))
Robin and Joan Rolfs, Passionate About All Things Thomas Edison
Manage episode 430290774 series 3362831
Content provided by Stu Levitan, Andrew Thomas, David Ahrens, Cole Erickson, Lisa Malawski, Stu Levitan, Andrew Thomas, David Ahrens, Cole Erickson, and Lisa Malawski. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Stu Levitan, Andrew Thomas, David Ahrens, Cole Erickson, Lisa Malawski, Stu Levitan, Andrew Thomas, David Ahrens, Cole Erickson, and Lisa Malawski or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
In this edition of Madison Book Beat, host Lisa Malawski talks with Robin and Joan
Rolfs about their book Hearthstone: America’s Electrical National Treasure.
Joan and Rob have been enthralled with Hearthstone since the 1970’s when they
moved to the Fox Cities. Joan developed a successful Interior Design program at Fox
Valley Technical College in 1971.
In 1986, Joan was contacted by a member of The Friends of Hearthstone Board and
invited to become involved with the restoration of Hearthstone. Rob was also invited
because of his background in electronics and electricity. Realizing the Edison
connection and the historical importance of the house, the Rolfs accepted.
In 1990, they were given the task to develop the Hydro-Adventure Exhibit in the lower
level of Hearthstone. The exhibit increased public awareness of the role of electricity in
daily lives and the transformation which occurred in society as a result of Thomas A.
Edison’s inventions and Henry Roger’s vision for implementation.
Hearthstone contains all the original architecture and electrical light fixtures from when
the home was built in 1882. The Rolfs worked with the Edison National Historical Park
in Orange, NJ and one day during their visit met Chad Shapiro, a collector and historian
of early lighting. He shared his knowledge and provided the Rolfs with copies of original
Bergmann lighting catalogs from 1882-1884.
Approximately thirty years later, as the Rolfs researched the hanging light fixtures
(electroliers) and wall sconces, they concluded the majority of these light fixtures were
the original Sigmund Bergmann fixtures dating to 1882. The significance of these
fixtures is they are the earliest surviving examples of Bermann electroliers and sconces
in the world! This inspired the Rolfs to write Hearthstone: America’s Electrical National
Treasure.
In this episode, Lisa discusses the Rolfs passions for all things Thomas Edison, their
volunteerism at Hearthstone, antique phonographs, records, writing and their shared
love for research.
50 episodes
Share
