Edison was alight with celebration when the Edison Memorial Tower was illuminated after a renovation that brought life back to the 77-year-old beacon.
“The special relationship Middlesex County shares with the legacy of Thomas Edison has never been forgotten, and this monument is one of the most significant reminders of that relationship,” Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios said before the event.
The lighting served as the culmination of a day of free festivities Oct. 24 at the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park on Christie Street, where the inventor perfected the incandescent light bulb in 1879 in what was then Raritan Township.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony kicked off the event at 12:30 p.m. Local and state officials were on hand to welcome the crowd and express gratitude to those who helped make the restoration happen.
School bands and choirs set the soundtrack for the day, which included activities for children and tables sponsored by area businesses.
The museum and its outdoor gift shop were open for tourists, and refreshments were available, along with a picnic grove.
The prolific inventor and guest of honor made an appearance with the help of a re-enactor, posing for photos and working the crowd. In addition, a park ranger from the Thomas Edison National Historical Park conducted demonstrations on how recordings were done on wax cylinders, which were another of Edison’s numerous inventions.
The tower lighting at 7 p.m. drew the crowd to the event’s centerpiece, which had been dark for years.
The event was sponsored by the Board of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park.
“The tower has long been a symbol of Edison Township and the developments made here by Thomas Edison himself,” said Freeholder Charles E. Tomaro, chairman of the county’s Infrastructure Management Committee, who also serves on the Thomas Edison Center Board. “It is only fitting that it should be lit once more for all to enjoy.”
Clockwise from top: A crowd lingers around the newly illuminated Edison Memorial Tower after the rededication ceremony Oct. 24. Kathleen Carlucci, director of the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park, holds the knife switch used to light the restored bulb that sits atop the tower. Shown is an original bulb from 1929. The tower illuminates the night sky. PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN The rededication day marked the beginning of fundraising for an expansion to the Thomas Edison Center. The plans include an educational center and community meeting place. The 36-acre Edison State Park offers a nature trail and other amenities.
The center has received more than 18,000 guests from all over the world this year, according to center representatives.