Thomas Edison’s First Job
One of my current projects is writing a camping handbook. The book will include all kinds of camping information from tents to luxurious RV’s as well as basic information about the camping lifestyle. The book will, since I am a history nerd, also include a fairly extensive history of camping.
Camping Beginnings
Humans have camped from their earliest days. During the vast tidal sweep of our history camping was mostly a way of life for many nomadic tribes or a fact of life for soldiers on campaign. Recreational camping did not begin until just after the American Civil War. The first camps were mainly group camps staged during the summer months, mostly for young men and women.
Became Popular in the Early 20th Century
Camping as a recreational activity for families did not become popular until after automobiles came on the scene. It was group of disparate wealthy, well known men commenced a series of road trips in 1914 that were well publicized by the press that the idea of the Great American Road Trip began. Which leads us to a famous man who was part of the group that called themselves the Vagabonds, Thomas Edison.
Thomas Edison’s First Job
Thomas was a precocious lad who was mature beyond his years. Because of his maturity, he managed to convince his parents to allow him to sell newspapers to passengers riding the Grand Trunk Railroad line that ran between Detroit and Port Huron, Michigan. Each train station had a teletype machine which received fresh news every day. Edison figured out he could read this news, transcribe it and sell the rag to the news hungry passengers on board the train. He started a newspaper he called the Grand Trunk Herald. In addition to the newspaper, he sold food to them, a venture that netted him about $50.00 per week. This is equivalent to about $1,820.00 in 2024 dollars.
Banned from the Train
He used this money largely to purchase the chemicals and equipment he needed to conduct experiments. He set up a laboratory on the baggage car to conduct experiments. One went awry, however, when some of the chemicals caught fire, setting the baggage car ablaze. The conductor boxed his ears and banned him from the train, after which he had to sell his newspapers and food from train stations.
On To Success
Edison took this setback in stride and went on to a successful inventing career during which he would file over 1000 patents. His patents included a phonograph machine, the first moving picture projector, a fluoroscope, improved telegraph equipment and a rechargeable battery. Of course, he also patented an improved version of the incandescence light bulb.
Connection to Camping
So what is Edison’s connection to camping? I guess you will have to purchase and read the book after I publish it to find out. Meanwhile, you can enjoy this book on our first year’s camping experiences.
Camping Across Indiana
Join us on our first summer of exploring Indiana’s myriad destinations by camper. Visit the World’s Largest Paint Bball, a sunken garden, and stroll across the mighty Ohio River. Using Indiana State Park campgrounds as a base camp we day trip to many intriguing destinations across the Hoosier State. Looking for some interesting road trips? Use this informative tourism guide to plan your own Indiana road trip adventure. Even if you don’t camp, you can still enjoy the road trips.
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