Thomas Edison changed the world like no one else and Don Gfell made sure everyone knew it.
Gfell’s legacy as Milan’s “Edison Man” will be captured in an addition to The Birthplace Museum of Thomas A. Edison, said its President Robert Wheeler.
“Don was such a massive influence,” Wheeler said. “His whole life was education.”
The museum kicked off a capital campaign to fund extensive renovations creating the Don Gfell Education Center.
The renovation and expansion will allow for interactive displays including some of the many items Gfell collected over his lifetime.
“I can’t think of a better way to carry on his legacy than to use his collection to educate people,” Wheeler said.
Gfell’s career as an educator included 15 years as superintendent of Edison Local Schools and the creation of several scholarships through the Citizenship and Education Foundation.
After retiring, he and his wife, Bobbie, opened Sights and Sounds of Edison in Milan. The business closed ater his death.
“Growing up in Milan, Thomas Edison has been my hero my whole life,” Gfell told New Day Cleveland in discussing his shop a few years ago.
In the shop, he combined his love of Edison with his love of woodworking to craft wooden horns for Edison or Edison-style phonographs.
The Birthplace Museum was opened in 1947 on what would have been Edison’s 100th birthday by his wife and daughter.
From the beginning, it was designed to share the humanity of the famous figure not just his genius, Wheeler said.
A great-grandson continues to serve on the museum’s board.
“We are the only museum with Edison family involved,” Wheeler said. “He was a guy. He was a husband. He was a father. He went on to change the world like no one else, and he did it all through hard work and determination.”
Edison believed “the secrets of the universe are there, we just need to find them,” Wheeler said.
His descendants opened the house museum “as an inspiration to young people.”
Edison not only was an inventor, he revolutionized the way inventing was accomplished.
Previously inventors worked alone, Wheeler noted.
Modern research and development departments follow Edison’s model of bringing scientists together.
“He makes an invention factory,” Wheeler said. “He says ‘I want to create something and I need people to help me do this.’”
The Birthplace Museum takes a similar communal approach that brought Wheeler and Gfell together.
Wheeler began his involvement as a teen tour guide in the museum.
His father served on the original board, and Wheeler has been on the board since his early 20s.
Wheeler and Gfell served together for 30 years.
Gfell spearheaded the effort to place a statue of Edison in the National Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol.
Traditionally, each state has two statues in the hall, and in 2010, the Ohio Historical Society sought to replace pro-slavery Gov. William Allen.
Wheeler said there were many candidates suggested for the statue to join President James Garfield.
“That was Don’s project; he was relentless,” Wheeler said. “He said there were great reasons for all the candidates but there were 1,093 great reasons to choose Edison – that’s the number of patents he had.”
Gfell prevailed, and the statue was installed in 2016.
Gfell died unexpectedly in January 2023 leaving a grateful community.
“When you’re given a lot, you have to give back a lot,” Wheeler said. “That’s one of the things I learned from Don.”
To contribute to the Education Center, make a deposit at the Croghan Bank in Milan, drop off a check at the museum at 9 N. Edison Drive, mail a contribution to the Edison Birthplace, P.O. Box 451, Milan, Ohio 44846 or go online at tomedison.org.
