On the morning of April 30, 1923, characterized by a refreshing coolness typical of spring, three young individuals engaged in play within the confines of their yard in Schenectady. The Alexandersons were offspring of an immigrant family from Sweden, who relocated to the United States to enable their father to secure employment with the General Electric company.
Twenty-five years prior, Thomas Edison collaborated with financier JP Morgan to consolidate his company along with others into the General Electric Company. Ernst Alexanderson, their father, played a pivotal role within GE’s research and development team, focusing on communications research, and had ascended to the position of a prominent executive scientist.
The notoriety surrounding his inventions likely rendered the Alexanderson residence a prime target for criminal activity. He might have been viewed as an individual who, akin to Edison, significantly benefited from the groundbreaking technologies emerging from the GE Schenectady laboratories. It is evident that this assertion lacks accuracy, as corporate inventors during that period would observe the resultant revenues being allocated to their employer. Notwithstanding this, the appealing residence in Schenectady’s General Electric Realty Plot likely appeared to be an attractive target.
The eldest of the Alexanderson daughters, Edith, aged 11, later recounted to the police that she and her younger sister Gertrude, who is 7, were engaged in play with their brother Verner, aged 6, when an unfamiliar man approached them. He claimed to possess an excess of pet rabbits and expressed a willingness to gift the children a few bunnies, subsequently instructing the two girls to return with a box.
Upon the departure of the girls, young Verner was escorted away. The narrative surrounding this kidnapping captured global headlines, serving as a precursor to the events that unfolded a decade later involving Charles Lindbergh and his spouse.
One year prior to the Alexanderson kidnapping, General Electric, along with its RCA subsidiary, established WGY radio station in Schenectady, marking it as one of the earliest commercial radio stations in the United States. Ernst Alexanderson played a pivotal role in the design and construction of this station, which stands as one of the most powerful and significant among the early stations. When the moment arrived to disseminate information regarding the abduction of their son, Verner, Ernst and his wife formulated a strategy to utilize WGY for effective communication.
The Alexanderson family disseminated the news multiple times on WGY. The intrigued public was presented with detailed accounts of his son, alongside descriptions of the two individuals observed placing Verner into a vehicle and departing. The rewards increased significantly due to contributions from various sources, rising from $1,000 to $5,000, which was a substantial amount during that period.
Following the initial day of standard broadcasts concerning the kidnapping, a woman contacted the police to report that she had listened on her radio to information regarding the search for a boy. She claimed to have observed him with an unfamiliar individual on the city streets at approximately 3:15, one hour subsequent to his departure from home. She declined to disclose her name or address and terminated the call when the police attempted to question her. Nonetheless, it instilled a sense of optimism in both the Alexandersons and the police, suggesting that the radio might serve as an effective instrument for engaging the public in the resolution of a significant criminal case.
The two individuals accountable had transported Verner to a remote cabin in the forest and enlisted a family member to attend to his needs. Upon learning that their descriptions were widely known throughout New York and Canada, a sense of concern began to permeate their thoughts. A resident of Ogdensburg reported to the police that he had rented a vehicle to the two individuals mentioned in the radio broadcasts. Stanley Crandall and Harry Fairbanks, now apprehensive that their criminal actions were widely known, departed from Verner and embarked on a Rowboat journey spanning 22 miles across the St. Lawrence River, ultimately reaching Canada. Years passed before their apprehension, yet ultimately, the police achieved success in their pursuit.
Young Verner, isolated in the cabin with a Dog, was encountered by another radio listener, who arrived as a handyman to repair a window and distinctly recognized the boy. He returned home three days later, in a state of safety and well-being. This marked a pioneering moment for radio; those broadcasts proved to be instrumental in resolving the situation. It was a case of abduction that ultimately concluded favorably. During that period, such occurrences were uncommon.
Ernst’s narrative extends well beyond his endeavors in radio. As previously stated, his advancements encompassed innovations that extend well beyond that particular scope.
Philo Farnsworth is often recognized for his pivotal role in the development of the modern television system. However, it is noteworthy that several years prior, in 1928, images were transmitted over the air using a rudimentary 24-line video signal, observed on a diminutive 3-inch screen at Alexanderson’s residence in Schenectady. The audio was synchronized and transmitted via WGY.
Matthew Parij 