National Historical Park National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

The Lab Notebook Special Edition

WELCOME BACK!

Welcome to the NEW Thomas preserved the laboratory’s cultural re- Edison National Historical Park, sources but almost tripled the space that the result of several renovation the public can now enjoy. initiatives at both Glenmont and the Laboratory Complex. The National Park Service did not do all this alone; we had the help of several part- No longer confined to a brief ners. Throughout the National Park sys- ranger-led tour of the first floor of tem, partnerships are essential for the con- Building 5, visitors now have ac- tinued protection and enhancement of cess to all three floors. Ranger- parks and historic sites and have been in- led tours can be arranged by ap- strumental in establishing educational pro- pointment. New exhibit panels grams, living history demonstrations, fund- and video kiosks are on display raising campaigns, habitat restorations, throughout the building. For an and a host of other activities. They supple- additional fee, you can take along ment the federal government’s limited re- one of our new audio tours . sources to help the parks fulfill their stew- ardship responsibilities. The Precision Machine Shop on the second floor features the Our partners include the Edison Innova- birthplace of the first motion pic- tion Foundation, the Friends of Thomas ture camera. Elsewhere on the Edison National Historical Park, Inc., second floor are Room 12, Edi- Fund, Rutgers University/ son’s private experimental room, The Thomas A. Edison Papers Project, and the Drafting Room, where Edison Memorial Tower Corporation, and mechanical engineers turned ideas the Garden Club of the Oranges. into blueprints and drawings. The Edison Innovation Foundation and The third floor includes an ex- the Charles Edison Fund secured over $13 traordinary collection of phono- million for major construction from their graphs that tell the sound re- own resources, plus contributions from, cording story. The newly refur- among others, Save America’s Treasures, nished Music Room was the , SONY, and federal funds world’s first recording studio and for NPS construction. Other projects later the place where Edison audi- made our archival collection more accessi- tioned music and musicians. The ble, conserved , and restored Photography Department, with an the home and greenhouse at Glenmont. original enlarging camera, lights, Some contributions are modest and some backdrop, and two dark rooms, are extraordinary. They have all been es- was the center of Edison advertis- sential in achieving our mission. ing and publicity. The open stor- The leadership of our partners and age area displays thousands of col- former Superintendents sparked lection gems: Ediphones, talking the campaign to restore, renovate, dolls, battery components, mining and enhance the significant re- tools, Edicraft appliances, Edi- sources of the Laboratory son’s own camping equipment, Complex and saw the pro- and much, much more. A new ject to its completion. We staircase tower and an elevator are extremely grateful. ensure easy access to all floors.

The NEW Visitor Center and Mu- We want to celebrate seum Store are located in a com- our achievements pletely renovated Building 1, the and build on former physics lab. Visitors will them to create a pick up the brand new Park bro- bright NEW fu- chure, their audio tours, and tick- ture for the Park. ets for Glenmont and special We are looking events. Please stop and shop in the forward to: new expanded museum store and visitor orienta- watch an introductory video. tion and educa- tional spaces, a Other buildings underwent resto- theater for semi- ration, including Buildings 2 and 4. nars, screening rooms for films, new retail opera- Photo of Thomas Alva Edison, 1883. With painstaking attention to pro- tions, state-of-the-art open storage for the vast Edi- fessional standards, NPS regional son collection, and additional renovations for the staff cleaned the balance room of Glenmont outbuildings. We are confident that the the Building 2 Chemistry lab, continued growth of resources will not only en- painted interior walls, and re- hance our stewardship of the Park collection and paired the floor. Building 4 now facilities, but also increase opportunities for our visi- houses administrative offices and tors, researchers, and new audiences still to be iden- an enlarged archives research area. tified. But there is so much to be appreciated at this (For more on the new archives, see stage in the Park’s renaissance, let’s take time now to page 2.) All of this work not only enjoy our Grand Opening.

The official newsletter of Thomas Edison National Historical Park, October 2009, Volume IV, Issue 2.

Superintendent’s Message New Audio Tour Edison Archives Grand Opening

October 9, 2009, is a special ay for many people and a Adds to Your Visit special day for Thomas Edison National Historical Park. It The new audio tour will guide visi- was a special day for the Washington Monument that tors throughout Building 5 and opened on this day in 1888; It was a special day for John around the courtyard. The tour is Lennon because it was his birthday. available in English, Spanish, Ger- man, and Japanese. What makes today special for us is that it is a time of celebration—the grand opening of the Laboratory Complex. The tour brings to life the frenzied activity that took place when over This special day is not about the renovations, not the one hundred experimenters bustled elevator or the stairs or the many new heating and fire throughout the buildings engaged in systems. It is special because of our visitors. After today, dozens of projects. Plus, additional our visitors can enjoy and experience the wonders of the voices assist the narrator in making Laboratory Complex—newly refurnished rooms, an the tour informative and enjoyable. improved archival research center, and 20,000 square feet of John Keegan of the Edison Innova- new exhibit space are all awaiting our visitors. tion Foundation, which has done so much to sponsor the entire restora- The special day has given us an opportunity not only to tion project, provides an opening Researchers now have more space to examine enhance our visitors’ experience but also to focus on our greeting to listeners and a wrap-up archival material from the Edison Archives. partners’ help in getting us to where we are today. We at the end. celebrate a new Thomas Edison National Historical Park with Bernie Carlson, a professor of the The Thomas Edison NHP Archives opens to researchers this fall with its Laboratory Complex that engages our visitors and history of technology at the Univer- a newly expanded reading room. Located in Building 4 at the Labora- encourages us to create a new vision for our bright future. sity of Virginia, is a featured guide. tory Complex, the new room offers on-site researchers a clean, com- Carlson has a long connection to fortable space in which to study the park’s extensive collection of Edi- While we are looking to the future I want to share two Edison; in addition to his current son documents and photographs. The reading room features a refin- reflections from our Park staff. teaching duties, he was an early staff ished wood floor, new library furniture, and a large flat-panel video member of the Thomas A. Edison screen to view historic Edison films on DVD. The room also includes “As an interpreter at Thomas Edison National Historical Park Papers back in the 1970s and early equipment to examine microfilmed material, a collection of books and I have spoken with many of our visitors during the closure 1980s. Bernie tells what Edison articles about Edison, and computer work stations, which will give and restoration project. During my four years here, not one hoped to achieve in building a new researchers and staff access to finding aids, databases and other elec- visitor has failed to ask about the restoration project. In lab in West Orange, offers insights tronic reference tools. With over five million documents, Thomas recent years there has been much public discussion that on the workers and what it was like Edison NHP has one of the largest archival Americans no longer care about history. After talking with to work in these shops and labs, and collections in the National Park System. many of our visitors and handling numerous requests for off explains many of the technologies. Joining him are Jerry Fabris, curator Along with Edison’s personal and business -site programs, I would caution against such generalizations. of the and recording correspondence, patents and laboratory The patrons of our Park maintain not only their interest in collection, with thoughts on the notebooks, the archives preserves the re- America’s heritage but also enthusiasm for their own roles complexities of the Edison phono- cords of dozens of companies Edison cre- as stewards. At this Grand Opening of Edison’s Laboratory graph business, and Lenny DeGraaf, ated to develop his inventions. Holdings Complex I look forward to seeing visitors enjoying the new archivist, with observations on the also include advertising material, Edison’s Thomas Edison National Historical Park.” riches of the Park’s archives and the legal and financial records and 60,000 his- —Brigid Jennings, Park Ranger light they shed on Edison’s activi- toric photographs. The Edison Archives is ties. a significant collection for the study of “The new Laboratory Complex is opening after being closed technology, business and popular culture in Voices from the past also join the for six years. As the Grand Opening day arrives I can’t help the late nineteenth and early twentieth cen- tour through the use of oral histo- turies, and documents the creation of the but remember the day it closed and the events that led up ries. Norman Spieden joined the electric light and power, sound recording to that day. I remember reading that Edison National staff of Edison’s Historical Research and motion picture industries. Historic Site had been named among the top ten of ‘Most Department, which was set up in

Endangered Historic Sites.’ It was in disrepair and artifacts 1928 to answer questions from both The Thomas Edison NHP Archives is open This advertisement, one of were not being preserved properly due to lack of resources the press and the public. He later thousands in the archives, pro- to on-site researchers by appointment 9 am and necessary upgrades. After Hillary Clinton visited the site worked for Edison Industries and motes Edison’s chicken grit, a to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, except during her Save America’s Treasures tour, restoration was stayed on into the Park Service era by-product of Portland cement Federal holidays. For information about manufacturing Poultry farm- inevitable. Construction began; we spent countless hours in as a museum curator. He talks the archives, or to schedule a research ap- ers fed it to their chickens to about Edison’s proposal to Mina cold dark spaces guarding contractors. Feelings of pointment, call 973-736-0550, ext 22, or help them digest their feed. Miller, the difficulties workers had emptiness flooded me after the buildings had been stripped send an email to [email protected]. and their fragile artifacts packed away, nothing was left but in trying to communicate with the the ghosts of visitors. Co-workers left to take new near-deaf boss, and the camping positions, tentative opening dates came and went too many trips with Henry Ford and their friends. Paul Kasakove, a member Volunteers Still Needed times. of Edison’s funeral honor guard, The past several issues of The Lab Notebook have featured the contribu- talks about the mystery of the Li- “As the construction ended, the countless artifacts were tions of our volunteers to the Park’s restoration. We couldn't have done brary clock that was stopped after brought back to their places and new staff started to arrive. it without them. Edison’s death. Ernest Stevens, who The pulse of this place started beating once more. The new worked as a pianist and music direc- With the reopening of the Laboratory Complex, our need for volunteers Superintendent arrived and the Park’s name changed. tor, recalls Edison’s experimental Around my desk are three things: the National Park remains as great as ever. If you ever pictured yourself leading a tour, recordings. And Harold Anderson, preparing an exhibit, unpacking artifacts, or helping with landscaping, Service’s Core Values, my family pictures, and a poem by who joined the staff in 1924, talks we might have what you’re looking for. To find out more about volun- Lewis Latimer titled “Hope.” Today as I reflect on the Grand teering, please contact Michelle Ortwein, our Volunteer Coordinator at Opening, I put aside fear of the unknown and remember 973-736-0550, x31 or via e-mail at [email protected]. that sometimes it’s best just to keep in mind the purpose of The New Museum Store a National Park Ranger. With that, the opening day brings The expanded Museum Store, oper- me excitement and pride for the new Thomas Edison ated by Eastern National, a National National Historical Park.” Park Service partner, offers a variety of —Shemaine McKelvin, Park Ranger: books and gifts including Edison biog- raphies, books on motion pictures and I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to my Division sound recordings, posters, DVD’s, col- Chiefs, Assistant Superintendent, and the entire Park staff lections of photographs from the ar- National Park Service UNITED STATES Department of the Interior and volunteers. Also, a special thanks to former chives, postcards, and even replica light bulbs. Superintendent Maryanne Gerbauckas for her leadership in Thomas Edison National Historical Park was crafting and implementing an effective plan to bring both Materials for young visitors are also established to preserve and protect Thomas Glenmont and the Laboratory to “world class” status. We available, including biographies, scrap- Alva Edison’s West Orange Laboratory, home, books, coloring books, and books on and for the education and inspiration of peo- also appreciated Superintendent Randy Turner’s stewardship ple worldwide. and guidance for the time he spent here at the Park. science experiments and other activi- Thomas Edison National Historical Park ties. Junior Ranger items are also on 211 Main Street On this special day we all give thanks to John Keegan, the display. West Orange, NJ 07052 Web site: www.nps.gov/edis President and Chairman of the Edison Innovation Don’t forget to visit the Garden Shop Email: [email protected]

Foundation and the Charles Edison Fund. Webster’s at the Glenmont Potting Shed on Fri- Visitor Information Dictionary failed to provide me with an appropriate array of days, Saturdays, and Sundays during its 973-736-0550 Fax: 973-243-7172 superlatives to express our appreciation to John and his staff business hours. In addition to many of for everything they have done to make this a special day. the items available at the Laboratory The National Park Service cares for the special Complex Museum Store you will find places saved by the American people so that —Greg Marshall Museum Store at the Laboratory Complex. all may experience our heritage. materials on gardens and gardening, birds, bird watching, and wildlife. 2 The Lab Notebook OUR PARTNERS AND CONTRIBUTORS We express our gratitude to the many friends who have made the renovation of the Laboratory Complex possible.

The Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg, John P. Keegan, Chairman & President McCarter & English LLP United States Senate Wade Knowles, Vice President Beth Yingling Robert E. Murray, Treasurer Robert Smith The Honorable Robert Menendez, Thomas J. Ungerland, Secretary David Ludgin United States Senate George Q. Keegan, Trustee Stephen Vajtay The Honorable Bill Pascrell, Jr., Christine D’Amico, Executive United States House of Assistant to the Chairman McKelvey Museum Services Representatives Andy Spahn & Associates Frank J. McKelvey, Jr. Andy Spahn Rob Howard Preservation, Planning and Jennifer Gonring Compliance Kevin Ryan M.E.R.I.T., Inc. Bob McIntosh, Associate Regional Director, Construction and Facility All Signs Morse Moving Company Management Steve Bienstock Page Belting Company, Inc. Donna Baumgaertner, Structural Fire Mark Coen Prevention Specialist Alpha Corporation Shawn Tewksbury Jill Hawk Regional Chief Ranger Jim Rodgers Bob Holzheimer, Project Manager Pamela Morgan Framing Duncan Hay, Historian Antenna Audio, Inc. Pamela Morgan Alexa Molnar, Comptroller Mara Gerstein Tom Dyer, Partnerships Hilary Henning Partners + Jeary Naomi Kroll, Architectural Conservator Richard Chilcoat, Project Manager Apple Restoration Pav-Con The Honorable Donald M. Payne, Sagamore Hill National Historic Site United States House of Arbee Associates Ben Polsky, Mount Maker Amy Verone, Supervisory Museum Representatives Curator ~~~~~ Donors ~~~~~ Art Guild, Inc. Precizion Flooring LLC Charles Edison Fund Lath Carlson Southeast Region Edison Innovation Foundation George Mayer Ralph Appelbaum Associates Todd Neitzel General Electric Company Meredith Pedersen Ralph Appelbaum Thomas Edison National Historical Mitsui & Co., LTD Andrew Tomasulo Rick Sobel Park Mitsui & Co., (USA), Inc. Greg Marshall Mitsui USA Foundation Art Pack, Inc. Spark Electric Theresa Jung Toshiba Corporation Matt DeVito Peter Alexander Toshiba America, Inc. Melanie Brussat, Conservator Dave Ault Sony Corporation Tec-Con Mina Awad Sony Corporation of America Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Walter Baginski Alcatel-Lucent Planners, LLP Tectonic, Inc. Ben Bolger John H. Martinson John Belle Jean Castro Save America’s Treasures Richard Southwick Troop Construction & Electric, Inc. Chris Coglin Friends of Thomas Edison National Boswell Engineering Denis Cainero Karen Cox Historical Park Stephen Boswell Michael Elias Lenny DeGraaf Corning Incorporation Foundation Nick Ravasheire Joe DeMonte Ford Motor Company Fund Bunting Graphics, Inc. Jerry Fabris Estate of Vivian Katz Raleigh Caesar, Exhibit Specialist Video Corporation of America Willie Fowler Elizabeth Baigent Kimele Gray DTE Energy S.J. Carney Roofing/Ench Roofing ~~~~~ National Park Service ~~~~~ Arnold Griffin TXU Energy Supply Joan Harris Rico Beck Foundation Frank “Bo” Ench Architectural Preservation Branch Jenny Isaacs California Community Foundation Tom Ballos Brigid Jennings AT&T Chat of Michigan Paul Sky Atchinson Nicholas Johnson MCJ Foundation Jeff Finch Adela Joyce Minkota Power Conservation Center for Art and Greg Law Albert Kagler Sandy Hill Foundation Historic Artifacts Craig Oleszewski Edward Kahle William Henderson Linda Pate Ben Lee Llewellyn Park Residents Craddock Painting Conservation, Walter Peek Frantz Lucien Florida Power & Light Inc. Michael Shane Charly Magale Walker Digital Daisy Craddock Jamie Magale Edison Electric Institute Collections Conservation Branch, Akshay Mampilly Thomas J. Ungerland DavEd Northeast Museum Services Center Holly Marino David Rockefeller Margaret Breuker Shemaine McKelvin Charles Van Ooteghem Dosch-King Company Carol Warner Beth Miller David Giovannoni David King Brigid Sullivan Obina Okani Rich Charitable Trust Eric Ondrasik John P. Keegan E&M O’Hara Denver Service Center Susan Orr Robert E. Murray Mike O’Hara Sam Whittington, Manager Michelle Ortwein Mary O’Byrne Ed O’Hara Dave Aitken, General Engineer Michael Pacyna US Trust Company John Manee Darrin Knapp, Contract Specialist Tim Pagano John Edison Margaret Lemke Ryan Plessner Stephen Oliphant Eastern National Joelle M. Mascarena Theresa Polixa Jeffrey Oliphant George Minnucci, President Brian Olson Anthony Pontoriero Massachusetts Old Colony Antique Chesley Moroz, Past President Carol Whipple Greg Schmidl Phonograph Society Monta Harrington Adam Sliwowski Eric von Grimmenstein Dave Wagner Harpers Ferry Center Tom Sliwowski Charles Hummel Midge Wohl Larry Bowers Karen Sloat-Olsen Eric Schmidl Sheila Payaqui Ramona Smart-Green

The Antique Photo Store Friends of Thomas Edison National Jonathan "Herc" Suydam ~~~~~~~~~~ Historical Park Morristown National Historical Park Greg Washburne Charles Hummel, President Randy Turner, Superintendent Lisa Wasser-Berlin Charles Edison Fund John B. O’Reilly, Jr. Alyssa Williams John P. Keegan, Chairman, President & Northeast Region Jeremy Winters Treasurer Great Film Projects Dennis Reidenbach, Regional Director Adrian Wirstiuk Robert E. Murray, Vice President Mike Reynolds, Deputy Regional Edward Wirth Alberta Ench, Secretary Carmine Giermo Director Scott Withers Edward L. Allman, Trustee Maryanne Gerbauckas, Associate James E. Howe, Trustee Catherine Hawks, Conservator Regional Director, Heritage Thomas Edison National Historical George Q. Keegan, Trustee Park Volunteers John M. O’Shea, Trustee The Henry Ford David Ault Dr. John N. Schullinger, Trustee Judy Endelman Alan Bennett Thomas Smoot, Trustee Susan Bennett Thomas J. Ungerland, Trustee JD Conservation Christopher Breetveld Lorena Lalicata, Executive Assistant to Jon Derow Susan Butler the Chairman Sean Coakley Kathleen Gannon, Executive Assistant Masini & Sons Judith DeMouthe to the Chairman Jessica Diedalis Patrick Warren Master Fire Protection, Inc. Rita DeMatteo Harry Roman, Educational Consultant Drew Zarpentine Nancy Farley Edison Innovation Foundation

The Lab Notebook 3 Thomas Edison NHP: Snapshots From Our Past Over the past fifty years, since becoming part of the National Park Service, the site has experienced many changes. Here are some visual memories.

The rear of Building Building 4, Edison’s 4 was a catch-all. metallurgical lab, was The wooden crates leased to the U. S. Navy are filled with jour- during World War II nals in fields such as and later housed the mining, rubber re- Edison family cars. In search, and film and September 1969, the phonograph pro- cars made their last trip duction. Elsewhere as the building was are rolled archival adapted to store more documents and hun- archival and photo- dreds of glass plate graphic material. negatives. Today this area contains offices for the Super- intendent and ad- ministrative staff. (September 1970.)

The new visitor park- ing lot, new in March 1963, that is. The Dodge/Saab dealership at the right has been replaced by a lawn in front of the Park’s maintenance garage. The Edison Admini- stration building and other factory buildings (demolished in the early 1970s) are visible A huge group in the distance at left. of campers poses for a snapshot in the Library in the mid-1960s.

A ranger talks about Edison’s early motion picture work outside the rep- lica of the Black Maria. (July 1966.)

Charles Edison paid a visit to the Park in 1967 and posed in the courtyard with his great niece Madeleine Edi- son Sloane, who was a park ranger. This isn’t part of the recent restora- tion work. These workers were re- pairing a Library window in March 1963.

Taking a break in the courtyard, visitors enjoy the newly-purchased benches, August 1966. Try out our brand-new courtyard benches on your visit. A tour group pauses for a photograph before entering Building 4 sometime in the 1960s. The Edison Industries Administration building is in the background.

4 The Lab Notebook THE RENOVATION: BEFORE AND AFTER

The Heavy Ma- chine Shop now features a railing that guides visitors through the room and serves as a security barrier.

The Library was carefully packed up in preparation for resto- ration (left). With new interpretive pan- els and video kiosks, the Library is pre- pared to receive visi- tors.(below).

This counter in the Heavy Machine Shop now boasts a set of workers’ tool- boxes, visible in the photo below. These The Drafting Room, on the second boxes were vital to a floor, served for most of the past thirty craftsman’s liveli- years as office space for the staff of The hood and moved Thomas A. Edison Papers. Now the with him from job to room has been returned to its original job. Thus we had purpose, complete with drafting tables none in the collec- and filing cabinets. Incidentally, in the tion, and these were picture at the far left, the man dictating purchased to com- into an Ediphone, as well as his desk, plete the Machine was pasted in later, probably for an Shop display. Ediphone advertisement.

The Precision Machine Shop, on the second floor, became clut- tered over the years. Today, spruced up and emptied of all but the machines and furnishings that were there in the mid-1910s, it pre- sents a cleaner, more efficient look.

The Music Room, on the third floor, was storage space for some of the phono- graphs that were do- nated to the Park over the decades. The current furnishings reflect the room’s use in the mid-1910s.

The Lab Notebook 5 THE RENOVATION: BEFORE AND AFTER

This area on the third floor—half the length of Building 5—housed the overflow of the endless phonograph collection, plus thou- sands of other artifacts that made their way upstairs. It truly was Edison’s attic. Today most of the artifacts are still there, although now fully cataloged and stored in a more This open area on the third floor systematic manner. outside the Music Room held Visitors can stroll some of the overflow of phono- through this area and graphs. Today, a newly built view artifacts on racks phonograph storage facility oc- in open storage plus cupies the space and gives visi- exhibit cases that dis- tors a brief history of Edison’s play some examples of role in the sound recording busi- Edison’s lesser known ness. products.

The Photograph Department on the third floor of Building 5 created much of Edison’s advertising. The enlarging camera and other equipment from those days has been returned to the room for the new display. Building 6, the power house in Edison’s day, was refitted as the Visitor Center in the 1970s. The artifacts on display provided an overview of the inventor’s career. Today Building 6 is once again the power house, the home of modern heating and cooling systems. In the Chemistry Lab thousands of small artifacts, such as delicate glass bottles and test tubes, were wrapped, boxed, and stored. Lar- ger objects were protected in place on worktables, which were then enclosed in plywood. The Building 2 project concluded with a cleaning and repainting of the walls, and repair of the floor.

Park Guide Edward Cary plays a phono- graph in the front room of Building 1 in the late summer of 1957. Cary began working for Edi- son as a boy in 1915, hired to clean up the debris of the 1914 fire. He retired in 1968.

The central room of the Visitor The space served as a Center in Building 1 was an phonograph demonstra- exhibition area in April 1957. tion area into the 1990s. This school group appears to Today the new Visitor divide its attention between the Center and its Museum photographer and a model of Shop are located here. Edison’s station. Today the space is a theater presenting an orientation film.

6 The Lab Notebook Friends of Edison Facts and Figures for the Celebrate Silver Anniversary “Preserve Historic Buildings and Collections” Partnership Project

The complex project was necessary to preserve the historic buildings and the artifact and archival collections at the Laboratory Complex and the Glenmont Estate. The original historic furnishings and documents had been deteriorating for decades due to the absence of adequate heating and cooling systems. They were at risk of loss or damage from fire because of old, outdated alarm and sprinkler systems. Finally, the vast majority of the artifact collection was inaccessible to visitors and researchers while stored on the upper floors of the historic main laboratory. Below is a sum- mary of facts and figures.

Glenmont Estate Project Management: NPS, Denver Service Center, Denver, CO Visitors gather for A Taste of West Orange in the mid-1990s, one of several fund-raising community Architect: Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Planners, LLP, , NY events co-sponsored by The Friends of Edison to Contractor: Integrated Construction Enterprises, Belleville, NJ benefit the Park. NPS Superintendent: Maryanne Gerbauckas NPS Partner: Edison Innovation Foundation, Newark, NJ The Friends of Thomas Edison National Histori- cal Park is a non-profit membership organiza- Renovations Began: January 2003 tion dedicated to the preservation of the Edison Contract completed: January 2004 Laboratory and Glenmont, and to the apprecia- Cost: $1,000,000 tion of Thomas Alva Edison, the man, and the promotion of the Edison legacy now and for the Laboratory Complex future. In this the twenty-fifth anniversary of Project Management: NPS, Denver Service Center, Denver, CO supporting the National Park Service’s steward- Architect: Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects & Planners, LLP, New York, NY ship of his home and laboratory the Friends reaf- Exhibit Design: Ralph Applebaum Associates Inc., New York, NY firms its commitment to this mission as an NPS Exhibit Fabrication: Art Guild, Inc., Thorofare, NJ Partner. During this quarter century of service Audio Tour: Antenna Audio, Inc., New York, NY the Friends has raised more than $1,000,000 to General Contractor: Troop Construction and Electric, Inc., Perth Amboy, NJ preserve, interpret and promote Edison’s home NPS Superintendent: Maryanne Gerbauckas (1992 - 2007) and laboratory to keep the legacy of Edison ’s Randy Turner (2007) genius vitally present for future generations. Greg Marshall (2008 – present)

The Friends commits the donated funds, materi- NPS Partner: Edison Innovation Foundation, Newark, NJ als and/or goods and services to assist in the pro- tection of these cultural resources and strives to Renovations Began: January 2004 enhance their interpretation and understand- Contract completed: October 2009 Background photo: Building 11 being dismantled for ing. Activities include donating library materi- Cost: $13,000,000 transportation to The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, als, materials for public programming, and mate- Michigan, 1940. rials or donated services to fund operations of the Thomas Edison NHP. New accessions to fill in gaps in the historic Edison collection have Other Highlights of the Preservation Project also been funded by the Friends of Thomas Edi- son NHP. were removed along Main Street; the cleared land- The major changes in the Park are described Information about joining the Friends or making elsewhere in this issue and have been featured scape reveals the carefully designed architectural fea- contributions to benefit Thomas Edison NHP in The Lab Notebook over the past few years. tures of the buildings. New sidewalks and granite may be found on their website, foedison.org. Here, though, is a summary of some of the pavers recreate the historic cobblestone and blue- The Friends may also be contacted via e-mail at lesser-known but essential improvements stone walkways along Main Street and down Lakeside [email protected]. Avenue. made during the project.

CHARLES EDISON Across Main Street from the historic laboratory build- Laboratory Complex ings, new curbs and sidewalks, decorative lighting and FUND fencing, and a new landscaped visitor parking lot wel- Staff relocated their offices from Building 5 in The Charles Edison comes visitors. Marked pedestrian crosswalks at each order to open all floors for visitors. Fund (“CEF”), incorpo- corner lead visitors to the new Main Street entrance.

rated in 1948 by Charles The exterior of Building 35, the park maintenance The Pattern Shop in Building 3 has been fur- Edison was, and contin- building across Main Street was re-sided, and heating nished to its 1917 appearance. ues to be, an endowed philanthropic institution and cooling systems were upgraded. A new address-

dedicated to the support of worthwhile endeavors able fire detection system was installed and the fire generally within the areas of medical research, sci- The Black Maria replica along Main Street has sprinkler system was upgraded. been rehabilitated with new siding and electrical ence education and historic preservation. It both upgrades. The building can now be used for ex- operates programs and makes grants to support Glenmont these endeavors. Since its inception CEF has hibits and programs. served as an extension of the benefactions and as- The new geothermal heating and cooling system for pirations of its Founder, a man of discerning fore- The halon fire suppression system that protected the house features underground piping that connects sight, rare achievement and background. many buildings since the late 1970s has been re- twelve 300-foot deep wells installed in the lawn to the www.charlesedisonfund.org placed with an environmentally friendly water west of the visitor parking lot to the heat pumps in the sprinkler system. mansion. All the piping of the new fire detection and

EDISON suppression system was concealed within wall and Masonry repairs and repointing were completed INNOVATION door cavities to retain the historic appearance of the on many of the buildings along with replacement FOUNDATION furnished rooms. of deteriorated bluestone coping and window The mission of Edi- sills. Broken window panes were replaced and Electrical service was upgraded throughout the build- son Innovation metal window frames have been repaired. The ing and drainage repairs were made around the exte- Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, original terracotta storm drains were replaced rior of the house. is to preserve and promote the historical homes, with an integrated drainage system to alleviate the laboratories and papers of Thomas Edison where surface and subsurface drainage problems that The historic Greenhouse was completely rehabili- and in which he invented the products that shaped have worsened over the years. The surface of the tated. All historic glass was removed, numbered, the modern world. The Campaign’s results will courtyard was re-graded and accessible entry cleaned, and reinstalled. Cyprus rails and their steel benefit minorities and children by providing them ramps have been installed into the buildings. frames were repaired or replaced. Broken glass and the necessary skills to pursue careers in science and Most heating and cooling systems were relocated glazing was replaced. Ridge vents were repaired and technology as well as advance a national and inter- to Building 6, the original power house. made operational, and cracks in the concrete founda- national spirit of innovation. tion were repaired. A partnership with the Garden www.thomasedison.org Building 11 has been returned from The Henry Club of the Oranges has returned the Greenhouse to Ford Museum in Michigan to its original location full operation. The new Park in the laboratory courtyard. Built about 1898, it logo, dis- was adapted to a variety of uses by Edison and his The exterior concrete and stucco of the Potting Shed played else- experimenters who worked on numerous re- were repaired; interior and exterior walls were re- where in this search projects at any one time. The original painted; and drainage repairs were completed around issue of The building was dismantled in 1940 and donated to the building foundations. A Garden Shop and visitor Lab Notebook, The Henry Ford museum. It will be used for a information center are now open in the Potting Shed. is adapted from advertising art designed for Edi- variety of educational and interpretive programs. son’s line of Edicraft kitchen appliances, intro- The deteriorated wood siding of the 1908 Barn was duced in the late 1920s. The brightly colored gears The historic view along Main Street in front of restored. The slate roof was repaired, and exterior reflect the Art Deco sensibility of the period. the Laboratory Complex was restored to its early walls were painted. Roof drains, gutters, windows and 1900s appearance. Five large evergreen trees doors were repaired.

The Lab Notebook 7 National Park Service UNITED STATES Department of the Interior

Thomas Edison National Historical Park 211 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

Hours of Operation:

Laboratory Complex Wednesday—Sunday 9am-5pm

Glenmont Estate Friday—Sunday 11:30am-5pm

Entrance Fee—$7 (Under 16 Free) Optional Audio Tour — $5

Volunteers-In-Parks Coordinator Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Michelle Ortwein 973-736-0550 x31 phone [email protected]

www.nps.gov/edis Click on “Support the National Park Service”

“The Lab Notebook” is a quarterly publication of Thomas Edison National Historical Park.

Printed on recycled paper.

Editor Edward Wirth

Contributors Leonard DeGraaf Theresa Jung Greg Marshall John O’Reilly Michelle Ortwein Karen Sloat-Olsen Edward Wirth From the Photo Collection. This 1917 photograph unites the successive periods of Edison’s career: the early Menlo Comments? Write to: Park days, of which the railway carriage is a trophy; Building 5, the 1887 jewel of his new West Orange complex; Greg Marshall, Superintendent and to the right, the Edison Storage Battery factory (1913). factory was literally a concrete example of Thomas Edison National Historical Park the manufacturing empire Edison’s research allowed him to build. Edison’s pride in displaying the carriage is 211 Main Street West Orange, NJ 07052 evident in both his expression and his stance. We are equally proud to welcome you to the NEW Laboratory Complex for this Grand Opening.

8 The Lab Notebook