The storm that swept the Chathams last Friday, July 3rd wrecked havoc with our plans and our lives. It also underscored our total dependence on regular electrical service.
In Chatham, it all started in 1901 when, after careful analysis, bidding, and informed public debate, voters approved a proposal to build a municipal electric plant to light the streets.
Chatham Press, May 18, 1901
The new electrical utility convinced Borough residents to convert to electric lighting at home by offering to supply the wiring and the fixtures:
Everybody soon came around. By 1920, even a brief power outage was more than a minor inconvenience:
That kind of timely, meaningful, public review might be just what we need today.
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