Lexington, Illinois' Electric Light System

(February 2007)

I ran across this undated article in some of the files at “The Fort” a while back and found it interesting I hope you do.

          Lexington is equipped with an excellent electric lighting system, and one which is not excelled by any city of its size in this section of the state.  The first plant was erected in 1893 by E. B. Hileman & Co. of Peoria, Ill., who placed Mr. Ed Reeder in the position of manager.

          In 1901 a local syndicate was organized, consisting of Charles Scrogan, E. S. Van Dolah and L. E. Van Dolah, which bought the plant, and James W. Van Dolah was made manager, in witch capacity he has since continued.  After being taken over by local capital the plant was enlarged and the service improved to meet the growing demands of the patrons.

          June 5, 1913, the plant was sold to the syndicate headed by Hon. William B. McKinley of Champaign, Ill., which conducts the great interurban electric railway system know as the Illinois Traction system.

          Mr. E. H. Gray of El Paso, Ill., a representative of this syndicate, was given supervision of the Lexington electric light plant, who retained Mr. Van Dolah as manager.  Mr. Gray is a gentleman of wide experience in the business and in every way qualified to give this city the best possible service, being backed by a company of unlimited capital and composed of the highest type of progressive business men.  Mr. Gray is also superintendent of the lighting plants at El Paso, Meadows, Gridley and Chenoa, which are also owned by the I.T.S.

         The Lexington plant is equipped with two 100-horsepower Kewanee boilers, one 100-horsepower engine and one 65-horsepower engine.  There are in operation 103 street lamps, 94 incandescent and nine arcs.  Two hundred residences, the public schools, churches, library and all business houses are using electric light and are equipped with meters.  Our people are becoming imbued with the idea that this is the age of electricity, and the old-timers who have clung to the use of kerosene lamps are falling into line in the triumphant march of progress and having their houses wired for electric light, convinced that it is not only a convenience, but actually cheaper, considering the breakage of lamps, chimneys and the cost of oil.  The farm homes will eventually be supplied with electric light by this company.

          The business office of the local plant is maintained in the Van Dolah building, the former location of the Harness – Van Dolah bank, in charge of Manager James W. Van Dolah.  Miss Rene Kennedy acts as typist and clerk and is very efficient in her duties.

          Mr. Bert Reagan, who has held the position for the past 12 years, is chief engineer of the plant, and is ably assisted by Mr. Harry Goddard.

          Many electric house household devices, such as laundry irons and toasters are on exhibition and sale at the office of the company, and the up-to date housewives of this city are adopting their use.  Who can refute the statement that electricity is the greatest discovery of the civilized world?

         In doing a little research on the Internet I found that in 1936 the Rural Electrification Act was enacted to administering loan programs for electrification and telephone service in rural areas.  Before that time a small but growing number of farms had installed small wind electric plants.  Using a DC generator to charge batteries in the barn or basement of a farmhouse to store enough power to provide light, washing machines, limited pumping of wells or refrigeration.  These would be used mostly by the farms in the Great Plains area where there were usable winds on most days.

          It's hard for us to imagine using the old fashioned machines today as we are so spoiled by the new ways that we have, and take for granted the electric power until the power goes out and we don't know what to do!

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