Legacy: Our Jackson Home Vol 7., Issue 2

Let There Be Light: The 150th Anniversary of Jackson’s Gas Utility As Madison County and Jackson celebrate their Bicentennials, the Jackson Energy Authority celebrates Jackson’s Utility Sesquicentennial — the 150th Anniversary of Gas Utility Service.

Today, those gathered for AMP concerts downtown share the very same site that started utilities in Jackson, and most have no idea.

In 1871, coke, a form of coal brought by railroad into Jackson, was burned in ovens at a plant at Union and West Alley. The gas generated from the burning coal was stored in above-ground tanks. In the evening, with the gas spread underground through wooden pipes, lamplighters would light the street lamps and illuminate this key portion of downtown Jackson.

That gas system, beginning June 28, 1871, marked Jackson’s move into a new phase of community. A City water system followed in the 1880s.

Then the private Citizens Gas Light Company enhanced street lighting with a generator and a system of electric lights (1887). In the next decade Jackson added a health motivated sewer system. With that combination of private and public companies, Jackson entered the 20th Century with full utility services.

Those services changed life in previously unanticipated ways. Gas for street lights expanded to home lights, replacing candles and coal oil lamps. Customers also expanded life convenience using gas for heating 50 • O U R J A C K S O N H O M E