History’s
Mysteries
The Edgewater Hotel's Historic Otis Elevator
Edgewater Hotel began construction in 1923 and opened its doors for business on January 26th, 1927. It features
many charming rooms, some restored to their original splendor. However, there is one room that is more special
than others…. This room is not one of the guest suites or even the lobby, but the original Otis Gearless Traction
Electric Elevator.
On August 3rd, 1811, one of the most famous inventors was born. This man did not become famous from
creating something from scratch, unlike other inventors of the era; he took a piece of technology and made it
operate more safely and efficiently. He came from a small community near Halifax, Vermont, and was the youngest
of six siblings. The product that he improved upon was none other than the elevator, which its concept dates back
to the Roman architect Vitruvius (287 BC – 212 BC), and through the years has evolved to the modern day lifts
that we use in every day life. This man did not start his career by improving on the elevator; he had many other
inventions that changed different industries: the railway safety brake, rail turns for speeding, rails for four-poster
beds, and he also improved on the turbine wheel. This man is none other than Elisha Graves Otis.
Elisha was working for Maize and Burns Company of New York in 1852, as a machinist, and he took on a
project for which Mr. Maize asked him to devise a solution. The problem was that the company needed to store
supplies on the second floor of the plant, and had no way to efficiently relocate the items upstairs. Elisha designed
an automated lift to assist with this issue. The Safety-Hoist Elevator design was so successful that in 1854 he
demonstrated the lift, with the brake system that he designed, at the Crystal Palace Exposition in New York City.
He was so confident of his new Safety-Hoist Elevator; he stepped onto the lift and raised it to its highest point. He
then instructed his assistant to take an axe and cut the thick rope that held the platform in place. The Safety-Hoist
break held, and at that point the elevator industry began a new era.
On March 30, 1857, the first elevator was installed in the E.V. Haughwout and Company department store
in New York City. The cost of the wonderful piece of technology was $300.00, and only rose 40 feet per minute.
People from all around the city flocked to the store just watch in awe as the elevator made its continuous journey of
going up and down.
In 1861, Elisha received the patent from the United States Patent Office, and unfortunately shortly thereafter
passed from diphtheria. However to carry his legacy, his sons, Charles and Norton, formed Otis Brothers and
Company, by purchasing 14 competitor companies. By 1873, there were over 2,000 steam powered Otis elevators in
use in office buildings, hotels and department stores around the United States – each one operated by an attendant.
In 1880, the Otis Brothers were hired to install their elevator systems in the White House and at the Washington
Monument, bringing the nation’s capital up to the times of technological evolution.
By the turn of the twentieth century, the Otis brothers were becoming the leader of their industry, but it was
in 1903, when they introduced the Gearless Traction Electric Elevator (the very same system, which is still in use
at the Edgewater Hotel). This new marvel of technology became the backbone to their everlasting success. Then
in 1931, the brothers installed their elevator in the tallest building in the world, at that time, The Empire State
Building.
Today Otis Brothers and Company is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, which is the world
leader in building systems. There are 1.7 million Otis elevators in operation around the world. If you have ever
spent any time in an elevator, chances are you spent it in an Otis.
Making the trek to historical Winter Garden either by car, on bike, or public transportation, stop by the
Edgewater Hotel, stay for the weekend and ride in the Otis Gearless Traction Elevator, the very same that Clark
Gable had ridden – it’s well worth the trip.
march 2015
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Winter Garden Magazine
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