1901

Western Union Buys ADT

The President of Western Union, Colonel R.C. Clowry, buys a controlling interest in 80 Direct Messenger Companies, including the original New York-based ADT. He consolidates these businesses under the name American District Telegraph. Clowry sees the long-term benefit of security services and the eventual decline of messenger services, so he separates the two within the company and makes ADT the security services branch of the business.