Samuel Morse invented the telegraph… everybody knows that. But not everybody knows the name Alfred Vail, nor do many know of his involvement in the telegraph. Fortunately everyone can learn about Vail in the very place where the telegraph was developed, Historic Speedwell in Morristown, New Jersey.
Historic Speedwell, part of the Morris County Parks System, is a charming place proudly displaying life in the mid 19th century. The site tells the story of Stephen Vail and his family, including son Alfred. The Vails have an interesting history to their name, as Stephen was the proprietor of Speedwell Ironworks. Through the company, the Vails had a hand in the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean (S.S. Savannah), and the development of the telegraph in addition to being prominent Morristown residents.
While at Speedwell visitors can tour the Vail house and get a feel for life in the mid 1800s, explore the Granary to see some of the tools used to grow crops and harvest ice, or check out the Carriage house which contains an exhibit on the Speedwell Ironworks. The big draw to the site is definitely the Factory building! See the place where all the magic surrounding the telegraph happened and where the use of the telegraph was first demonstrated in 1838! Learn not only about the history of this amazing invention but also about the science behind it. The exhibit is wonderfully done mixing the history behind the invention with circuitry, and electromagnetic conduction that actually powers it!
The telegraph changed the course of history and communications and more often than not people can take such huge developments for granted. Historic Speedwell does a lovely job of bringing the idea of the telegraph back down to earth and putting it in the context of the people who worked so hard to make the telegraph possible. But what I love about this site, is that you don’t just see the telegraph… you get a glimpse into the life and times of Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail which in turn gives you insight into the kind of technology available before the telegraph (a la Granary and Ironworks exhibits). Trust me, it’s worth dashing out to Morristown to check out!
Historic Speedwell is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sundays noon to 5 pm. Daily tours are given and workshops and events are often given on the weekends. For more information go to http://www.morrisparks.net/speedwell/home.html
