Thomas Alva Edison National Historical Park
Thomas Alva Edison National Historical Park, West Orange, NJ
Thomas Alva Edison (1847- 1931) was no doubt the world’s most prolific inventor. In his lifetime, he held over 1000 U.S. patents in his name; and additional ones in Europe as well. He came to be known as ‘The Wizard of Menlo Park’ (where he lived and worked for a time) in recognition of a virtual blizzard of his inventions such as the phonograph, the motion picture camera and projector among many others; and, most importantly, the first practical version of the incandescent light bulb and the electric power grid to support it on a neighborhood scale.
Every one of the things Edison invented had the added advantage of being in some way precisely what the public wanted and soon couldn’t do without. Not only did Edison invent things, but he also knew how to get them into mass production, making it possible for him to penetrate both domestic and global markets. He used the money he earned from the sale of earlier inventions to fund the research and development of later ones.
Today, many of Edison’s inventions are already out of date. Who under the age of 20 would even know what a phonograph record is – or a home movie camera that actually uses spools of film? From what I’ve read in the papers, even Edison’s most famous invention – the (long-lasting) electric light bulb – will soon be obsolete and replaced by a more eco-friendly tubular substitute. Still, it’s hard to imagine the second and third generation of the things that Edison invented would even exist today had he not thought of the application in the first place.
One Edison contribution that is still very much on the front burner is in the area of electric mass transit. (In his last State of the Union Address, President Obama announced an 8 billion dollar government down payment toward the construction of high speed rail systems in various parts of the country.) Just months before Edison’s death in 1931, the Lackawanna Railroad implemented electric trains in suburban service from Hoboken to Gladstone, Montclair and Dover in New Jersey. The entire project proceeded to its completion under Edison’s firm direction and guidance.
It’s interesting to note that young Tom, growing up in Port Huron, Michigan was considered somewhat ‘slow’ by his teachers. His mind, they said, had a tendency to wander off. He was taken out of public school and home-schooled by his mother. Edison was later to remark, “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me; and I felt I had something to live for, someone I must not disappoint.” Mothers always know. Did Einstein’s mother know?
There’s a popular photograph of Edison relaxing in a lawn chair in his yard at Glenmont. I would bet it was a rarity for anyone to find him so. For those who would be tempted to point out the relatively over-size carbon footprint Edison’s life style would suggest, it might do well to remember that his West Orange laboratory and research facility alone employed in excess of 5000 people. That number increases as we travel the world and take note of all the places in which his singularly inspired work has impacted. Today, General Electric, a company Edison founded in 1890, directly employs around 300,000 full-time workers worldwide. We are indeed desperate for men like Thomas Edison today – men, who would focus their inspiration, determination, discipline and drive on the task of creating what is widely hailed as our salvation: “green jobs”.
Do check with the National Park Service before contemplating a visit to Thomas A. Edison’s National Historical Park. The last time I checked the laboratories were still being renovated. And Glenmont tours require an appointment.
Peter Koelliker; pkoelliker8@yahoo.com
Edison photo attachment# 1:
1. Edison National Historical Site
2. The Black Maria (first movie studio)
3. Water Tower
4. Electric Locomotive
5. Industrial Flight
Edison photo attachment# 2:
1. Glenmont Awning
2. Glenmont (w/famous photograph)
3. Tree
4. Heated Birdhouse
5. Glenmont Plaque