Description: Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors of all of history. Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. As a child, he lived in Milan and Port Huron, Michigan. The home in Milan where Edison was born was built in 1842, sold by Edison’s parents in 1854, repurchased by his his sister Marian Edison Page in 1894, and bought by Thomas Edison in 1906. Edison invented the carbon transmitter, which greatly improved the telephone. He also invented quadruplex telegraphy and the phonograph. His invention of the incandescent light bulb led Edison to create elaborate generation plants for electricity, helping make electricity available in many people's homes. He invented the kinetoscope -- the precursor to the film projector -- in 1891. During World War I, Edison helped develop new weapons for the United States military. By the time of his death on October 18, 1931, Edison had received over one thousand patents. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B02F02_026_1
Subjects: Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931--Birth; Milan (Ohio)--History; Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931--Archives--Catalogs
Places: Milan (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows an exterior view of the house where inventor Thomas Alva Edison was born on February 11, 1847, in Milan, Ohio. The house has window shutters and an open porch with an assembly of chairs, a bench, and a small table. The Edison birthplace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As a child, Edison lived in Milan and in Port Huron, Michigan. Although Edison received only three months of formal schooling, he became one of the greatest inventors of all time. Edison's inventions forever changed people's lives. Electric lights allowed people to remain active at night, whether it be reading, dancing, or listening to Edison's phonograph. Previously, with only candles or fireplaces to light homes, most people simply went to sleep once nightfall arrived. Factories also began to use electricity and electric lights. Now factories could remain open twenty-four hours per day, and soon the workday became divided into three eight-hour shifts. His improvements to the telegraph and telephone also helped make communication easier around the entire world. This image of Edison’s birthplace is among the photographs produced by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) between 1935 and 1943. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL06394
Subjects: Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931; Milan (Ohio); Historic houses; National Register of Historic Places; United States. Work Progress Administration
Places: Milan (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Zenas King (1818-1892) built this house in 1847. It is an example of Greek Revival architecture. King founded the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio and invented the iron suspension bridge. The house has a temple front, rare west of the Cuyahoga River. It is noted for its portico supported by ionic columns and hand carved fretwork on the pediment, as well as its use of undersized bricks. The house still stands at 128 Center Street. The temple portico has an entablature with dentil detailing and a triangular gable known as a pediment. The tympanum, or face of the pediment, is decorated with shells and scrolls. Pilasters are found at the front corners and give the illusion of additional columns. The first floor windows are ornamented with anthemion, a conventionalized leaf ornament which appears to radiate from a single point. The northern and southern wings give the house an asymmetrical appearance. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B01F09_013_001
Subjects: Architecture--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Architecture, Domestic--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Dwellings; Milan (Ohio)--History; Neighborhoods--United States--History; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Milan (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio); Huron County (Ohio)
 

Description: Zenas King (1818-1892) built this house in 1847. It is an example of Greek Revival architecture. King founded the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio and invented the iron suspension bridge. The house has a temple front, rare west of the Cuyahoga River. It is noted for its portico supported by ionic columns and hand carved fretwork on the pediment, as well as its use of undersized bricks. The house still stands at 128 Center Street. The temple portico has an entablature with dentil detailing and a triangular gable known as a pediment. The tympanum, or face of the pediment, is decorated with shells and scrolls. Pilasters are found at the front corners and give the illusion of additional columns. The first floor windows are ornamented with anthemion, a conventionalized leaf ornament which appears to radiate from a single point. The northern and southern wings give the house an asymmetrical appearance. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B01F10_020_001
Subjects: Architecture--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Architecture, Domestic--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Dwellings; Milan (Ohio)--History; Neighborhoods--United States--History; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Milan (Ohio); Huron County (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)
 

Description: Zenas King (1818-1892) built this house in 1847. It is an example of Greek Revival architecture. King founded the King Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio and invented the iron suspension bridge. The house has a temple front, rare west of the Cuyahoga River. It is noted for its portico supported by ionic columns and hand carved fretwork on the pediment, as well as its use of undersized bricks. The house still stands at 128 Center Street. The temple portico has an entablature with dentil detailing and a triangular gable known as a pediment. The tympanum, or face of the pediment, is decorated with shells and scrolls. Pilasters are found at the front corners and give the illusion of additional columns. The first floor windows are ornamented with anthemion, a conventionalized leaf ornament which appears to radiate from a single point. The northern and southern wings give the house an asymmetrical appearance. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B01F11_033_001
Subjects: Architecture--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Architecture, Domestic--Ohio--Pictorial works.; Dwellings; Milan (Ohio)--History; Neighborhoods--United States--History; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Milan (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio); Huron County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows a horse-drawn Standard Oil tank wagon in front of a building for a Standard Oil agent, or distributor. A man in a suit sits in the box seat, with a 350-500 gallon Standard Oil tank wagon behind him. The wagon's rear wheels are much larger to assist with bearing the weight of the oil tank, and the reflective metal tank has "STANDARD" on its side. In the background of the image, a long, low building with wooden siding has "AGENT FOR THE STANDARD OIL CO." painted on its side in white. The Standard Oil Company of Ohio established in 1862 by Cleveland oil baron John D. Rockefeller. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL04295
Subjects: Ohio Economy--Economy--Business; Milan (Ohio); Oil industry; Horse-drawn vehicles; Standard Oil Company
Places: Milan (Ohio); Erie County (Ohio)