Historic Moment: A look at village lighting

By JORGE BATllE SkaneateLeS viLLage hiStorian

The first public lighting fixture in the Village of Skaneateles was said to be the one installed by Mr. M. Petheram on the corner of State Street and Academy Street in 1872. He also volunteered to light this kerosene lamp each evening. This seemed to be the only light in the village until 1881.

The Skaneateles Free Press asked, “why can’t the village have street lights? Money is spent for other purposes, but none for lighting the Village.” John Packwood of Genesee Street and John Purcell of Jordan Street were the first to respond, placing a kerosene lamp before their homes. By 1882, Skaneateles had a total of six lamps each owned by private citizens. The newspaper continued to push for a lighting system. In December of 1884 article, “Skaneateles should take steps to provide itself with street lights. Our village is sadly behind the times in that respect. There is scarcely a village of our size in central New York so scantily supplied with street lighting.”

Finally is 1885, the village board voted to spend $250 to buy street lamps. Henry Thurlow was appointed, lamplighter. Twenty oil lamps were purchased for $116 total. They were small kitchen style lamps set inside glass frames set on top of an iron post seven feet high. There was a small door in the frame to gain access to the lamp for daily cleaning and refilling. A crude three rung ladder in the shape of a half circle made to fit around the iron posts for the use of the lamplighter. (This ladder is on display at the Community Museum at the Creamery). There was much dissatisfaction with the oil lights and their maintenance.

Since 1880, many Skaneateles busi nesses had been using steam engines such as Eckett’s Bakery, and the Stone Mill. The two printing presses of The Skaneateles Free Press were steam oper ated. In 1886 these and other businesses began to turn to a new source of power - electricity.

In 1886, the Draycott Mill in Skaneateles Falls installed an electric gen erating plant to light the mill building, closely followed by other mills along Skaneateles Creek. A “Little Giant Water Wheel” was being used to generate power for 160 electric lights at the Glenside Woolen Mill. This led to the idea of using this “water power lying idle at the mill dam to light the Village with electric lights.”

July 13, 1889, three prominent citizens from Elbridge and Skaneateles formed a company to supply electricity to the town.

It was called the Central New York Electric Light and Power Company. Stock shares were offered to the public for $100. Besides Skaneateles, the new power company, from a central producing station, was to provide light by electricity to the villages of Elbridge, Jordan and Marcellus. (Jordan already had a small electric plant and were using arc street lighting and incandescent lights in homes and commercial buildings - deemed very satisfactory.)

A canvas was made of the Skaneateles residents, and by December over 300 eager people had subscribed. The number was expected to rise of over 500 by the time the entire population was canvassed. In November of 1889, a franchise was granted. By August of the following year, the new generating plant on Valley Drive in Elbridge was under way as was the setting of poles toward Skaneateles. Stores and businesses were being wired. Nov. 1, was the proposed completion date.

The Bowdish Manufacturing Company on Railroad Street (Fennell Street, at the present location of ACE Hardware) was the first to install electric lights. On Saturday, Dec. 6, 1890, lights were turned on in the village from 5 p.m. to 730 p.m.

The lights proved to be clear and steady. Thereafter the lights would be turned on and remain on until 7:30 a.m. The biggest consumer of electricity was the Packwood House (Sherwood Inn) with fixtures, nearly 100 in all, in every room. At the same time, electric lights were also being installed in St. James Episcopal Church. An exhibition of three electric lights was set up on Jordan Street to give village officials and taxpayers an idea of much better these were over the kerosene lamps. The cost of lighting the streets was estimated to be about 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Some people felt that this additional tax was a burden as they are paying for the new water works plant and a new fire station. This money was needed for highway improvements and other necessary expenses. This discussion went back and forth, while the installation of lights continued. The new power company had its own problems. In 1892, the lack of water down the creek led to the lights being turned off in the village by 9:30 p.m. This was a conservation measure to ensure adequate water supply for the Erie Canal. Another problem was a vandal cut the wires at Mottville. The company’s machinery broke down regularly. And the granting of water rights (The Great Water Steal, as the locals called it) to supply the City of Syracuse, to maintain lake water levels, the outlet was often shut off. With all this in mind, residents began looking for another source of electricity, and municipal ownership. Also there was much dissatisfaction with the continued use of the kerosene oil lamps.

Dec. 26, 1899, the village president (mayor) appointed a committee to draw up plans and specifications and costs for a municipal lighting plant. It was suggested that this facility be built on the existing water pumping station. March 20, 1900 a public vote was held showing “an earnest desire” for municipal ownership of an electric plant. July 13, 1900 the construction of the electric plant was started. The newspaper rejoiced “let there be light.”

Using the new 60 kilowatt single phase alternating current generator, 125 hp coal burning steam boiler powering a 118 hp steam engine, November 6 electricity was turned on for the first time. The trustees had another reason to be pleased. They said, “…by the reason of strict economy, we have completed the plant with the money at our command, and when all the bills have been paid, we hope to be free and clear from debt.” The trustees in December of 1900 formed the municipal board to oversee and control both the water and light plants.

Over the next few years the municipal board dealt with establishing electric rates for street lighting and private use, times the street lights would be on, purchasing upgraded equipment, expanding the service areas throughout the village.

By October of 1901 the electric plant was making a 10% profit. Demand was rising. The existing generator capacity was often exceeded by 25%. The voters approved a bond issue to upgrade the capacity of the plant.

Editor’s note: This is part one and part two of this piece will appear in a future issue of the Press-Observer.