Ohio History Journal

THOMAS A. EDISON VISITS HIS BIRTHPLACE

 

The village of Milan, Erie County, Ohio, has ac-

quired nation-wide and world-wide fame as the birth-

place of one of the great inventors of the age. Thomas

Alva Edison was born there February 11, 1847. A

more extended sketch of this famous son of Ohio is re-

served for the future. It is the purpose here to record

briefly a recent visit of Edison to the place of his birth

on Saturday, August 11, 1923. He came in company

with Henry Ford and Harvey S. Firestone, the well-

known manufacturers and successful business men, the

latter also a native Ohioan and identified with the great

rubber industry of Akron.

The village of Milan, we are told by the local paper,*

was in holiday attire. Announcement of the proposed

visit had been made a short time previous and the people

crowded to the public park not only from the village but

the surrounding country. It was almost four o'clock in

the afternoon when the arrival of the guests was an-

nounced.  They came by automobile and repaired at

once to the old home of Edison, where his cousin, Miss

Metta Wadsworth, and friends were waiting to greet

and receive them. "The ubiquitous camera-men," we

are told, had taken up positions most favorable for ob-

taining good pictures of the visitors. While the party

was on the front porch the click of the cameras was

noticeable. One of the camera-men seemingly anxious

 

* The Milan Ledger of August 16, 1923.

(630)

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Thomas A. Edison Visits His Birthplace  631 to secure a good picture of Mr. Edison, suggested to Mrs. Edison who accompanied him that she attract his attention towards the trees in front of the house. Point- ing to the trees, Mrs. Edison said, 'We want the tree doctors to take care of these trees, we don't want them

to go.' Mr. Edison looked up towards the trees and nodded his head. The camera-man snapped the pic- ture." We do not have a copy of this picture for the QUARTERLY. In its stead we reproduce a cut from a fine photograph of Mr. Edison in the possession of the Society. Milan has an excellent brass band which of

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632       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications

course was present to discourse its best music for the

crowd in waiting. A stir of excitement announced the

presence of the party and the people pressed around,

eager to greet them and take them by the hand. The

mayor of the village, Mr. Beare, presided at the meet-

ing. In a few well chosen words he introduced Judge

R. H. Williams of Sandusky, formerly a Milan boy, to

make an address. In a happy vein Judge Williams wel-

comed the guests and, addressing Mr. Edison, said:

 

It is an unusual event for the people of this vicinity to

meet upon the public square of this village to honor one who

played upon that square as a boy seventy years ago, the re-

nowned American, Thomas A. Edison.

There are three facts that stand out prominently on this

occasion.

In the first place, we are impressed by his accomplishments.

He is the greatest inventor of the age and of all time. His

inventions number more than a thousand, and his contributions

to industrial and economic development have been considerable.

His fame has reached abroad and he has been made a medalist

of the British Society of Art and a chevalier of the French Le-

gion of Honor. But with all his achievements he will be best

known to generations to come as the man of genius who made

wood and iron talk.

In the second place, it is a source of pride that this village

was the place in which he was born, for it is a great distinction

to be the birthplace of one of the greatest living Americans;

and the humble cottage of his birth, standing upon the hillside,

will ever be an object of interest to his countrymen.

In the third place, the outstanding fact is, that here -- here

now -- in our midst, we congratulate him on his attainments

and we welcome him among us.

To those who have gathered here in his honor for the

purpose of meeting him face to face and greeting him, I take

pleasure in presenting Thomas A. Edison.

The guests then were invited to respond. Mrs. Edi-

son in behalf of her husband said that he could not hear

well and therefore did not wish to speak.

Mr. Ford facetiously remarked when called upon to

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Thomas A. Edison Visits His Birthplace  633 speak, "I hear so much that I do not want to talk". Mr. Firestone expressed the appreciation he felt in counting Mr. Edison and Mr. Ford his friends and in the privilege of association with them. Many who were present then had the privilege of shaking hands with the distinguished visitors. Among them was an elderly lady who said she had gone to school with Mr. Edison. At the conclusion of the exercises of the afternoon the party left for the Page farm, escorted by Mayor Beare, where Mr. and Mrs. Edison remained until Mon- day and then departed for Detroit. On Sunday Mr. Edison visited his birthplace in Milan and the scenes of his childhood days, the Everingham and Balcom farms. While in the village a number of old time friends called to greet Mr. Edison and renew acquaintance.

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