Old Man Tiedemann was how I always heard the businessman and inventor referred to. I don’t think that I ever heard the first name and I believe that the business name was something like “Tiedemann Church Maintenance.” (On reflection, “Old Man” probably actually was meant as a term of respect, not a description of age.) His children were addressed by their first names or a diminutive, e.g., “Bob.”

I was at the Castle once on a summer evening when I was maybe 12 yrs old — over forty years ago. Your uncle took us on a ride in the motor boat. I remember the imposing structure on the lake — and how loud the bull frogs were!

Over ten years ago, I came across a banner from an ancient political campaign — Tiedemann for City Council. I brought it to Robert Tiedemann’s Jersey City law office. Bob was not in, but his nephew — who I knew from St. Peter’s Prep — was there. Jersey City is the world’s biggest small town.

The term “Old Man” was one used by his sons only; all others showed him the proper respect calling him John or Mr. Tiedemann. My grandfather was never named Maintenance Director of the Archdiocese of Newark by the Bishop. He worked for Saint Michael’s Parish in Jersey City, NJ then started and operated a private company painting churches until his death in 1981. The priest you are referring to was Msgr. Le Roy E. McWilliams of Saint Michael’s Parish. John Tiedemann proceeded designing and building a boom mounted jeep with the full knowledge and cooperation of Msgr. McWilliams who made the initial investment for the telescopic boom to paint the church. The contract between them was my grandfather would paint the church for free if he could keep the boom to start his own business. He invented and held the patent on the equal weight outrigger distribution systems now common on most all modern booms and aerial lifts.

Never in my life did was my grandfather driven around in a chauffeured limousine, such an idea is absolutely preposterous. As I stated in my previous post, anyone who knew him knows he always did things for himself. He was down to earth, unpretentious, and would never have allowed such a bourgeois display. He did appreciate quality craftsmanship and owned several Rolls-Royces late in his life, but he drove himself.

As for The War of the Worlds radio dramatization, my father was an older child when that happened recounting the story to me many times. My grandfather was far too intelligent a man to fall for such stupidity and knew what was going on. In fact, Orson Welles used local towns and landmarks in the story so all anyone had to do was look out the window to see nothing was going on, and that’s exactly what happened.

Regarding your sources you should know his son the lawyer at the Five Corners [EDITED. . .] In fact my grandfather hated lawyers and wanted him to become a licensed architect. He was looking toward the future wanting to move into the new construction of churches and ecclesiastical structures expanding his business, but he refused his father outright.

I hope the accurate information I have provided will set the record straight about a man who was honest, generous, brilliant, and far ahead of his time.

Tiedemann Family Member

My father knew the entire family from the old Downtown Jersey City neighborhood. In fact, my father — as a child — informed Old Man Tiedemann that the War of the Worlds radio dramatization was just that. Taking Orson Welles seriously (along with many others), Old Man Tiedemann was loading his truck in preparation for heading for the hills — literally.

Charging “terrible distortions and outright fabrications” is quite the bombshell; I’m waiting for the specifics.