EMPORIUM — Members of the Cameron County Historical Center will host an event to commemorate the unveiling of a historical marker honoring the Sylvania Corp. which is being placed along West Fourth Street in front of the former Sylvania Club.
The presentation will begin at 2 p.m. today at the Emporium Fire Hall, to be followed by the unveiling of the plaque at the Northern Tier Community Action Corporation building.
The historical marker will honor the Sylvania Corp. and its many contributions to Emporium, Cameron County, and the United States throughout its decades-long history in the community.
Historical Society Vice President Susan Hoy will cover the history of Sylvania and the people who ran the company and patented many of its products and processes. The contributions of the company and community residents to efforts during World War II will also be highlighted.
Also scheduled to present is a representative of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Andrea MacDonald, who currently serves as director of the agency’s Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office.
MacDonald is a native of Erie who has a personal connection to the Sylvania corporation, as her mother had a long career as a Sylvania sales representative in Erie.
The presentation will cover the history of the Sylvania Corp., from its beginning as the Novelty Incandescent Company in 1906 in St. Marys, through its former headquarters present-day use by the Caldwell Corp.
On several occasions, operations were relocated from Emporium to St. Marys. During the most notable of these occurrences, research and development efforts, which were kept secret from majority stakeholders, continued in Emporium and resulted in the invention of a new product, a radio tube, which would completely change the direction of the company, and the community.
The presentation will also touch on some of the people who spearheaded the company’s efforts throughout history.
The company would eventually purchase Hygrade Incandescent Lamp Company, to become the Hygrade Sylvania Corp., becoming a leader in the radio industry.
Efforts to back the United States government during the second World War are likely the most notable of the company’s achievements. Technologies developed by members of the Emporium community would go on to revolutionize war communications and artillery, and likely helped the allies win the war.
The presentation will be held at the Emporium Volunteer Fire Department beginning at 2 p.m. on May 29, with dedication of the Historical Marker to follow. The marker will be placed along Fourth Street in front of the former Sylvania Club.
