Philip Perew, inventor

Philip Perew, inventor

Perew's most famous invention, a patented, giant automaton known variously as the "Electric Man," "Peter the Great," "Christopher," and the "Frankenstein of Tonawanda," appeared to draw a car but was actually pushed by it. Photo: Granger Collection, c1900. Louis Philip Perew (1862-1946) came to the Tonawandas at 17 in 1879 from Quebec. He came with his brothers and his father, a lake boat captain who settled on Goose Island. 

He was a boat captain like his father, but was best known as an inventor. In addition to his Electric Man (which underwent many changes over the years as he refined the technology and sought a market), Perew is credited with at least attempting to develop anti-torpedo technology, a canal electric trolley system, and a cigar lighter.

He was associated with local merry-go-round makers Gillie, Goddard and Company. He files at least one patent for a new merry-go-round system. From Tonawanda Herald of Thursday, November 26, 1891:

“Philip Perew, of South Canal street, has put on his thinking cap and set out in earnest to make some money. He is about to introduce a new style of merry-go-round, which in addition to hobbie horses, will have a revolving panorama and stationary stage for a variety performance. Each machine will be 45 feet in diameter, have 4 chariots, 24 horses, and 50 chairs. There will be 100 pictures magnified many times, and 8 performers on the stage. The fare will be 5 cents, as on the ordinary riding gallery, with the additional attractions mentioned. It would seem as if this apparatus, if successful, would prove a formidable rival over the original machines.

The motive power will be steam, with electric possibilities in the future. Sample outfits will be made at Gillie’s machine shops. This enterprise will be watched with considerable interest, in view of the success which has attended a similar undertaking in our midst, which has made Tonawanda famous as headquarters for the nation in this line of production."

He and Goddard were associated in one of the most horrific events in the Tonawandas history: the double murder by a mob of a canal boat captain and his son over a labor dispute in October of 1895. Neither was ultimately convicted.

1900 Census Louis P. Perew is at 49 First Street, Goose Island, with Wife Helen A. Perew (whome he married in 1884) and an adopted son. Occupation: Automobile manufacturing.

1905 Census he is in Tonawanda at his brother Thomas's 67 Tonawanda street "People's Hotel" (on Goose Island). Brother's occupation "saloon," Phillip's is blank. Both been in country 27 years, French Canadian.

In 1909 he is proprietor of the White Star Hotel (1892 NY Census has his occupation as "Hotel Keeper". Perew was an avid boat racer and builder, and owned a gasoline cruiser and a yacht in 1910s. 1915 NY Census has him living at 46 Sweeney Street with wife Stella Perew and son Joseph, and gives his occupation as "Boat Captain".

In 1916, after the Webster Street  bridge was destroyed by ice, he was hired to construct a temporary pontoon bridge while the bascule bridge was being built. In 1925 he has a store at 152 North Niagara Street in Tonawanda. He is said to have had a "private zoo" with a "Russian wolf."

1930 Census says he is still with wife Stella, has a radio set, and owns his own home (lives at 46 Sweeney), is retired, and speaks French.

Perew also owned several "disorderly houses" on Goose Island (he claims in the Cappola trial he bought them from a bank and had no idea they were disorderly). He runs afoul of the law quite often during Prohibition, and is involved in a very public bribery case against local police. Goose Island's bordellos and taverns would finally be closed down in the late 1930s. Perew lives all the way until 1946 at the White Star Hotel. The hotel's entertainments include square dancing nights and "Spanish dancing" girls. The address of the White Star Hotel? 46 Sweeney Street in North Tonawanda: the site of the present-day Alexander's Gentleman's Lounge.