The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

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This journal was kept by Madeleine Edison as a record of an automobile tour of eastern Canada and New England that the Edison family took in August 1906. Madeleine's uncle and aunt, John V. Miller and Mary E. Miller, accompanied Thomas, Mina, and the three children on the trip. Another traveling companion named George may be family friend George Sloane. The family used two steam cars manufactured by the White Motor Co — "Discord" and "Disaster"— which broke down repeatedly during the trip, as well as another automobile nicknamed "The Grouch." Among the places visited were Newburgh, Lake George, and Lake Champlain in New York; Montreal and Quebec in Canada; and Lake Attean and the Kennebec River Valley towns of Bingham, Solon, Waterville, and Augusta in Maine. Other towns visited in Maine include Lewiston, Poland Spring (where the Edisons toured the bottling house), and Portland.

At the end of the journal are five pages of verses and songs relating primarily to the automobiles Discord, Disaster, and Grouch, along with several drawings. One song, "Bring Round the Grouch Again, Poppa" was intended to be sung to the tune of "Waltz Me Round Again Willie"—a song by Edison recording artist Billy Murray that was released in September 1906.