There are photographs the Gate House interior from Edison’s years West
Orange. September 1890 Samuel Insull, then vice president
of the Edison General Electric Company, wrote Alfred Tate, Edison’s private
secretary: have your [letter].. I
trust that the Gate House will prevent some the trouble which you have had in
the past.Last night was
entered again. Tate, undated (in 1890, WOL, D-90-64).. One the electric lights was tom down and one the discs used in
the furnace cracked.
Some time ago, consequence the number tools etc which were taken from
the Chemical Room, you were kind enough give notice put the door. Purchase vouchers document construction materials used the building,
though changes and repairs the Gate House are rarely noted. Around
1890 Fessenden writes:
578 Samuel Insull A.. crucible had cleaned specially,„was used for melting Babbitt
[metal] in." The
following discussion relies heavily evidence presented the Historic Structures
Report. Yesterday
morning the room was entered and drill and holder taken out. Limited
information the gatekeepers who worked the building available through
notes and correspondence the Document File. another occasion hole was melted the asphalt floor
through which the water arrives every time rains and great many occasions
tools have been taken away and kept the men.Gate House
The Gate House was erected the summer 1890 provide increased security
for the Edison laboratory.O."578 Details about the "trouble" Insull referred are not available, but
an early letter Tate from Reginald Fessenden, chemical experimenter the
laboratory, gives some idea the security concerns during this time...
171
..
679 Reginald Fessenden A..with reference the precautions which you are
now taking prevent unauthorized persons from getting into the laboratory. However, several early photographs the exterior are available; the
earliest dates from before 1892.
This improved matters, but the notice was not entirely regarded, with Mr.
Edison’s permission placed catch lock the door, which was not much use,
however, the workmen obtain the key from the table where kept.579
While Fessenden appears suspect other Edison employees thefts and
vandalism, this letter points out the easy access buildings within the laboratory
complex the early years West Orange. Tate, September 18, 1890 (in 1890, WOL, D-90-64).
The scant information gleaned about Gate House furnishings comes from
interviews conducted preparation the 1959 "Historic Structures Report..O
