Old Central Bridge in Schoharie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Birthplace of George Westinghouse

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 24, 2008

1. Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker

(Old) Central Bridge, New York

Inscription. Birthplace Of
George Westinghouse 1846 - 1914
Inventor of the Westinghouse
Air Brake

Erected 1961 by Schoharie American Legion Post 1261, the Schoharie Rotary Club & James Cushing.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1846.

Location. 42° 42.525′ N, 74° 19.886′ W. Marker is in Old Central Bridge, New York, in Schoharie County. Marker is at the intersection of George Westinghouse Road and Sidney Road, on the right when traveling south on George Westinghouse Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 139 Westinghouse Road, Central Bridge NY 12035, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Tavern (approx. 0.2 miles away); Daniel W. Jenkins (approx. 0.4 miles away); Central Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Block House (approx. half a mile away); Schoharie Junction (approx. 0.9 miles away); Schoharie County (approx. 0.9 miles away); Abraham Sternbergh House (approx. 1½ miles away); Gerlach Dorf (approx. 2 miles away).

More about this marker. The original New York State marker

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was taken down during reconstruction of the state road and was lost. Through the efforts of Schoharie American Legion Post 1261 and the Schoharie Rotary Club, James Cushing of the Cushing Stone Company had the new sign cast. The new marker was turned over to the Legion Post which had a new concrete based post installed and the marker was lettered and painted.

The June 1961 unveiling ceremony was conducted by James Palmatier, junior past commander of the Schoharie Legion Post; Ralph Casper Sr., member of the post and occupant of the house in which Westinghouse was born; David Enders, Rotary Club President; Charles S. Mix, supervisor of the Town of Schoharie, and James Cushing, donor of the marker.

Old Central Bridge is a hamlet in the northeast part of the Town of Schoharie on NY-7 and near Interstate 88. Central Bridge Township was carved off of Schoharie in 1804 by patent granted to Henry Witsie, but developed little until the Albany and Susquehanna railroad came through in 1863. Early in the nineteenth century the Schoharie river (a.k.a. Schoharie Creek) was spanned by three covered wooden bridges, one at Esperance, one at Schoharie and the third midway between which became known as Central Bridge.

Regarding Birthplace of George Westinghouse. "If someday they say of me that in my work I have contributed something
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, June 12, 2021

2. Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker
to the welfare and happiness of my fellow men, I shall be satisfied." --- George Westinghouse

George Westinghouse, Jr (6 October 1846–12 March 1914) was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railroad air brake and was a pioneer of the electrical industry. His parents were George Westinghouse and his wife, Emmeline Vedder. When George was 10 years old his family moved from Central Bridge, New York to Schenectady, New York where his father started the firm of G. Westinghouse & Company to manufactured farm implements. While working with his father young George acquired a realistic sense of tools, materials, machinery and structures. Later he served as a private in the cavalry for 2 years during the Civil War before being made Acting Third Assistant Engineer in the Navy in 1864. He attended Union college for only 3 months in 1865, dropping out soon after obtaining his first patent on October 31, 1865 for a rotary steam engine. Later, he invented an instrument which replaced derailed freight cars on the train tracks and started a business to manufacture his invention.

George Westinghouse is often regarded as one of he greatest engineers, industrialists, and inventor of his time. His interest in railroads led to his first major invention. Before 1869, a speeding train traveled nearly a mile before it could be stopped. Westinghouse invented an air

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, March 29, 2008

3. Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker

brake that allowed the engineer to control all brakes instantly from the cab, thus revolutionizing rail transportation. Next, he helped with the development of alternating current. Westinghouse purchased Nikolas Tesla's ac motor patents and hired him to work on development. Thomas Edison, on the other hand, thought his direct current system could not be outdone. The two became rivals competing for the huge consumer electrical market. After staging several lighting demonstrations, Westinghouse was awarded the contract to install three massive 5,000 hp ac alternators at Niagara Falls. In all, Westinghouse received 361 patents and founded 60 companies in his lifetime.

Time Line:
1846 - George Westinghouse Jr. is born on October 6, in (Old) Central Bridge, NY.
1862 - Westinghouse joins the U.S. Navy.
1865 - Westinghouse receives his first patent for a rotary steam engine at age 19.
1869 - Westinghouse develops the air brake and establishes the Westinghouse Air Brake Co. at age 23
1871 - Westinghouse gives his employees a half day off on Saturday.
1881 - Westinghouse perfects the first automatic, electric block signal designed to prevent wrecks and help move rail traffic.
1882 - Westinghouse organizes the Union Switch and Signal Co.
1886 - The Westinghouse Electric

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, August 1, 2009

4. Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker

The Westinghouse home is in the background.

Co. is founded in Pittsburgh, PA.
1905 - Westinghouse introduces the first alternating current locomotive.
1908 - Westinghouse begins a pension fund for his workers.
1911 - Westinghouse and others develop a marine steam turbine-and-gear combination to propel ships and cargo vessels.
1913 - Westinghouse initiates paid vacations for his employees.
1914 - Westinghouse dies on March 12 in New York City, at age 67. As a Civil War veteran, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. In the City of Schenectady Westinghouse has been honored with a bronze sculpture cast in his likeness and erected in June of 2023.

Also see . . . Library of Congress - About George Westinghouse. (Submitted on June 19, 2023, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York.)

Additional keywords. Old Central Bridge Thomas Edison AC vs DC Westinghoused

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, May 24, 2008

5. Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker

The marker is in the lower right of the photo which looks south along George Westinghouse Road.

Another Westinghouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, August 1, 2009

6. Another Westinghouse Marker

Another Westinghouse Birthplace marker, a plaque, is mounted on a piece of granite in the front yard of the former Westinghouse home. The plaque reads:

Birthplace of
George Westinghouse
Inventor and Industrialist
1846 - 1914
Founder of the
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
and the
Westinghouse Electric Corporation

"If someday they say of me that in my work I have contributed something to the welfare and happiness of my fellow men, I shall be satisfied." --- George Westinghouse

Another Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, December 26, 2008

7. Another Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, August 1, 2009

8. Birthplace of George Westinghouse Marker

The plaque is roadside on the stone in front of the former Westinghouse home.

George Westinghouse image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

9. George Westinghouse

Control handle and valve for a Westinghouse Air Brake image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Wikipedia

10. Control handle and valve for a Westinghouse Air Brake

By 1905, over 2,000,000 freight, passenger, mail, baggage and express railroad cars and 89,000 locomotives in the United States were equipped with the Westinghouse Automatic Brake system of air brakes.

Birthplace of George Westinghouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, August 25, 2013

11. Birthplace of George Westinghouse

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. This page has been viewed 7,447 times since then and 59 times this year. Last updated on April 18, 2012, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. Photos: 1. submitted on June 4, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 2. submitted on June 16, 2021, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 3. submitted on June 4, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 4. submitted on April 18, 2012, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 5. submitted on June 4, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 6, 7, 8. submitted on April 18, 2012, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 9, 10. submitted on June 4, 2008, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. 11. submitted on September 22, 2013, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.