Historic Otis Elevator Turns 100

Many things in the 1920s were made to last. The three-stop elevator in The Woodrow Wilson House in Washington, D.C., is testament to this, turning 100 years old in 2021. It is one of the oldest working units in Otis Elevator Co.’s portfolio, according to the company’s website. Like many things in the historical house, the elevator has been largely unchanged throughout the years. While many of its mechanical parts have been replaced, including the motor, the original cab has remained. Most of the replaced parts are still stored in the machine room. The elevator, which was converted from a hand-cranked “trunk lift” before the former president and his wife moved in in 1921, opens on two perpendicular sides, adding to the list of its unique qualities. “When I walked into the house for the first time, I knew it was going to be totally different from the other elevators I service,” said Otis mechanic Mike Finamore. Finamore has been maintaining the elevator for about seven years. The historic landmark opened to the public as a museum in 1963, two years after the passing of the former first lady, Edith. Before she died, she gave the house – and its elevator – to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to serve as a monument to President Wilson. Before COVID, the house hosted 20,000 visitors annually. “It’s impressive to realize that, as a company, we have our name on a product that continues to last,” said Otis D.C. General Manager John Jellerichs. “And, it’s a testament to the skills of our field colleagues and their ability to successfully service our equipment for more than a century.”