406 Janneys Lane

Janney’s Lane? No, the Post Office says its Janneys Lane.

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So, every time I move to a new town, I learn its history.  I did that when I moved to Cambridge and Boston, again in Ann Arbor, Long Beach (CA), Charlottesville, and Alexandria.  And, that usually meant that my kids were subjected to those searches and adventures, too.

One of the key places my kids and I enjoyed touring in Alexandria was Janney’s Lane, a curvilinear street that juts off King Street and joins Seminary Road.  (You should know that King Street was/is the dividing line that separated Alexandria, DC from the rest of Virginia- until Virginia took control of its piece of DC.  Note further that Alexandria was the first conquest by the North in the Civil War- to protect Washington, DC, the US government took full control of Alexandria.)

On Janney’s Lane is a wonderful old home.  Number 406, a white, stately, structure that served as a hospital during the Civil War.   And, those patients that survived managed to carve their initials in the walls, the lintels, the door posts.   But, until recently, I had no clue about the REAL history of 406 Janney’s Lane.

406 Janneys Lane

The street was originally known as Stump Hill Road and Old Seminary Road.  (The Seminary in question is the Virginia Theological Seminary, the second oldest- but largest- Episcopal Seminary in the US.)  And, Number 406 was purchased by Eli Hamilton Janney in 1883, when he was 52.

Janney served in the Civil War- on the Southern side, of course- as a Major under Robert E. Lee (another Alexandrian).  And, with all the rail lines that traversed Alexandria, Janney was very familiar with the problems that rail cars had- how they needed to be attached and removed from the long trains, how rail cars needed to change directions.

I’m guessing he also knew a few brakeman.  These folks put themselves in grave danger, positioning directly between the ends of two rail cars.   And, it was their job to drop a pin into the link that held the two cars together.  The problem was that the train’s engineer couldn’t see these folks; after all, they were between two rail cars.  Any unexpected movement- a jerk, a forgotten hill- meant the brakeman lost a finger- or worse, a leg or his life.  (40% of all rail accidents around the time of the Civil War occurred when cars were coupled or decoupled.)

pin and link coupler

Alexandria remained a hub-bub of rail activity, even after the war.  And, while Janney worked on King Street, he wasn’t far from the rail yards or the Alexandria Hospital (which was also a few blocks away).  And, he was positive that he could develop a much better solution, even though he was a dry goods clerk.

The problem was that Janney lacked an education and didn’t know how to draw.  But, he kept at it.  Until one day (here comes serendipity), he hooked his hands together by bending his knuckles.  Eureka.  He had it.  And, he whittled a bunch of “prototypes”, until he honed the idea to perfection.

Janney's Coupler

His coupler was an improvement, but was still somewhat dangerous for the brakemen.  He continued to perfect his design (initial patent in 18968) and by 1873, he had it all.  (Patent 138405)  His coupler had a draw-head and revolving hook- so no brakeman was needed for the coupling.  No lost fingers.  No lost limbs.

Five years later (1878), he licensed McClonway and Torley (Pittsburgh) to sell his concept. He made enough money to buy the home (now 406 Janney’s Lane), but he never became a financial success.

His invention became the US government’s mandated design for rail cars in 1893.  And, by 1912, when Janney died, only  4% of rail accidents were due to coupling or uncoupling.  (This is kind of like how colon lavage managed to cut the rate of infection in bowel surgery from almost guaranteed to almost never.)

Janney is buried in the Ivy Hill Cemetery, the site that made it impossible for one to travel across Timber Branch Parkway.   (This was my address  for some 25 years.   By the way, like the controversy over Janney’s/Janneys Lane- it’s either Timberbranch Parkway or Timber Branch Parkway.  There are signs for both.)

While never rich, Janney’s gravestone says it all:

His work was a benefaction which in itself will constitute his worthiest memorial.

Oh, and Alexandria renamed Stump Hill Road as Janney’s Lane.  And, now the Postal Service says its Janneys Lane.

He still doesn’t get the recognition!Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.

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8 thoughts on “Janney’s Lane? No, the Post Office says its Janneys Lane.”

  1. Janney lane invention journey is impressive being uneducated he never stop trying and finally succeeded. Great Gift to the mankind thanks for sharing

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