Electric Power Comes to Fitzwill

Electric Power Comes to Fitzwilliam^©

“You Light Up My Life”

by Jennifer L. Adams

Figure 1. “Electricity.” - Poem published in the Monadnock Breeze, October 22, 1904.

INTRODUCTION

Today, we take for granted that electric power will be there for us, whenever we want it, at the flick of a switch. And it has been, as long as we can remember – an integral part of the basic fabric of our lives. We don’t even think about it, except perhaps when severe weather interrupts our service, or an unexpectedly large monthly bill or rate increase jolts us in the pocketbook. From our good friends at the:

But what can we do? Not much more than grumble and dig out a flashlight or candles, and locate that old box of stick matches, and wait! Wait for the lights to come back on and – with a sigh of relief when they do – go about resetting all those danged digital clocks flashing out that annoying modern “12:00” – that can be one of life’s most spiritually challenging interruptions! But these rare events usually pass with minimal lasting effect – temporary inconveniences – and we go on with whatever important things we had been pursuing, before being so rudely interrupted.

Not so, just 100 years ago! Oh, sure, all the big cities had electric lights, and often enviable new electric-driven subway or trolley systems: far-away London and Paris, glittering New York, Chicago, Boston; even Manchester and Keene. But not Fitzwilliam. We did have the Railroad, to be sure, and that since way back in the 1840’s; but all roads and streets hereabouts still fell dark on moonless nights, as they had for countless eons, save for a few scattered points graced by private lamps. And homes, shops, barns, churches and other town buildings still depended, primarily, on kerosene for light from dusk till dawn. In this respect, little had changed. What changes did come, came slowly.

For a good many years, it appeared, in regard to street lighting – and, eventually, electric street lighting – that Fitzwilliam would find itself cast as an early-day Charlie Brown, attempting to kick that football, but always being victimized, as something invariably would happen to whisk it away. Would the good Townspeople ever vote to enter the Twentieth Century? And if they did so vote, would the effort ever reach fruition?

Figure 2. The Impossible Dream?

This is a story that longs to be told. To a great extent, we stand aside and let the story tell itself!

[Note: throughout this account, quotations from the Monadnock Breeze are highlighted in red text, with certain words or phrases bolded and/or underlined herein for editorial emphasis. More detailed information about the Breeze may be found in Appendix I.]

THE OFFICIAL (1984) VERSION

[as given in the book Fitzwilliam: The Profile of a New Hampshire Town, 1884–1984, by the Town History Committee of Fitzwilliam, pp. 33-35]:

Lighting the Town

For many years a lantern hanging on a post in front of the Town Hall was the only light on the Common, and it was lighted only when the building was in use at night. Later on, when several gas lanterns were installed around the Village, lamplighters were hired to light the lanterns in the evening, turn them off at a later hour, and take care of cleaning and refueling them. The torches used for this purpose were probably also seen in torchlight parades.

The need for electric street lighting was being considered in the 1890s but in 1904 the town voted to install such lighting in the Village and Depot, with lights on the road from the Village to the Depot. The work was never done, and the following year the vote was rescinded. It wasn’t until 1913 that lights were installed. Service was supplied by N. H. Water and Electric Power Co. (lights for the Town Hall, for six months’ service $16.88), later Derry Electric Co., with a substation at the Depot. Today electric power is supplied by Public Service of N. H.

According to Silas White:

Electricity came to town from Jaffrey and later, when the New England Power ran their steel tower line down through the northeast corner of town and into Winchendon, we got ours up through Sandy Hollow to the substation where the town barn is now [1984]. There was a small light in the railroad station that worked off their telegraph system, but the first light from the power company was in the store my father and grandfather owned. We first received power at our farm in 1913 when they ran a line down to the Laurel Lake Inn.

The Town Hall was wired for electricity the same year streetlights were installed. When the lights were turned on for the first time, it was such a momentous occasion that most of the town turned out for it. Electric service gradually came to homes, and by the late 1930s electricity was available to nearly everyone, but not until the late 1940s for those living in the most remote areas.

The coming of electricity meant an end to filling kerosene lamps and a chance to enter into the electric age of washing machines, putting an end to use of scrub boards. The refrigerator made its appearance, and the old icebox began to disappear, though ice was still cut and sold to keep food cool in the summer, and the cold pantry was used in the winter until the early 1950s. Very few people are alive today who remember the “good old days” when there was no electric energy to power the many laborsaving and recreational devices we take for granted.

THE REVISIONIST (2007) VERSION

That “official” description above is pretty good, as far as it goes; but don’t be misled into believing that “lighting the town” was some smooth, continuous, ever-ascending primrose path of “sweetness and light,” a superhighway leading straight to “enlightenment.” It wasn’t, by any means, as hinted by those unexplained delays. That favorable vote at the 1904 Town Meeting was a high point along the way – overall, a sequence of often rancorous and contentious struggles that took years to work through. This revised standard version [apologies] guides us to mid-1916, when the Derry Electric Company came to town. At that time, America still clung to a certain sense of innocence, now long since passed, with harsh memories of our own Civil War fading. The horrors of the Great War still remained “over there,” an ocean away, and we still remained over here, largely insulated from them. But storm clouds were gathering. Times change (social environment); things change (physical environment); people change (personal belief structures).

Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose.

Let’s go back and see what it was like, shall we?

THE PROGRESSIVE ERA?

We begin in 1901, at the heart of what was then called in the United States the “Progressive Era.” [See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Era .] In Fitzwilliam, “street lighting” was entirely a matter of private, individual initiative: a small group of citizens, led by John S. Blair, had organized the “Fitzwilliam Street Light Fund” in order to work together, pooling their meager resources to advance the cause. This group was greatly assisted by the efforts of young Fitzwilliam resident Conrad W. Crooker, who had begun just the year before – with the assistance of his father, Francis W. Crooker – to publish a small weekly newspaper, the Monadnock Breeze, distributed in Fitzwilliam and Troy, which focused on matters of local interest. As such, the Breeze actively strived to keep this topic before the public eye:

[March 20, 1901]:

Street Light Matters. I would acknowledge the receipt of $2.00 from H. Handy, for the benefit of the Fitzwilliam Street Light Fund. This was one of the pledges recently noted in this column as among those still unpaid. A gasoline blow-torch with which to light the lamps, was purchased March 19, of Chandler & Farquhar, Boston.

It cost.......................................... $2.50

Expressage was........................... .21

-------------------

$2.71

C.W. Crooker

That same month, they had succeeded in placing an article onto the Town Meeting Warrant list:

March 12, 1901, “at nine of the clock in the forenoon:”

Art. 8.—To see if the town will vote to accept the system of street lighting as proposed by contributors to the street lighting fund, and raise and appropriate a sum of money not to exceed five hundred dollars for the support and maintenance of the same for the ensuing year, or take any other action in the matter.

Result: the Town voted to appropriate $250 for street lighting. The Breeze provides us a direct window into what followed, right down to the nitty-gritty of globes broken in shipment:

[April 3, 1901]:

“The long expected street lights for Fitzwilliam have arrived, but we regret to state that through insufficient care in packing, a number of the globes are broken. John S. Blair, chairman of the lamp association committee, has received the shipment under protest and immediately took steps to fix the responsibility of our loss either upon the lamp company or the R.R.”

[April 10, 1901]:

“The selectmen of Fitzwilliam are about to issue a call for bids for the work of caring for the new street lights. Estimates should cover all gasolene [sic: a spelling variant initiated in 1865; the modern spelling appeared in 1871] to be used in operating the lamps and also any breakages which may occur. The caretakers must assume all responsibility for the operation of the systems, under the direction of the selectmen. We hope that a large number of bids will be received with as little delay as possible.”

“It has been decided that the responsibility for the breakage of the Fitzwilliam street lamps does not lie with the lamp manufacturers. Any damage which may be collectable [sic], must be obtained from the railroad company. Monday afternoon the case containing the damaged shipment was opened, and it was found that only two of the globes were broken. While this is an inconvenience, yet the loss is not excessive. The work putting the lamps together is in progress, and there is every reason to believe that the lamps will be put up within the next week. The public may rest assured that no effort will be spared by Chairman John S. Blair of the street lamp committee to hasten the work, as he strongly appreciates the fact that never were the lamps more imperatively needed than at present. At no time would they be more heartily welcomed by the public than during the present season of mud and rain.”

[April 17, 1901]:

“The time for entering bids for lighting the street lambs [sic] in Fitzwilliam expires tonight (Wednesday) at 5 o’clock. We hope a careful man will secure the contract. The manner in which the lamps are cared for will qualify their efficiency.”

[April 24, 1901]:

“The selectmen of Fitzwilliam have received but one bid for the care of the new street lights. This was submitted by J. M. Derby. The bid was $420. The board has only an appropriation of $250 to expend for this purpose, hence the bid of Mr. Derby was rejected.”

“The selectmen of Fitzwilliam await a proposal from any reliable person for the care of the street lights, which comes within or does not exceed the appropriation of $250. The largest part of the system is now equipped and the remainder only awaits such missing parts as have been caused by the breakage of four globes and two mantles.”

[May 8, 1901]:

“We would say for the benefit of the curious that the poles left over from the lot used in putting in the street lights will be moved from beside the common in Fitzwilliam at once. The Hotel Co. has purchased all but one which will be set immediately in its position near the Baptist church. The shavings left by the pole shavers last fall will be removed this week by the Hotel Co.”

[May 24, 1901, page 1]:

“Street Light Matters. The extra parts needed to complete the equipment of the system of Best street lamps in Fitzwilliam, arrived Saturday night. The five unplaced lamps will be put up before next Saturday night. It is hoped that a full illumination of the system will be possible within a few days. Every lamp is guaranteed by the manufacturers, and those so far tested in Fitzwilliam have done all that was claimed for them. The writer hoped to be able to announce in this issue the name of the man who would light the lamps for the coming year, but it is impossible for him to do so, as the man who has expressed the greatest willingness to undertake the work has been unable to as thoroughly investigate the working of the system as he would desire to before accepting the proposal of the selectmen.

The following letter from the Best Street Light company is self explanatory.

Canton, O. May 17, 1901.

Mr. Conrad Wingate Crooker,

Fitzwilliam, N. H.

Dear Sir: We are in receipt of your esteemed favor of the 9th and same carefully noted. Relative to the cost of operating 22 arc lamps No. 58, we cannot tell exactly, as this differs in different localities, but we think that $250 would be ample to maintain this number of lamps a year. For instance, this lamp consumes a quart of gasoline in 12 hours. If you want them to burn 300 nights, five hours per night, this makes 1500 hours per year, divided by 12 is 125 quarts or 60 gallons [sic] of gasoline consumed by one lamp per year, figured at 10 cents per gallon is $6 worth of gasoline consumed in one year, and we figure that one lamp will consume a mantle per month or $2.40 per lamp for mantles. Lamp lighter’s services should be secured very reasonably in your town, and we also believe that you can secure gasoline at less than 10 cents per gallon by buying in barrel lots. You can figure it yourself on the above basis, and we think that with ordinary care and economy that $250 will cover it. You ask to be referred to some town in that part of the country using lamps like the one you have. As it would take considerable time to go over our order books and give you such a list, we will send it later, but the following towns are using our No. 58 lamps, though they are not in your vicinity, and we would be pleased to have you write to them: [three names and addresses are given.] We will have the clerk go over the order books and make up a list of additional towns using these No. 58 lamps, and will forward you the list when completed. Thanking you for your order and wishing you success, we remain,

Yours truly,

THE BEST STREET LIGHT CO.”

[Thereupon follow, the texts of eight testimonial letters from various satisfied customers around the country, two of which were written by Gale Sherman, of Colonial Beach, Va.]

“It may be well to note the fact that Mr. Gale Sherman of Colonial Beach, Va., the author of two of the foregoing testimonials, is a man who is personally known to Mr. David H. Firmin of the Fitzwilliam board of selectmen. The foregoing correspondence should be of interest to many people who do not believe $250 is enough money to operate 22 of the Best street lights for 300 nights, and also to any unskilled persons who without knowledge of the lamp or its proper manipulation have been in haste to condemn it and to declare it to be ‘no good.’ No reputable firm willfully misrepresents its goods. The writer hopes that any doubting Thomases that there may be will take the trouble to write to any of the persons referred to in the foregoing testimonials, and see and hear the truth for themselves.

C. W. CROOKER”

“There is no reason why the editor of this paper should be kicked, cussed and insulted because the street lamps are not already in operation. Any agreements which we made with any of the subscribers to the street lighting fund we have amply fulfilled. The town of Fitzwilliam has accepted the street lamps and voted a sum of money for their operation. When that vote was passed, the direct responsibility of the editor of this paper for the support of those lamps was at an end. It has since remained for the selectmen of the town to take such action as would ensure the successful operation of the lamps which had been given to the town and had been placed in their care. If through lack of interest or force of circumstances they have not done this, then the editor of this paper absolutely refuses to be held accountable. If blame there be, put it where it belongs.”

[May 31, 1901]:

“Scarcely a single month has passed of the new century without the attention of the world having been called to some new use for electricity, some new appliance for the working of modern scientific miracles. Round-the-world telephony has just startled us by looming at once into practical possibility. The wireless telegraph is just born. The ‘telegraphone’ has appeared – an artifice by which a telephone message may be stored away, captured and help automatically, to be tapped when leisure comes. With this the dreaded ‘busy’ will cease to be a bugbear. Seeing by wire has been one of the fairy promises of the past; now it is almost in view. When Smith in New York City can call up Brown in Singapore, pass the time of day, smell his curry and remark upon the becomingness of his pith helmet, distance will lose its frightfulness and absence, stingless, drop to the measure of a mere passing annoyance.”

[June 28, 1901]:

“The Fitzwilliam street lighting system is ready for complete operation. It is hoped that the selectmen will be able to secure the services of a competent man to care for the lamps at an early date. The editor of this paper has entirely completed his work upon them.”

[November 22, 1901; an apparent reference to unspecified nocturnal activities in the cemetery]:

“Was it the resurrected spirit of the “Fitzwilliam Street Light Movement” that was seen recently in the Fitzwilliam cemetery at 1 o’clock in the morning?”

[January 3, 1902; a lament, concerning the tentative climate of the times]:

“It is a matter for regret that 1901 went out with the street lighting system in Fitzwilliam still unused.”

[February 22, 1902]:

“Action taken by the Fitzwilliam street light subscribers at their meeting last Tuesday evening indicates that a strong majority of the subscribers to this enterprise are unshaken in their confidence in the lights. Despite the strong prejudice which obtains against the system on account of its non-operation, there is a disposition on the part of many fair-minded men to secure, if possible, a renewed appropriation at the coming town meeting. It is thought desirable that the lamps be given an opportunity to demonstrate either their practical worth or their utter worthlessness to the town. We are glad that a committee has been elected to advocate this appropriation at town meeting. We are greatly pleased with the personnel of this committee and feel confident that collectively this committee will be a strong factor in advancing the interests of the street lighting in Fitzwilliam.”

Again, the issue was brought to the Annual Town Meeting, in two Articles:

March 11, 1902, “at nine of the clock in the forenoon:”

Art. 8.—To see if the town will vote to reappropriate the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) for the care and maintenance of the Fitzwilliam gasoline street lighting system for the whole or such part of the ensuing fiscal years [as] can be arranged to the best advantage of the town by the board of selectmen, or whether the town will vote to return all its rights and title in the Fitzwilliam street lighting system to the subscribers to the Fitzwilliam street lighting fund.

Art. 23.—To see if the town will vote to appropriate the two hundred and fifty dollars raised for street lighting purposes, and now in the town treasury, for the purpose of painting the town house, or take any vote on the same.

But again, a similar result – and Mr. Crooker was not a happy man:

[March 15, 1902]:

“By a vote of 66 to 53 the passage of the street light resolution was voted down.”

“It was not a partisan measure, and its defeat was not the result of any points against the system which were raised by the opposition.”

“A fair trial of a system of street lighting, against which no tenable objection could be made, was denied by the town as a result of personal spleen and prejudice. Fitzwilliam goes on record as figuratively and actually preferring darkness to light, and there is little of which the town can be proud in the rejection without a fair trial of the Fitzwilliam gasoline street lighting system.”

“Every point so raised was clearly shown to be a more or less willful distortion of facts and incidents. The measure was thrown down under a storm of ridicule and absurdity, which was in itself too paltry for the consideration of thoughtful men, but was effective at the behest of a few citizens of the town, whose chosen spokesman proved an excellent selection for the work which he performed.”

“To the very few friends of street lighting in Fitzwilliam who had the courage to support the editor of this paper in his advocacy of the street light resolution in town meeting last Tuesday we wish to express our thanks. The knowledge that even a few citizens recognized our disinterested motives in this matter as well as the true merits of the measure before the house, gives us satisfaction.”

“We believe that the sober, second thought of the voters of Fitzwilliam will regret the action of the town in turning down the gasoline street lighting system. The resolution offered by the original subscribers to the street lighting fund was a perfectly fair, businesslike proposition. A reappropriation of money already raised, was asked for to test the practical value of 20 gasoline street lights which were given to the town one year ago. The express stipulation was made that if the board of selectmen should at the end of three months find the system inefficient or unpractical, all expenditure under the appropriation should cease, the unexpended balance revert to the town treasury and the town’s right and title in the system return to the original subscribers.”

But Fitzwilliam was not alone in its “disdain” for progress; the attitude of neighboring Troy could better be described as ... [yawn...] ... “disregard.”

[March 8, 1902]:

“The editorial mind is nursing a few suspicions as to what ‘they’ will do at the Troy town meeting next Tuesday ... that the electric light committee appointed last year will report the death of the electric light idea for Troy.”

[March 15, 1902, re: Troy town meeting]:

“The calling for the report of the electric lighting committee brought out the fact that the committee had never been called together.”

Editor Crooker fired a parting shot:

[March 22, 1902]:

“There was once a man so lazy and shiftless that he would not even attempt to care for himself, so his friends decided to bury him. All arrangements were made for the funeral. The man was placed in a coffin and drawn slowly towards the cemetery. The procession was stopped by a friend, who said: ‘It is too bad to bury the poor fellow. I will give him a cord of wood.’ At this point the victim slowly raised the cover of his coffin and asked, ‘Is it sawed?’ and upon being answered in the negative, he replied, ‘Go on with the funeral.’ We were reminded of this by the action of a town not far from here that was presented with a system of street lights. The lamps were accepted, but when they would not light themselves and maintain themselves, the town said, ‘Go on with the funeral, we don’t want them.’ ”

And Fitzwilliam lamp owners managed as best they could:

“A meeting of the original owners of the street lamps was called last Tuesday night. J. D. [sic] Blair acted as chairman and W. S. Chaplin as secretary. On motion of David Firmin it was voted to allow any subscriber who is sufficiently interested to run and care for a lamp, to take one and point, use and maintain it at his own expense. The lamps not in use to be taken down and stored. The matter was left entirely in the hands of Mr. J. S. Blair for adjustment.”

Accordingly, disposition of the unused $250, appropriated for street lighting at the 1901 Town Meeting, was warranted for consideration in 1903:

March 10, 1903, “at nine of the clock in the forenoon:”

Art. 13.—To see if the town will vote to cover the two hundred and fifty dollars raised and appropriated for street lighting purposes into the town treasury or to take any vote in relation thereto.

To no one’s great surprise:

[March 14, 1903]:

      “The $250 street lighting appropriation was voted into the general fund of the town...”

And life went on, largely undisturbed by this initial episode of “progressus interruptus.”

“Progress?” This was progress:

[April 18, 1903]:

“A. J. Blake has increased his office equipment by the addition of a modern type-writing machine.” Yes, our very own Amos J. Blake, Esquire, [attorney-at-law], the long-time “Squire of Fitzwilliam,” whose residence today serves as the home of the Fitzwilliam Historical Society, the Amos J. Blake House Museum. No, it’s not electric, but don’t forget this “modern type-writing machine,” for we shall revisit it two years hence!

“Gaslight?” Most lamps were fueled by liquid oil – refined petroleum distillates, like kerosene. There were no gasworks here, as in many large cities, or gas distribution networks of lines or pipes feeding buildings and strings of elegant freestanding lamp posts with their ‘points of light’ shining after sundown. Not in Fitzwilliam. Not that kind of “gaslight.”

Alternatively, acetylene lamps did come to be offered, as in this advertisement:

Figure 3. Ad placed November 1, 1902, in the Monadnock Breeze.

... and this street lamp, shown below. The upper barrel-shaped chamber was filled with water, which dripped onto calcium carbide pellets in the housing directly below, to generate the flammable gas acetylene, which was fed down into the globe via a thin metal tube [partially visible above the pellet housing], where it was ignited for illumination. An excellent discussion of the history, processing and usage of acetylene, can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetylene

Figure 4. A Fitzwilliam Street Lamp: Operating on the same principle as miners’ lanterns, water in the upper part of this street lamp dripped onto carbide crystals, producing acetylene gas. Such lamps were not the property of the town but were privately owned (this lamp stood in front of the home formerly owned by Mildred Davis on Lower Troy Road). The entire apparatus stands about five feet in height, and could be hoisted and suspended by the ring at its top. [Artifact located at the Amos J. Blake House Museum.]

MR. WHITNEY COMES TO TOWN

“Mr. Whitney” was Elisha M. Whitney, born June 22, 1861, the grandson of Elisha Murdock of Winchendon, founder of E. Murdock & Co., once the oldest and largest woodenware manufacturing establishment in the country. His father, William W. Whitney, Murdock’s son-in-law, had joined the firm as a partner in 1859. Young Elisha, who grew up in the Murdock-Whitney House, which today serves as the home of the Winchendon Historical Society, joined his father’s firm at the age of eighteen, soon becoming a partner and factory superintendent. In 1889 he married Mary, daughter of the prominent inventor and manufacturer, Baxter D. Whitney. Among other achievements, as one of its foremost citizens, Elisha Whitney had established the Winchendon Electric Light Plant and distribution network there.

From this mention in the Breeze, we find notice of his plans to directly “set foot” in Fitzwilliam in 1903:

[February 21, 1903]:

      “We understand that the sale by Andrew Amidon this week of the Bowen mill to Elisha Whitney of Winchendon, means that under favorable

conditions from 10 to 12 men will be continually employed here in getting out staves for use at the Winchendon plant.  No pails or tubs will be

finished at Fitzwilliam, but this plant will mean some local activity, and there is little likelihood that the Bowen mill will ever be recorded in another

report of the labor commissioners as a ‘deserted industry.’ ” [Note: this property is catalogued as Site #574 in the Fitzwilliam Historical Site

Inventory.  Situated at the Depot, it was one of many woodworking mills in town in 1875, also the site of the Bowen Brothers Basket & Chair

Factory; today, no visible evidence remains.  Mr. E. N. Bowen invented a steam engine governor, patented on October 14, 1886.  The deed of

conveyance from Amidon to Whitney, dated February 19, 1903, and recorded in Vol. 331, Page 388, at the Cheshire County Register of Deeds,

indicates that Amidon had acquired the property in 1902 following Bowen’s bankruptcy.  The tract description included “the mill and all other

buildings thereon including the engine and boiler and all machinery and belting therein, two main shafts and two main belts...”

Logistically, this location provided direct transport of product, via the Cheshire Branch of the B. & M. Railroad, from the Depot to Mr. Whitney’s

facilities in Winchendon.]

Let’s follow the trail of his progress in Fitzwilliam, and its ramifications:

March 21, 1903: “Deacon Horace Coolidge has sold about 50 acres of wood and pasture land to Elisha Whitney of Winchendon.” [Note: For several decades Whitney’s great-uncle, Ephraim Murdock, a prime mover in the woodenware industry, had established many business partnerships in Cheshire County (including, for example, the mills at Squantum Village in Jaffrey, with Dennis Howe and then Thomas Annett), until his death in 1882. Now, Elisha Whitney, both for himself personally and for his company, E. Murdock & Co., continued to acquire numerous tracts of real property “north of the border” from Winchendon.]

April 4, 1903: “E. N. Bowen will sell his personal property at public auction today at 1 o’clock preparatory to his removal to Putney, Vermont, where it is reported that he will be employed in a toy manufactury.”

April 18, 1903: “John Cross has given up his position in Bradford, Vt., and upon the opening of the Elisha Whitney mill at the Depot will take charge of the same.”

June 13, 1903: “The Elisha Whitney mill expects to begin operations June 15.”

June 20, 1903: “The capacity of the new Whitney dry house is 360 cards. A maximum temperature will be maintained of 220 degrees. Mr. Whitney says the new mill will begin to do business next Monday.”

July 4, 1903: “A crack was discovered Wednesday in one of the brick walls supporting the boiler at the Whitney mill which necessitated a shut down for a couple of days. The wall was easily repaired.”

“George Wheeler is working at the Elisha Whitney mill.”

July 18, 1903: “Last year a prominent citizen and manufacturer of Winchendon generously offered a course at the Murdock high school to a certain bright boy graduate of the village grammar in Jaffrey. The boy’s rank in scholarship was seen in the fact that he passed over the preparatory school year that is required of all the grammar school graduates of Winchendon and entered the high school with honor to himself and great pleasure to his teacher. The fact reflects credit upon the school system, its teachers and the boy himself.”

August 8, 1903: “The Whitney mill is about to be equipped with a very effective fire protective service of its own. Lines of hose will be run in connection with a steam pump which will be supplied from a water tank of 3000 gallons capacity.”

September 19, 1903: “Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Derby have removed to the Whitney mill tenement from their former location at Laurel Lake.”

October 10, 1903: “Two new switch bumpers have been set this week opposite the Whitney mill.”

October 17, 1903: “A new 80 horse power boiler will soon be installed at the Whitney mill.”

And then, the phrases we’ve been waiting for: “electric power”... “electric plant”...

October 31, 1903: “We understand that now is the time for those persons who have desired to secure electric power in the stone business at Fitzwilliam depot to make their practical desires known. We are told that the Whitney mill is soon to be equipped with an electric plant, and any one desiring to purchase electricity from this mill should arrange to do so at once.”

November 14, 1903: “Eugene Belcher is now working at the Whitney mill.”

“An electrician was in town, Thursday, looking over the Whitney mill, preparatory to installing an electric plant.”

“Work has been retarded this week at the Whitney mill on account of lack of teams and the delay of the arrival of the new boiler.”

December 5, 1903: “The brick building for the new boiler at the Whitney mill is 19x16 and will have a steel roof. The boiler is set within a 24-inch double brick wall. On the west end of the mill an addition 36x16 is being built for the merry-go-round.”

December 19, 1903: “The setting of the new boiler for the Whitney mill is completed and the boiler ready for use this morning.”

Meanwhile, new developments were taking place in Troy, where Messrs. Thompson and Wheeler had entered the acetylene lighting business, complete with gas pipes extending to their customers; and in Jaffrey [that is, today’s ‘Jaffrey Center’], where the idea of oil-lit street lighting had been introduced:

Troy:

November 14, 1903: “N. P. Thompson and W. H. Wheeler have installed a 35-light acetylene gas machine. Lights will be supplied for the postoffice, Wheeler’s store, Rich & Farrar’s store and the house of Dr. H. S. Platts. If successful in operation a 200-light machine will be put in operation this spring.”

November 21, 1903: “The fixtures for the new system of gas lighting were installed at the postoffice on Thursday.”

December 5, 1903: “The Thompson-Wheeler gas plant was operated for the first time last Monday night. The light supplied is very satisfactory, and the takers are much pleased with the results demonstrated to date.”

Jaffrey:

May 2, 1903: “There is a prospect of street lamps at the Centre in the near future.”

May 9, 1903: “At the street lighting meeting held last week, it was voted to use the Melville academy fund, amounting to about $70, and some money raised for the purchase of high school apparatus in this village, for street lights. The lights will be 20 in number, similar to others in use in the town, and will cost $3.50 apiece.”

November 14, 1903: “The committee in charge of the purchase and location of the new street lamps consists of Mrs. S. E. Lawrence, the Rev. W. W. Livingston and Miss Alice Cutter.”

November 21, 1903: “The local paper, however humble, is eagerly read by those far away from home. It’s so natural for us all to wish to know what has happened or is going to happen while we are away. Some one said, ‘The street lampposts in Jaffrey are too near to the ground.’ At first sight they look a good deal shorter than posts in other towns. We have seen none in operation, but think Jaffreyites will lose none of the light in the upper air, but will get it all upon a good traveling level. They are substantial in appearance and will soon be in working order.”

November 28, 1903: “The Jaffreyists feel that their street light posts have been the subject of much criticism. They say the lights will cast no shadows on the housetops. They are willing the stars and the moon shall do that. They are now looking forward to having the railroad give up its freight, and then the lamps will be trimmed and burning.”

By early 1904, the idea of public “street lighting” had begun to gather momentum in the region served by the Breeze, now grown to include Jaffrey as well as Fitzwilliam and Troy [other towns would be added later], but along different lines of approach; the stage was set for action at the respective upcoming town meetings. Comparisons are instructive:

[February 13, 1904]:

Troy: “There will be an article in the Troy town-meeting warrant this year to see if the town will vote to accept a proposition made by Messrs. Thompson and Wheeler to light the streets of the town by means of acetylene gas. The field has been carefully looked over this past week by a constructing engineer from New York, and what is claimed to be a perfectly practical scheme of lighting has been outlined. Troy is badly in need of some kind of street lights other than the scattered oil lamps as at present. A prominent citizen made this remark with regard to the new proposition. ‘Electric lights are undoubtedly better than anything else, but there is no immediate prospect of their being possible in Troy. The acetylene lights are very effective, especially as house lights, and as to house lighting I think more gas could be sold here for that purpose than electricity. My attitude toward the proposition rests entirely upon what it is going to cost. This town cannot afford to pay any $1000 per year for street lights, and I think good service should be had for not more than $600 per year.’ ”

Jaffrey: “A citizen of Jaffrey says: ‘This town needs electric lights before it needs a high school building.’ Says another, ‘We need both, and ought to have them.’ Of two needs, where but one can be met, the greater good should be secured. Is the pathway of the mind or the pathway of the body of prime importance?”

[February 27, 1904]:

Troy: “The Troy town meeting warrant was posted Monday. It contains 14 articles. All but four are in relation to the routine business of the town. ... The article which is of principal interest to the voters of the town is article 2. [Note: this is in error; it was “article 11 (eleven).”] This article reads as follows: ‘To see if the town will vote to contract with the Troy Gas Light company to light the streets with acetylene gas for a term of not less than five years and raise money for the same or take any action in relation to said article.’ The Troy Gas Light company, through its promoter, W. H. Wheeler, informs The Breeze, that the proposition of the company is in substance as follows: The Troy Gas Light company to furnish 20 48-candle-power lamps and 10 24-candle-power lamps for one year for $712.50. Or the company will furnish 25 48-candle-power lamps for one year for $712.50. All lamps to be run on a moonlight schedule of not more than 1500 hours per year per lamp. Location of lamps to be decided by selectmen or other town committee, provided that no lamps are to be situated outside of the present fire district. If agreeable to the town, contract to be made at once and work begun as soon as frost is out of the ground. The above in brief is the proposition to be considered under article 2 [sic; was “article 11”] of the warrant. Troy is undoubtedly in need of street lighting and the question is again before the voters as to whether or not this is the time and gas is the agency which it is desirable for the town to agree upon.”

Jaffrey: “The Jaffrey town warrant contains 17 articles. Of unusual interest are the following: ... To accept the new street lights at Jaffrey Centre and appropriate money for care of the same. Jaffrey has now 52 good kerosene street lights, operated on an average 22 nights in the month. A town caretaker furnishes oil and wicks. The cost to the town is 50 cents per lamp per month, from April to October, and 60 cents a month from October to April. A reasonable breakage is borne by the town. The operation of these 52 lights cost the town the past year $340. It is estimated that with the new lights at Jaffrey Centre, the total number of lights for the town will be 70 and $450 is asked for their maintenance the coming year...”

Fitzwilliam: “The Fitzwilliam town meeting warrant contains 22 articles. Aside from routine business, the following subjects are of interest: ... The town is asked to instruct the selectmen to have glass panels placed in the doors of the town house and to have the hall lamp lighted on nights when the hall is in use... The town is asked to contract with Elisha Whitney for at least 40 electric street lights, to be located at the two villages and along the road between for a period of not less than five years. These lights to cost $15 per light per year. Total yearly cost $600.”

As a note of interest:

“The Jaffrey voting list contains 353 names. Troy has 243 and Fitzwilliam 253.”

[March 5, 1904]:

The issue was deemed of sufficient import as to merit a banner front-page headline:

Figure 5. Front-page headline and detail summary; the Monadnock Breeze, March 5, 1904.

Consideration was given that Troy might join Fitzwilliam in buying electricity from Mr. Whitney:

Troy: “The chief topic of conversation in Troy at this time is whether or not the town will vote to accept the proposition of the Troy Gas Light Company. Everyone concedes the beauty of the light demonstrated up to the present time but some skeptics are doubtful of its permanence. Some of Troy’s largest taxpayers while liking the light object to the increase in taxation which will immediately result from the acceptance of this proposition. Others believe that there is no light equal to an electric light and that until such time as this sort of lighting can be secured by the town it would be better to remain in darkness. There is still another idea abroad. Within a few days it has been widely suggested that it would be well for the town to appoint a committee of three to consider the whole matter of street lighting and report at an adjourned meeting. The thought back of this is that should Fitzwilliam accept the Whitney proposition next Tuesday it would be possible to buy electric lighting from the Whitney plant at Fitzwilliam as Mr. Whitney has expressed a willingness to extend his line under such conditions. Such a plan would of course take a little time for its consideration hence the suggestion of the committee and its report later in the present year. In the midst of an earnest discussion of lighting which is going on in all parts of the town the fact that the appropriation asked for will mean an increase of 14 cents upon every hundred dollars’ worth of taxable property in town stands as a grim reminder of material things in the minds of the taxpayers.”

Fitzwilliam: “The movement in favor of electric street lighting in Fitzwilliam appears to be gaining ground. Many of our citizens who live at some distance from the village limits have expressed themselves as favorable to Mr. Whitney’s proposition. The residents of the Depot village are particularly enthusiastic with regard to it and it has many friends at Fitzwilliam village. It is realized by many prominent citizens that at no future time will the town have as favorable an opportunity to secure electric street lighting as now. This feeling is general throughout the town. Mr. Whitney expresses himself as indifferent as to whether or not the town accepts his offer, as the price of street lighting quoted is the cost to him. He is to install a plant for his own use in any event and if the town desires street lighting at this time he is ready to furnish it. Mr. Whitney has had a wide experience with electric lighting. He was the first man to furnish Winchendon with electric lights and his proposition as offered to Fitzwilliam is based upon fair business principles. On Wednesday of this week Mr. Whitney met Mr. Tenney of the local board of selectmen and the entire proposition was fully discussed in every detail. Should Fitzwilliam accept the Whitney proposition and should the town of Troy so desire we understand that Mr. Whitney stands ready to extend his line to Troy and in that town duplicate the service offered in Fitzwilliam at the same price.”

The 1904 Town Meetings:

Troy:

March 8, 1904

Agenda:

ART. 11 – To see if the town will vote to contract with Troy Gaslight Co. to light the streets with acetylene gas for a term of not less than five years and raise money to pay for the same, or take any action in relation to said article.

Result, as reported by the Monadnock Breeze, March 19, 1904:

“In the face of the strong prevailing face of economy, street lighting failed to make good in Troy this year. It is felt by many, however, that it will be possible to make arrangements with the Whitney Company, at Fitzwilliam, for electric lighting at some future time. Said one man, ‘We could have had lights this year, but we preferred one year of light taxes.’ ”

Yet, as suggested in the March 5 Breeze article [above], a committee was formed! And their report will be issued, but nearly a year hence, in 1905.

Fitzwilliam:

March 8, 1904, “at nine of the clock in the forenoon:”

Art. 17.—To see if the town will vote to light the two villages with electric lights, also the road between said two villages for a term of not less than five years; and see if the town will raise and appropriate the sum of six hundred ($600) dollars to be used for the same; and appoint a suitable committee to confer and arrange with Mr. Whitney immediately after town meeting.

Result, as reported in the Monadnock Breeze, March 12, 1904:

“After a long debate, Fitzwilliam accepted electric street lighting, as proposed in town meeting. The committee named consists of J.K. Whipple, C.L. Haskell and W.E. Blodgett. This committee met Mr. Whitney on Thursday afternoon and discussed the proposition. It will be necessary to secure a considerable amount of house lighting in Fitzwilliam to ensure the installation of the plant by Mr. Whitney and the complete fulfillment of the street light proposition. It should not be difficult to secure this, as the merits of electric house lighting are well known.”

“On the other hand, Mr. Whitney will, we believe, be reasonable in his demands as to an immediate volume of business. The demand for electric lighting will steadily increase from year to year, and there need be little fear of any retrograde movement when once the electric system is started.”

“Mr. Whitney is to immediately inform the town committee upon just what basis of expense houses may be wired and the light furnished by meter, and as soon as these figures are secured the committee will make a careful canvass of the town to see how much lighting can be secured for houses, stores and other public places.”

[March 26, 1904]:

“Elisha Whitney of Winchendon has informed the Fitzwilliam Electric Lighting committee that the cost of wiring for house lighting in Fitzwilliam will average $2 per light. Meters will be rented to consumers for $2 per year. No service will be considered less than $6 per year outside the cost of meter. Mr. Whitney desires enough house lighting and street lighting to give an income of 5 percent upon his investment in the plant. Just how much the plant will cost he has not been able to find out as yet, but he expects to be able to submit definite figures to the committee within a few days. The committee will immediately canvass the town to secure subscribers to house lighting.”

[April 2, 1904]:

“The Fitzwilliam Street Lighting Committee is making its canvass for house lighting. Now is the time for people to declare themselves. It will be of no use for a man to say some months from now, ‘I would have put it in if I had thought my lights would have made the total large enough to secure the system.’ It will be decided before then in one way or another.”

“We hope that Elisha Whitney of Winchendon, will pursue as reasonable a course with regard to the required amount of house lighting in Fitzwilliam as is consistent with a proper financial investment. Fitzwilliam is a small town, and the amount originally mentioned, $1200, is prohibitive. Many people think that half that amount could be raised in house lighting to start with, and that later a considerable addition might be made. It cannot be expected that everyone will take electric lights for household purposes, nor that all those who would take them eventually will do so at the outset. A reasonable consideration of what is possible in this connection will make a distinct success of house and street lighting in Fitzwilliam. The reverse will result in the failure to secure any lights for any purpose.”

On a side note, how do we know of those acetylene gas pipes in Troy, absent any previous evidence?

[April 9, 1904]:

“Workmen have been engaged this week in lowering the level of the gas pipe connecting the house of Dr. H. S. Platts with the main service pipe.”

Meanwhile, back in Fitzwilliam, all may not be going well:

“’The canvass for house lighting in Fitzwilliam is progressing slowly,’ said one of the committee. ‘One day I lose a subscriber and the next day I gain one.’ It is fortunate that he does not report it a case of the frog in the well.”

AHA! From this, can we infer faltering subscription numbers?

[April 30, 1904]:

“J. A. Cross has completed his work for Elisha Whitney as Supt. of the local mill, and Henry H. Okes of Waterville, Mass., has succeeded him in that position.”

Leaving after only one year? A new boss down at the mill? From that point, nothing further was mentioned about Mr. Whitney’s proposed electric plant. Was it simply a question of cost considerations? Or, more of a burden for Mr. Whitney than he had expected – or was willing – to assume, then, that put to rest this promising glimmer of hope? Or, possibly, a glimmer of hope cast in a different direction: political aspirations?

[May 7, 1904]:

“Elisha Whitney of Winchendon has been chosen as alternate delegate to the national Republican convention to be held at Chicago from the fourth (Mass.) congressional district.”

In any event, life returned back to... “normal.” The issue seems to have drifted into a prolonged condition not entirely unlike that used by cosmological physicists to describe a hypothetical end-state of the Universe – its “heat death,” a state of maximum entropy in which nothing ever happens. [This is different from the “cold death,” which envisions an ever-expanding, cold, dark near-vacuum, but we’ll leave those niceties to the physicists.]

So... Oh, woe, no go!

…

Until just a few months later... when something did happen...

THE TROY AND FITZWILLIAM

LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY

It used to be said that “Nature abhors a vacuum,” and – apparently—so did some prominent Troy residents. On October 20, 1904, a group of twenty men met at Monadnock House in Troy to formally organize the Troy and Fitzwilliam Light and Power Company. The lone non-Troy participant, Dana G. Prescott, was listed as a resident of Concord, N. H. [and later described as being from Boston]. At this meeting, they accepted and adopted the Company’s By-Laws, and elected officers, including, as President, the Hon. Franklin Ripley – who, aside from his well-known association with the Troy Blanket Mills, had won election to the N. H. State Senate in 1902.

The Company’s Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, and minutes of the two known Directors’ Meetings, are contained in the Company’s original handwritten Account Book, which is in the Collection of the Amos J. Blake House Museum, as are several original stock certificates. The complete text of this unique document is given in Appendix II, along with the texts of the corporate business and proposed physical plant descriptions provided by the Company and published in the Monadnock Breeze on October 29, 1904.

Photographs of a sample/specimen stock certificate are shown here:

Figure 6. Front [obverse] side: specimen stock certificate of the Troy & Fitzwilliam Light and Power Co.

[Collection of the Amos J. Blake House Museum.]

Figure 7. Back [reverse] side: specimen stock certificate of the Troy & Fitzwilliam Light and Power Co.

[Collection of the Amos J. Blake House Museum.]

That first meeting was reported two days later, in a single sentence:

[October 22, 1904]:

“The incorporators of the Troy and Fitzwilliam Electric Light & Power Company held a meeting Thursday afternoon.”

[October 29, 1904]:

A week later, the Breeze published an informational article submitted by the Company, detailing its corporate organization, proposed physical plant [to be situated in the vicinity of West Hill in Troy], projected financial estimates, and designation of operational management as being under the direction of Mr. Fred S. Birtwhistle, a native of Troy experienced in such matters. Their operational description specified the following:

“... It is our plan to install a complete system of wiring for street and commercial lighting, covering the entire territory included within the fire districts of Troy and Fitzwilliam Village and Depot ...”

The complete text of this article is given in Appendix II. In addition, the Breeze published a summary of that information:

“The Troy and Fitzwilliam Light & Power Co., organized at a meeting held at the Monadnock hotel on Thursday evening of last week. The following officers were elected: President, Hon. Franklin Ripley; Vice-president, H. P. Thompson; Clerk, W. W. Kimball; Treasurer, Dr. M. T. Stone; Directors, Hon. Franklin Ripley, Dr. M. T. Stone, W. W. Kimball, H. P. Thompson, Dr. H, S. Platts, O. C. Whitcomb and F. S. Birtwhistle. Business Manager, F. S. Birtwhistle.

It was voted to incorporate under the laws of New Hampshire, with a capital stock of $15,000.00, in shares of $1 each, par value. The following were elected a local committee to receive subscriptions for stocks: W. J. Boyden, Hon. Franklin Ripley and H. P. Thompson. Mr. Birtwhistle, the Business Manager of the new enterprise, has had a wide and varied experience in electrical work since 1887 when he became associated with the Thompson Houstin Co. [sic]

Mr. Birtwhistle is a Dartmouth man of the class of ’83. He was in the employ of the Thompson Houstin International Co. [sic], for several years, has been general manager of electrical plants in Ohio, Mexico, and South America. Mr. Birtwhistle was an inspector for the N. H. Board of Fire Underwriters for quite a time and later was supt. for the Brookline Gas Co., of Mass., for a year and a half. In all of those responsible positions Mr. Birtwhistle has amply demonstrated his technical ability and his power as a commercial executive. His interest in the Troy & Fitzwilliam Light & Power Co., should insure its success.”

[Note: The “Thompson-Houston Company” of Lynn, Mass., founded in 1880 by American scientists Elihu Thompson and Edwin Houston, was a forerunner of the General Electric Company [see: http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/thomson.html]. GE was formed in 1892 by the merger of Thompson-Houston with the Edison General Electric Company, arranged by financier J. P. Morgan.]

Clearly, “Business Manager” Fred Birtwhistle would be key to the company’s overall operations, aided by the specialized experience of C.W. Whitney, Jr., Secretary of the Ridlon Electric Supply Co., of Boston, and George Platts, a civil engineer who also served as bookkeeper for O. C. Whitcomb’s box company.

A major potential sticking point, however, was financial: could the Company’s cost estimates be met from actual revenues? Their own projection, as provided to the Breeze:

Cost of Operation.

The cost of operation will not exceed $1700 per year. This figure covers salaries, repairs, necessary oil and waste, stationery and postage, teaming, insurance, taxes, etc., and is based on a liberal estimate.

Gross Income.

From Town Contracts, Troy and Fitzwilliam......................................... $1200.00

Commercial lighting.................................................................................1650.00

Meter rentals............................................................................................100.00

________

Total....................................................................................................$2950.00

Next: would the two adjoining towns co-operate to provide sufficient support and revenue?

The 1905 Town Meetings:

Troy:

From the Troy Town Report for the year ending February 15, 1905, dated Feb. 22, 1905, pp. 13-14:

“... We, the selectmen of Troy, having been chosen a committee on lighting the streets, hereby submit our report. After a careful study of the needs of the town we recommend that the town purchase twenty or perhaps twenty-five lamps that are similar to some that are already owned by private parties and put them where they are most needed on the streets of the town and arrange with different parties to care for them. We believe such a system, although perhaps not perfect, would be the most economical to the town and for the present would answer all purposes. We do not feel that the expense of electric lights could be afforded at present, and we therefore recommend that $200.00 be raised for lamps and maintenance the coming year... ”

Doesn’t sound very promising, but… could the Company’s supporters turn this tide of negative opinion at the upcoming town meeting?

March 14, 1905

Agenda:

ART. 8 – To see what sum of money the town will raise for street lights or take any action in relation thereto.

Result, as reported by the Monadnock Breeze, March 18, 1905:

“Article 8. After discussion voted nearly unanimously to raise $600 a year for five years for electric lights.”

Yes!

And, crucially, could the same be done in Fitzwilliam?

Fitzwilliam:

March 14, 1905, “at nine of the clock in the forenoon:”

Art. 9.—To see if the town will vote to rescind the resolution adopted at the annual meeting, March 8, 1904, in regard to the lighting by electricity the center village and the depot village and the main road connecting the two villages in Fitzwilliam for the term of five years, and discharge the committee appointed under said resolution from any further duties.

Result, as reported in the Monadnock Breeze, March 18, 1905:

“The town refused to rescind the vote of last year in regard to electric lights. Dana G. Prescott of Boston appeared in the interest of the Troy & Fitzwilliam Electric Light & Power company and explained briefly that his company stood ready to carry out the contract which the town has voted to make with Mr. Whitney, and that the work which is to include the lighting of the two villages, Fitzwilliam and the Depot, and the road between them for $600 per year, shall be in operation next fall; with this understanding, the vote was allowed to stand, and the same committee is still in power.”

And yes! So far, so good! Each town had appropriated the requisite $600 per year, meeting the Company’s projected estimate. Could anything possibly happen, now – despite those “yes” votes – to [ahem!] “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?” One would think, at this point, “No!” Yet, a hint – more than a hint – of something amiss would appear just a month later, when the Breeze brought this unusual announcement to the attention of Fitzwilliam residents:

[April 15, 1905]:

“There is a town meeting Saturday, April 29 at 1 o’clock for the purpose of rescinding the vote in regard to electric light. This movement is said to have been started in the interest of economy but there seems to be a difference of opinion as to where the economy comes in.”

And a reminder, the following week:

[April 22, 1905]:

“Remember the town meeting set for next week, Saturday afternoon. The town articles that will demand the most attention are the one pertaining to street lights… Sentiment on the light question seems to be about as it has always been. A full and fair discussion will, perhaps, be of benefit, but talking is about all that has been done at this point.”

While, in the same issue, Troy received word of a slight upgrade:

“We are told that the proposed electric lights for our streets are to be 32 candle power, instead of 24...”

… which did little to mitigate that storm brewing in Fitzwilliam. On April 29, the day of the ad hoc town meeting, Francis W. Crooker, a perennially ardent booster of Town progress, took figurative aim at the enemies of light in his weekly folksy column, “Old Hay