Thomas Edison beat out the Wright Brothers and eight other nominees to become Ohio’s representative to the National Statuary Hall Collection in the U.S. Capitol.
The Ohio Historical Soc-iety announced on Wednesday the results of the contest, which gave Ohioans the opportunity to decide who should stand for Ohio in Wash-ington. Votes were collected at 36 historic sites and museums, as well as online. The voting opened March 20 and closed June 12. More than 37,000 Ohioans cast ballots.
“The response of the popular vote was extraordinary,” said Burt Logan, executive director and chief executive officer of the Ohio Historical Society, in a press release. “Ohioans of all ages and from every region of the state took this opportunity to tell state legislators who they want to represent the state in the National Statuary Hall … .”
Edison received 12,132 votes followed by 10,895 for the Wright Brothers. A distant third was William M. McCulloch, with 3,569.
In case your Ohio history fails you, McCulloch, of Wooster County, was a 20th-century congressional civil-rights leader. Orville and Wilbur Wright of Dayton are generally credited with inventing, building and flying the world’s first successful airplane.
And Edison? Why he invented many of those old-fashioned analog devices like the phonograph, incandescent light bulb and motion picture camera. There are 1,093 U.S. patents in his name, plus numerous patents in other countries.
Interestingly, Ohio’s claim to Edison is minimal. He was born in Milan but grew up in Port Huron, Mich. He married an Akron woman, Mina, but his inventing career was launched in Newark, N.J., and his research center was at Menlo Park, N.J.
The National Statuary Collection Study Committee will consider the public vote to be the greatest single factor in making its final recommendation to the full General Assembly for approval. Once the decision has been made and private funds raised, the new statue will join the statue of President James Garfield as the Ohio representatives in the hall.
The vacancy was created when the Ohio General Assembly decided to withdraw the statue of William Allen, Ohio’s 31st governor (1874-76). The assembly decided Allen’s pro-slavery position and criticism of President Abraham Lincoln during the war made him a “poor representative” for Ohio. His statue will be returned to Ohio.
The other candidates, in order of their ranking after McCulloch, were: Jesse Owens (athlete), Ulysses S. Grant (military commander/ 18th president), Harriet Beecher Stowe (author), Harriet Taylor Upton (suffragette/ author), Judith A. Resnik (shuttle astronaut), Albert B. Sabin (oral polio vaccine inventor) and James Mitchell Ashley (congressman, territorial governor and railroad president).
“Clearly, the process to help choose the new statue has brought a renewed interest in American history and to the significant contributions of these exceptional Ohioans who helped shape who we are as a nation today,” Logan said. “It has engaged thousands of Ohio citizens in an unprecedented way by encouraging public participation and continued learning.”
Local News
Edison to replace Gov. William Allen in Capitol
- Local News
-
-
LIS sixth graders participate in Outdoor Learning Day at beach
Thanks to Lakeside Intermediate School’s participation in the Waterways Adventure program, students may do more than play in the water when they go to the beach this summer.
-
Students learn about community at PV Middle School
Pymatuning Valley Middle School students got a shot of reality from a variety of different sources Friday during an all-day program designed to help understand their community and life responsibilities.
-
Holiday weekend brings sizzling start to summer
After many weeks of balmy weather, Mother Nature is poised to crank up the thermostat — just in time for the big Memorial Day holiday weekend.
-
Dragon makes history with space station docking
The private company SpaceX made history Friday with the docking of its Dragon capsule to the International Space Station, the most impressive feat yet in turning routine spaceflight over to the commercial sector.
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
-
Casino tax cash could be arriving soon
Those rolling dice and spinning slot wheels in the new Cleveland and Toledo casinos will generate a modest jackpot for Ashtabula County, but the exact amount is anything but a sure bet, said County Auditor Roger Corlett.
-
Fire does significant damage to Lenox Township home
Firefighters from three area departments battled a smoky, early-morning blaze at 1400 Route 46 South, said Jefferson Fire Chief John Wayman.
-
Conneaut City Council studies school safety collaboration
City Council next week will consider a partnership with the local school district to embark on a new school security system.
-
Madison Township man in jail on pending drug charges
Madison Township Police Department and members of the Eastern Lake County Warrant Entry team served a search warrant at 22 Eddie Road in the Western Reserve Trailer Park early Friday morning.
-
Six ready to interview for Buckeye’s super job
The Buckeye Local Board of Education will conduct interviews with six superintendent hopefuls next week, said Board President Jacqueline Hillyer.
- More Local News Headlines
-
