under construction in five different states, and during the year of 1937 reached a peak employment of around three hundred people. Contract work has been performed in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The corporation has received requests for bids on projects in foreign countries.
Built Rural Lines
In recent years, the company has gone in extensively for the building of transmission and rural distribution lines. More than two hundred miles of rural lines have been constructed during the past two years for the Appalachian Electric Power Company. Approximately one hundred miles of 66,000-volt transmission and rural lines have been constructed for Virginia Public Service Company. At present, there is a large fleet of trucks, tractors, equipment and personnel which are engaged and are capable of doing any class of electrical power or communication lines.
In 1913, the total business of the corporation amounted to $24,000.00. In 1937, the total gross business was over one-half million dollars. During its twenty-five years of corporate existence, Richardson-Wayland has paid out more than one and one quarter million dollars to labor.
The Richardson-Wayland Electrical Corporation sold at retail, the first complete radio sets ever offered in Roanoke. The first parts for the fans who wished to build their own were also sold by this company.
Realizing that all broadcasting stations then in operation were too far removed to provide reliable service, it became necessary to establish a local station. Application was made to the Department of Commerce, and in 1924, a license was granted, and the call letters WDBJ assigned.
WDBJ STARTED
With a humble beginning of 20 watts, the station grew to 50 watts, then to 250 and finally to 500 watts. Much time and money were expended in its development and in the protection of the license from the encroachment of others.
In the late twenties the station attracted the attention of the Columbia Broadcasting System and became a member of that network bringing to Roanoke for the first time full day light service and many big time evening features.
In 1931, the WDBJ had grown to such proportions that it became evident that it required so much time on the part of the management that other business suffered in consequence. Therefore, it was decided to dispose of the radio station. Offers were received from several sources, but the purpose of out-of-town buyers was not to build up a station for Roanoke but rather to reduce it to a status of a local station to benefit more profitable stations in metropolitan areas.
In May 1931, the sale of WDBJ to The Times-World Corporation was consummated. Owned by local public-spirited citizens, their aim was to build rather than to destroy. When one now hears the good programs and the technical excellence of the broadcasts from WDBJ, there can be no doubt as to whether or not the proper custodian of this great instrument of public service was chosen.
Richardson-Wayland also designed, built and installed WLVA of Lynchburg. The company has served in an advisory capacity for other stations in this area.
In 1937 the Appalachian Electric Power Company awarded a contract to the Richardson-Wayland Elec. Corp. for the electrical work incident to the enlarging and modernization of their Logan Plant at Logan, West Virginia.
Early in 1933, the Richardson-Wayland Electrical Corporation started its Air Conditioning Department. After making thorough investigation of the products then available with the thought of quality and dependability as the main influence in making a choice, the General Electric line of Air Conditioning equipment seemed to best meet these requirements. Therefore, this company has since then exclusively merchandised General Electric Air Conditioning equipment.
-Prepared by Lisa King
