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Chicago Edison participated in construction of the Iroquois Theater and in the disaster. The company wired the
theater and installed light fixtures, overseen by
Iroquois Theater electrician
Archibald Bernard and lighting engineer Harry Bissing,
then after the fire donated portable fixtures for
first responders. In addition to the Chicago company, Iroquois Theater manager
Will J. Davis had a business relationship with Thomas Edison.*
When lanterns were inadequate for firefighters and
rescuers at the Iroquois Theater, the Chicago Edison Company
donated carbon arc lamps for use inside the auditorium as well
as on the street outside.
The
T. W. Wilmarth Company supplied sconce and "Etruscan crystal bowl" electroliers
at the Iroquois . Wilmarth was a wholesaler who supplied fixtures to several other Klaw & Erlanger theaters in Chicago and around the Midwest.
The president of Wilmarth, Joseph H. Dimery, served as auctioneer for a
promotional Iroquois Theater seat auction in mid-November, 1903, and was a
survivor of the Mr. Bluebeard matinee at the Iroquois Theater.
Chicago Edison building
was located at 139 Adams.
Chicago Edison sold hardware in its early days and went on to become
Commonwealth Edison. The building
pictured above housed the offices and a powerhouse for 100,000 lights. Shepley, Rutan
& Coolidge was the designer.
Chicago Edison appliance advertisement reveals
an interesting transitional period in technology.
Not every residence converted to electric lights had wall outlets
but there was usually a ceiling fixture.
Discrepancies and addendum
* In the estate of Iroquois Theater
manager
Will J. Davis was one of Thomas Edison's personal business cards.
Yours truly came across it late one night while sorting through a
box of Davis's correspondence. It was just a business card, not
worth a great deal, not important enough to wake up my sleeping spouse, but a wow moment nonetheless. I was
sitting in my dining room in my sweats, holding something that had been
touched by Thomas Edison. There
were other gems in Davis's papers but discovering that card was an
unforgettable moment.
Uncontrolled lighting played a role
Archie
Bernard Iroquois Theater electrician
Fire alarms at Iroquois Theater
Other discussions you might find interesting
Story 1125
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