Johnson/K. Ericke interview, March 29,1971, Oral History Project, 12."604 Information the nationality all visitors was obtained before they
175
. Ericke, who left the
Edison Company 1961, described the situation during his time the
laboratory:
The gate house had watchman who was there all day.
During World War II, the Gate House’s function grew importance security
measures increased significantly around the Edison plant.E. He
stayed there till retired, see.600
600 A.
601 "Assistant Mr.
603 Report the Committee Rearrangement the Edison Laboratory, June 19, 1939, Historical
Research Dept.601 A.E. matter fact, there was
one fellow had here who was retired cop, and this was nice easy job.These former employees, A. Johnson/K.
602 A.
604 March 23, 1942, memorandum, Historical Research Dept..he simply sat there all day long, and
anybody . matter fact, one of
them, knew him and liked him very well.. Gate men were
combined with watchmen and police the Plant Protection Department payroll:
"in order that all such services, the present emergency, come under one
head.
"Hannigan" was John Hanagan, janitor working the laboratory 1920 who
acted watchman Saturday afternoons and Sundays.E. 1939 one watchman covered the Edison plant, as
well the laboratory buildings; whether worked out the Gate House is
unknown.. Ericke interview, March 29, 1971, Oral History Project, 12.. Johnson and Ericke, worked the Edison
laboratory from around 1920 until well after Edison’s death. One the fellows I’m pretty sure had was
Flannigan.603 Later documentation indicates that "watchman" and "gate man"
were separate positions. Edison" Samuel Wilson, November 29, 1920, Biographical File, Edison NHS. The time period discussed in
Johnson and Erickes’ interview unclear, but appears that while the Gate
House was staffed during Edison’s later years and immediately after his death,
the amount traffic passing through the gate was slacking off and the gate man’s
position was not taxing one.who wanted come into the laboratory had clear through him.E. Johnson, who
worked the laboratory until 1938, claimed that the Gate House was "more or
less ceremony our time" and that the gate opened and cars "just came
in.he
didn’t wear anything special. There was uniform."602
Occupancy and Use After Edison’s Death
