The
year was 1894. The town of Springfield woke up by sunlight,
ate supper by candlelight, and slept by moonlight. Such
was the routine of countless generations before, that the
idea of a new form of light had to be a tough sell. But
thanks to Mr. Franklin (Benjamin, that is), there was now
a better way to live. Something called “electricity”
was going to change the world as we know it. There were
few uses for it yet, but the incandescent light bulb was
independently changing the face of Main Street, USA. All
the big cities were installing these new lights along there
best streets, and the downtown social scene across America
was becoming ‘the place to be’ thanks to this
marvelous invention.
Electricity
was THE invention of the century, and the incandescent light
was THE application of the decade. So on September 11, 1894,
Mr. Bell appeared before the Aldermen of Springfield with
a gleam in his eye. He knew he could sell this stuff. Before
the night was over, Bell had struck a deal “to furnish
the
corporation of Springfield with fifty incandescent lights
of the very best material – each light to have fifty
candle power … for and inconsideration of the sum
of Seventy-five dollars a month.” The board would
decide on the location, and if they could not agree, the
Mayor would decide.
By fall
of 1905, construction of the water and light plant was complete
and the City of Springfield began selling electricity. Public
Power had come to Springfield! There were approximately
two miles of electric lines and 17 electric customers in
1905. The electric rate was 13 cents per kilowatt-hour,
more than double today’s rate!
The
citizens of Springfield, our customers, have witnessed the
service and prompt response of the electric department employees
countless times over the years when the “lights go
out”. The dedication of our employees, both past and
present, is the primary reason the electric department has
served the Springfield community successfully for more than
100 years. . Bob Nixon managed the electric department from
1934 to 1956, Royce Williams from 1956 to 1988, Ralph Jarrell
from 1988 to 1994, and Robert Gardner from 1994 to present.
We
are proud of our history, our employees, and the commitment
to Public Power that the City of Springfield has demonstrated
throughout the century. It is our sincere hope that the
Springfield Electric Department will continue to be a “shining
light” in the City of Springfield for centuries to
come! Today, we have 20 full-time employees.
