History Matters digs into the Delaware Historical Society’s archives each month to explore connections between key people, places, and events in history and present-day news.
Among the historic buildings in Dover’s First State Heritage Park is a museum dedicated to Eldridge Johnson, a man whose legacy is relatively unknown to many Delawareans. Johnson, a Dover native, was the man behind the Victor Talking Machine, better known as the Victrola. A walk through The Johnson Victor Museum reveals many of his creations including dozens of Victrolas, classic recordings from famous artists Victor's own record label, and his famous trademark Nipper, whom many know today as the RCA dog.
In this month’s “History Matters”, WDDE's Ben Szmidt and Susan Geary visit the Johnson Victor Museum to examine the little known legacy of one of Dover’s most successful sons.