Mary E. Dillon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary E. Dillon
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 1886 Coney Island, New York
|
| Died | 20 October 1983 Honolulu, Hawaii
|
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Mrs Henry Farber |
| Employer | Brooklyn Borough Gas Company |
Mary E. Dillon (born 1886, died 1983) was an amazing American businesswoman. She made history as the president of the Brooklyn Borough Gas Company. What's even cooler? She was the very first woman in the world to lead a utility company!
Contents
Early Life and Career
Mary Dillon was born in Coney Island, Brooklyn. She was one of 12 children in her family. In 1903, when she was 17, Mary left Erasmus Hall High School. She needed to work to help her family.
She started as a junior clerk at the Brooklyn Borough Gas Company. This company provided gas to homes and businesses. Mary quickly showed how smart and hardworking she was. Within three years, she became an office manager. She kept getting promoted, becoming a general manager and then a vice president.
In 1926, Mary Dillon was named president and chairman of the company. This was a huge achievement! She became the first woman ever to be the president of a utility company anywhere in the world.
Supporting Women in Engineering
Mary Dillon believed in helping other women succeed. In the early 1920s, she joined two important groups. These were the British Women's Engineering Society (WES) and the Electrical Association for Women. At that time, these were the only groups like them in the world.
In 1925, Mary even traveled to London to visit these organizations. She wanted to learn from them and support their work.
The Kitchen Practical Project
In the late 1920s, Mary worked with another amazing woman, Dr. Lillian Moller Gilbreth. Dr. Gilbreth was an expert in making work more efficient. Mary had ideas about how to make kitchens better. She thought her own kitchen could be improved.
Together, they created something called the Kitchen Practical. This was a special kitchen designed to save time and effort. It had gas-powered appliances. The design followed three main ideas:
- All working surfaces were at the correct and same height.
- The work area was shaped like a circle.
- Tasks were planned in a "circular route" to reduce movement.
The Kitchen Practical was shown to the public in 1929. It was part of a Women’s Exposition. This project helped Dr. Gilbreth develop ideas for kitchen design. Many of these ideas are still used in kitchen planning today!
Community and Public Service
Besides her work at the gas company, Mary Dillon was very active in her community. She served on the local school board in the Coney Island area.
In 1942, the Mayor of New York City, Fiorello La Guardia, appointed her to the Board of Education. Then, from 1944 to 1946, she became the first woman to be president of the board.
Mary was also involved with other important groups. She was on the governing committee of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. She was also a director for the Brooklyn and Coney Island Chambers of Commerce.
During the Great Depression in 1934, Mary Dillon organized a unique project. It was called the Summer Portable Theater, also known as the theater on wheels. This brought entertainment to people during tough times. She also advised the Mayor on business matters and helped with the city's War Council during World War II.
Later Life
Mary Dillon married Henry Farber in 1923. She continued to use her own name, Mary Dillon, for her professional work. Henry Farber passed away in 1948.
Mary Dillon retired in 1949. She moved to Vermont and lived there until 1973. After that, she moved to Hawaii, where she lived for the rest of her life. She passed away in 1983.
