The Detroit times., 1914-11-28
EDISON OFFENDS
HIS BIRTHPLACE
BY STUNNING IT
Twice, Say Residents Of Ohio
Village, He Has Disap-
pointed Them
GALA DAY PREPARED
FOR HIM ON OCT. IS
Representative at West Orange
Denies Inventor Promised
n to Come

SANDUSKY. Ohio, Nov. 27.-The
twenty-three hundred residents OF
Milan, fourteen miles southeast Of
this city, can't understand why
Thomas A. Edison persistently re
fuses to revisit the town and the
little brick house in the outskirts in
which. nearly siXty-seyen years ago.
he was born
Edison was in this vicinity recently
and visited nearly every place in
which he had ever been before except
Milan. He spent several days at
Port Huron, Mich, where with his
parents he lived for several years af-
ter leaving the village Of his birth. He
was the guest OF the city OF Cleye-
land for two days, and later OF the
city OF Akron, where he met wooed
and won his wife.
Before leaving Cleveland for Akron
Mr.. Edison said he would spend day
or two in Milan before returning
home, and at once Milanites COM
menced making preparations TO re-
ceive and entertain him. Mrs. Nancy
Wadsworth, a first cousin, who. with
her daughter, Miss Maud Wadsworth,
occupy the place, had the old Edison
homestead looking spick and span.
Toms coming TO see u.s. Mrs.
Wadsworth told her neighbOrs, and
we want him TO be pleased"
John l.. Williams, the oldest man
in the place, was made chairman OF
q reception committee. He was a
friend OF Edisons father and was
among the first 10 extend congratu-
lations after Tom was born, on Feb
ruary IL, 1S47.
October rs was the day that Edison
was expected, and 1t was Williams
ninety-ninth birthday. Martin Har-
ter, the village druggist, from whom
Edison's father purchased paregoric
TO relieve the stomachaches OF baby
Edison, was also among those who
awaited the visitor George Schaefer
was another. Harter is ninety-fiye
and Schaefer ninety-one, and both
were intimate friends Of the elder
Edison. Milan was gayly decorated
Men, women and children wore their
best apparel. II was TO be great
day for Milan.
But the hours passed, evening
came and Edison had not shown up
Finally the evening papers arrived.
containing a dispatch from Akron
saying that Edison had changed his
mind and revised his itinerary. I'm
visit Milan some other time" he was
quoted as saying
It's the same old story" said VIII
liams. I'VE have been disappointed
before. Edison doesn't want TO come
here. For my part i shall never
dress up to receive him again
disappointment was general. The
lights OF dozen coal oil lamps in the
little brick house in the outskirts OF
the village were extinguished. The
little group that had assembled at
Mrs. Wadsworth's To greet Tom dis
persed.
Last summer Milan had home
coming celebration and Edison re-
ceived a special invitation, bound In
leather. accompanied by letter bear
ing the signature OF every man,
woman and child in the village who
was able TO write. The day before
the celebration began the committee
received brief note from the in
yentor stating that he was held by
important business, was sorry and
would pay Milan visit later on.
Two years ago, when a new high
school was dedicated, Edison was in
yited to deliver the principal address.
He declined, explaining that he was
too busy just now"
He left Milan with his parents at
the age OF six years and has never
seen Milan since.
Mr.. Edison's personal representa-
tive and biographer. William II.
Meadowcroft said, at the laboratory
in West Orange: Il
When Mr.. and Mrs. Edison and
their son Charles left by automobile
10 go 10 Detroit, there was no inten.
ton OF visiting Milan. From Detroit
Mr.. Edison went 10 Port Huron. Mich
where he spent his boyheod. and then
TO Mount Clemens, where he learned
telegraphy. While In the west he re.
ceiyed numerous invitations 20 visit
old friends, but he was called home
Unexpectedly, owing TO some pressing
business matters Mr. Edison. no
doubt. will sooner or later visit
Milan"
Regarding the invitation OF last
summer 10 attend the Homecoming
celebration in his native town. IL was
impossible at that time owing 10
numerous very important problems
with which Mr.. Edison was dealing