Earl Byron Strowger

b. 9 October 1895, d. 6 November 1992
  • Earl Byron Strowger was born on 9 October 1895 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York.
  • William B. Strowger and Sarah (?) appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Rochester, Monroe County, New York, at 3 Snyder Street. Other members of the household included Earl Byron Strowger, Clifford M. Strowger and Russell W. Strowger.
  • Earl Byron Strowger registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Monroe County, New York, while a single student of mechanical engineering at the University of Rochester, and living there at 399 Troup.
  • Lillian L. Hoffman appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1?40 8th Street. Other members of the household included Earl Byron Strowger, Howard Francis Rieger and Clifford M. Strowger.
  • He was an engineer, according to the 1920 census.
  • Lillian L. Hoffman appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York, at 1640 Eighth Street. Other members of the household included Earl Byron Strowger, Timothy Ambrose O'Brien. There were four male roomers in the household, including Tim O'Brien and Earl Strowger.
  • He was an electrical engineer with an electric utility, according to the 1930 census.
  • He married Dorothy Helen Hoffman, daughter of Albert John Hoffman and Helen Kammerer, on 7 November 1931.
  • The following appeared on 11 November 1931 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: One of the prettiest weddings of the season occurred in the Epiphany church, Main and Lockport streets Saturday evening, November 7, at 5 o'clock, when Miss Helen Dorothy Hoffman became the bride of Earl Byron Strowger. The Reverend Weeks officiated. Miss Elsa Kimball, organist, played the wedding march.
         The bride was lovely in a gown of Irish lace with a pink sash caught in the back by a brilliant buckle. She wore an ivory satin turban and pink slippers. The bridal bouquet consisted of pink roses and bon boons. Her only attendant, Miss Rose Ross, was becomingly attired in a gown of blue triple chiffon, with slippers to match. Her had was a turban of silver and gold and she carried a bouquet of yellow roses and bon boons. The groom was attended by his brother, Mr. Clifford Strowger.
         Following the ceremony the wedding dinner was served at the Red Coach Inn, covers being laid for 14. There was a reception afterwards at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Hoffman of Hyde Park boulevard and Lockport street.
         Mr. and Mrs. Strowger left on a motor trip through the east, Mrs. Strowger traveling in a Spainsh tile dress with hat to match and a brown fur jacket.
         Among the pre-nuptial affairs was a glassware shower given by Miss Marguerite Martin; a kitchen shower by Miss Margaret Pelton; a china shower by Miss Rose Ross and a linen shower by the Misses Marie Gabauer and Louise Otto.
         The groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. William B. Strowger of Rochester, were the out-of-town guests.
  • The following appeared on 19 August 1932 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: [Born] To Mr. and Mrs. Earl B. Strowger (Dorothy Hoffman), of Buffalo, at the Children's hospital in Buffalo on August 16, a son, Earl Byron, Jr.
  • The following appeared on 9 October 1933 in The Niagara Falls Gazette: Earl Strowger, Jr., 13-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl B. Strowger, 63 Stillwell avenue, died at the family home yesterday. The baby's mother was formerly Miss Dorothy Hoffman, of this city. Funeral services will be held at the home at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon with burial at Riverdale cemetery, this city.
  • Earl Byron Strowger and Dorothy Helen Hoffman appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Kenmore, Erie County, New York, at 62 Stillwell Avenue.
  • He was employed as a hydraulic engineer with a power corporation, according to the 1940 census.
  • The following appeared on circa 9 December 1963 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: [Caption] Collector's Item -- This belt-driven electrical washing machine, built at the turn of the century, is one of the many items collected for Ontario Hydro's "Museum of Electrical Progress." Looking over the machine at the Sheraton Brock, Niagara Falls, Ont., are, from the left, Charles A. Clancy, manager of the Niagara District, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp; Dr. R. L. Hearn, former Ontario Hydro chairman; J. A. Williamson, manager of the Niagra Falls Hydro Commjission; G. R. McCullough, Niagara Region manager; Col. A. A. Kennedy, Ontario Hydro commissioner; and Earl Strowger, consulting hydraulic engineer of the Niagara Mohawk.
  • The following appeared on 22 October 1965 in the Niagara Falls Gazette: Earl B. Strowger, engineer, author and one of the world's pioneer authorities on the generation of electricity by water, has retired after a 47-year career with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. and its predecessor companies.
         He joined the Niagara Falls Power Co. in 1919 after earning a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Rochester.
         He was assigned as a draftsman at the now defunct Schoellkopf Hydro Station at Niagara Falls, and later as an engineer, helped design and build the final sections of that plant which later became the center of hydro power electric generation in the Western Hemisphere.
         In 1924, he was promoted to engineer of hydraulics and since then has helped design and develop numerous stations which today number 76 across the Niagara Mohawk system with a total hydro generating capacity of 700,000 kilowatts. Since 1950, he has been the chief hydro engineer for the company.
         Mr. Strowger has written over a dozen technical papers and books concerning the various engineering feats of hydro generation and in 1950 one of his foremost works, "Hydro-Electric Power -- Design and Operation of Powerhouse and Equipment," was presnted at the fourth world power conference in London.
         In 1963, he was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the society's highest honor. He is also listed in "Who's Who" in engineering.
         Mr. Strowger co-authored with Dr. Norman Gibson an article titled "Experimental and Practical Experience with the Gibson Method of Water Measurement" and for many years was associate with Dr. Gibson with consultant work.
         A native of Rochester, Mr. Strowger is a licensed professional engineer of the State of New York and past chairman of the Edison Electric Institute's Hydraulic Committee: a former member of the National Electric Licht Association and presently a consulting engineer.
         Mr. and Mrs. Strowger reside in Kenmore. They have a son, Richard J. Strowger, who is an auditor with Price Waterhouse Co., Buffalo.
  • Earl Byron Strowger became a widower at the 14 September 1986 death of his wife Dorothy Helen Hoffman.
  • Earl Byron Strowger died on 6 November 1992 at age 97 in Harper Woods, Wayne County, Michigan.
  • Last Edited: 24 Nov 2014

Family: Dorothy Helen Hoffman b. 14 October 1898, d. 14 September 1986