JFR" (probably John Randolph, Edison’s personal
secretary), covers list key holders the front gate the laboratory, and
directs: "Please give the attached Devonald and tell him put new lock gate
and give out new keys and call old ones. According interview with former Edison
paymaster quoted the Historic Structures Report, Fred Devonald was the gate
man from 1891 1903.
173
. Devonald came the United States from Wales 1888
or 1889 and was photographed the library West Orange some time the
early 1890s. 9;’ pp.
The first, addressed "Mr.
693 Historian’s Note 68; Laverty Speiden, September 17, 1963.
591 Historian’s Note 101. his description of
wire screening above the partition the Gate House, George Meister, former
Edison paymaster, claimed was installed "to keep Fred Devonald’s pigeons from
flying over the partitions."690 1964 Devonald’s daughter, Margaret, identified
her father 1894 photograph the Black Maria; standing beside coop
holding fighting cock."689
588 Historian’s Note 101; see figure 49.
589 Unknown John Randolph, April 18, 1899 and TAE Fred Devonald, April 18, 1899 (in 1899,
WOL-Employees).691
In 1903, Pat Brady became gate man and remained the position until 1931.May 1974, the Gate House was repainted the same colors, based the
evidence presented the 1959 report.
Devonald’s position the Gate House may not have been too demanding, for
apparently had enough free time keep birds work." attached note from Edison states,
"Devonald/Give Ward key the gate.588 Two hand-written notes from April 1899 suggest that Devonald
was charge the Gate House, least the distribution keys, that time. See also memorandum from Superintendent, Morristown-Edison Group Regional Director,
North Atlantic Regional Office, NPS, dated May 10, 1974.687
Historical Occupancy.
sa NpSj "HSR-Part Gate House, Building No.
890 NPS, "HŠR-Part Gate House, Building No.692
Paul Laverty, former Edison employee who joined the laboratory 1909,
recalled that Brady was the gate man the laboratory and that Brady’s assistant
was Sylvester Ditch693 Brady was working for the Edison laboratory some
capacity before became gate man, for his name appears the list key
687 Ibid.. 6-7. 9,” 7
