West Orange in Essex County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Garage

Edison National Historic Site, NJ

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 19, 2008

1. Garage Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1908 with Edison Portland Cement, construction of this garage gave Thomas Edison experience in using concrete as a building material. Although it was built with conventional methods, Edison used the garage to help develop his own technique of constructing mass-produced, poured-concrete houses using iron molds.

The garage housed the family’s gasoline and electric automobiles, including a 1922 Model T Ford (a gift from Henry Ford, a family friend), two Detroit Electrics, and a 1902 Locomobile which Edison adapted to run on his own storage batteries. To care for these vehicles, the garage had a car wash, gas pump, air compressor, battery charger, and a turntable to help park as many as ten vehicles.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 40° 47.157′ N, 74° 14.339′ W. Marker is in West Orange, New Jersey, in Essex County. Marker is on Honeysuckle Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in Edison National Historic Site, in the Llewellyn Park section of West Orange. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Orange NJ 07052, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking

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distance of this marker. Greenhouse and Barn (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Llewellyn Park (about 400 feet away); Mina Miller Edison (about 400 feet away); Edison’s Home, Glenmont (about 400 feet away); Glenmont (about 500 feet away); The Estate Staff (about 500 feet away); Japanese Stone Lanterns (about 700 feet away); Access Granted (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Orange.

More about this marker. Several photographs appear on the marker. The upper right of the marker has a photo of the Edisons’ Mors touring car parked in the garage doorway, about 1909. The bottom of the marker features photos of “The garage interior [which] had a hose for washing cars, a turntable to assist in parking cars, and chauffeur’s quarters on the second floor.” Next to this is a photo of “Thomas and Mina Edison in their Detroit Electric Victoria roadster, about 1920. Note that Mina is at the steering control.” Finally, the bottom right contains a photo of “The Edison’s chauffeur [as he] drives their Mors touring car out of the garage, about 1910.”

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Take a tour of the markers at Thomas Edison's Glenmont homesite.

Also see . . .

Marker at Glenmont image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 19, 2008

2. Marker at Glenmont

Edison National Historic Site. National Park Service. (Submitted on October 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.)

Thomas Edison's Garage image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, July 19, 2008

3. Thomas Edison's Garage

This garage is located near Edison's Glenmont mansion in Llewellyn Park.

Some of Edison's Cars image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 12, 2010

4. Some of Edison's Cars

The automobiles on display at Edison's garage include a Detroit Electric Brougham (left) and a Mors touring car which is pictured on the marker.

Edison's Roadster image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bill Coughlin, June 12, 2010

5. Edison's Roadster

The marker features a photograph of Thomas Edison and his wife Mina driving this Detroit Electric Victoria roadster.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,196 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2008, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. 4, 5. submitted on June 12, 2010, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.