Bell Labs Holmdel facility is not extinct yet. The lab, which for 44 years was used by scientists to discover & create some of the world’s greatest technological advances, might be saved from demolision through the work of bloggers.
My sincerest thanks to Ryan Block of Engadget for taking this important story to its readers. Read his post today. Together, Sellsius° & Engadget hope to spread the word to save this technological piece of history for future generations to enjoy. With the help of our readers, the site can be preserved as a National Historic Site or even a museum.
The Holmdel Lab was the birthplace of seminal technological discoveries. We have no problem preserving the homes of famous individuals with nice plaques, why should we not preserve the home of one giants of technology, Bell Labs. See our original post “Save Bell Labs From The Wrecking Ball”.
In my research on this story I contacted the former head of all research done at the Holmdel lab told me that almost all of the optical transmission, wireless, and microwave work was done at Holmdel. He went on to say that “the first transmissions to a satellite were sent from Holmdel in a message by President Eisenhower.” Further that “radio astronomy was discovered at the Holmdel site in 1937 by Jansky.”
Let’s give it a look to see if it’s worth saving as much as a celebrity’s childhood house. We respect the new property owner’s right to use the land but perhaps a piece of it can be preserved for its historic value. A parking lot with a plaque may not be enough of a remembrance.
Email New Jersey Historic Preservation Office at : NJHPO@DEP.STATE.NJ.US
Contact National Register of Historical Places for Listing this property.
Everyday since pre-school I have driven by this plant, staring at the yellow sign that says PLANT DRIVEWAY. After reading the article I have never realized the plant’s significance, and agree it should be made into a museum being a resident.
Thanks Kyle.
At least maybe a piece of the site can be preserved. If not, there may not even be any sign to pass for your children to see.
At the very least, they should leave the transistor-shaped water tower. It’s on the very edge of the property, and was the public face of the site. It’s pretty much the only part the public ever saw. Besides, the water tower could still be used.
An Open Letter to PREI regarding recent acquisition of the Bell Labs / Lucent Technologies Holmdel Facility:
I worked at this Holmdel facility, contributing to Bluetooth before it was mainstream, as a 16-year-old high school summer student, and again as a college Junior working on life-saving cell phone technology. I can offer only personal experience and humble opinion.
Every day I set foot in this facility, I felt honored to walk the same halls as Nobel Prize winners, brilliant scientists, and the superstars and idols of the research and development world. A brisk ascent to the top of the big green hill offered a quasi-religious experience for a young technophile, and gazing up at the worlds first RADAR antennae left me with inspiration, and a sense of awe and wonder. My supervisor comically referred to them as “Big Toys” - with a smirk that revealed his deep and abiding RESPECT for the decades of scientific discovery these inventions stood for. And I always felt that these treasures should be shared with the world.
With the acquisition of this property, there stands a one-time immense opportunity to hunt for, dig up, gather and present the remarkable stories of remarkable individuals who have paced Holmdel’s halls - seeking answers to impossible questions, and devoting their lives to connecting people across the globe. Today, we take their work for granted - we have here a simple and powerful way to honor their legacy.
No doubt, the facility as it stands will need some dedicated individuals to convert the site to a museum-worthy historical preservation site, but in a country which increasingly idolizes sports stars and Hollywood celebrities, a little inspiration for scientifically minded youth could go a long way. It certainly did for me.
Alternatively, this developer can choose to replace the history-laden laboratories with office space. The thought of such a rich and landmark-worthy estate buried beneath the sands of time truly saddens me.
The fact remains that this facility stands as a rare gem of scientific legacy for both NJ and the United States. I can already see the class-trip school busses rolling in. Where else in this country will you find this kind opportunity for preservation of innovation history?
Thank you for your open ears and hearts.
frank - thanks for your comment.
the tower is a great symbol of what bell labs stood for. i agree that that should be preserved. after speaking with the real estate developers today, it sounded like they had good intentions regarding preserving some of the history of the site. we will wait to see what happens.
-rdb°
pj - thanks for sharing your experiences at bell labs with all of us. we appreciate it.
we love to hear the stories of those who have worked there. we spoke to a few people including a former research and development exec who shared many wonderful stories with us and confirmed many of the technologies that were researched and invented there. memories of technologies past should be preserved.
please feel free to drop us an email to discuss further at elatedclients@sellsiusrealestate.com
regards,
-rdb°