GE moves to Schenectady 1892

The story of how General Electric moved to Schenectady from New York City in 1892. The first 3-phase AC hydroelectric generators were made in Schenectady, and the growth of the US power grid starting in Redlands, California.
The corruption of NYC Unions and government frustrated the management of GE and caused them to leave. City government was constantly asking for bribes while unions flexed their arms of power. This stifled the growth of Edison General Electric, and managers of the new General Electric Company formed in 1892 did not wish the same fate. The small city of Schenectady grew quickly as thousands of workers moved in. The Erie Canal town was tranformed forever.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Steinmetz
• Thomas Edison
• Capitalism
• Growth
• G.E.
• G-E
• GE
• General Electric Company
• Edison Tech Center
• Edison Exploratorium
• AC power
• Alternating Power
• first Alternating Current
• first AC Power
• beginning of the power grid
• early electrical power
• history of electricity
• historia de electricidad
• three-phase
• 3 phase
• national grid
• edison electric
• Redlands
• Mill Creek 1
• first hydropower
• J.P. Morgan
• Wallstreet
• birth of GE
• start of General Electric
• founding
• foundation of GE

[dennman6]

My great-grandfather, Gabriele Formichelli, worked for GE from 1909-1947. He had come over from Italy in 1901 & raised 10 children in Schenectady. All of them went into the GE at some point after high school, until WWII when the men(my great uncles) went into various miltary branches. Of the ten children, I have two great aunts left-one 89 & the other 95. The family lived not far from GE at 2129 Broadway from 1922-2009. My great aunt was the last to live in the house (age 4 in '22), til 2009.