USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 21
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Dr. A. D. Becker located in Preston in February, 1903, after graduating from the S. S. Still College of Osteopathy, located at Des Moines, Ia. In September, 1908, he went to Kirksville, Mo., for several months' post graduate work, returning to Preston in April, 1909, and practicing until September of the same year, when he turned his practice over to Dr. S. H. Stover for two years, during which time he occupied a chair on the faculty of the American School of Osteopathy and was also a member of the hospital staff. Returning to Preston September 1, 1911, he resumed his practice. Dr. Becker is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and of the Minnesota State Osteopathic association, serving as its president from October, 1911, to Octo- ber, 1912. That the doctor has been successful in his chosen pro- fession is well attested by his increasing practice, patients coming from South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa to seek his professional services. He is earnest and conscientious in his work and enjoys to a marked degree the confidence of his patients and friends.
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CHIAPTER XVII.
PRESTON CITY AND TOWNSIIIP
Preston City-Location and Advantages-First Settlement- Early Residents-Early Business-Preston in 1858-Municipal History-Electric Light and Waterworks City Hall and Library-Preston Township Past and Present.
Preston is a busy village in the geographical center of the county, and is honored with the distinction of being the county seat. It was first settled in 1853, platted in 1855 and incor- porated in 1871. It is 109 miles from Minneapolis and has com- munication with the outside world through two railroad branches, one extending to Reno and the other to Isinours. The south branch of the Root river, on which the village is located, fur- nishes limited water power, which has still greater possibilities. Preston has numerous stores and the usual complement of pro- fessional and business activities. It has two banks, two weekly newspapers, two hotels, two theaters, a broom factory, a bottling plant, a lumber yard, a machine shop and gasoline engine factory, a brick yard, a garage, three elevators, a creamery, a brewery, several liveries and dray lines, a graded and state high school, six churches, a fine court house and jail, a Carnegie library and city hall combined, many miles of pavement, a fine waterworks system and an electric light plant.
The village is built about the court house square, which is well kept, and in the summer the place, with its distant rolling hills, presents a beautiful appearance.
Preston was named by John Kaercher in honor of his mill- wright, Luther Preston, who was also the first postmaster of the village.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement of Preston village dates back to 1853, when John Vail, from Pennsylvania, located on the south fork of the Root river and erected a log cabin on its south bank, on the exact site of the present power plant of the village of Preston.
In the meantime there had been transpiring in Iowa events which had an important influence on the future of Fillmore county. Mrs. Barbara Kaercher Schweitzer, then separated from her husband, was living in Winnishiek county, Iowa, where, as the
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HENRY NUPSON
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result of profitable investments, she owned eight hundred acres of rich land, favorably located. With her were her grown sons, Theobold and Louis; a young son, Jacob; and two daughters, Barbara and Margaret.
In the same vicinity, and a member of the same colony, was living John Kaercher and his family. John Kaercher was a brother of Mrs. Barbara Kaercher Schweitzer. He, like his sis- ter, had made considerable money by wise land investments.
Michael Anstett, with his wife and two sons, Michael and John, were living in the same neighborhood, Mr. Anstett working for John Kaercher.
Berry Olson was likewise there, he being employed by Mrs. Schweitzer.
To these people William Vail, a brother of the solitary pioneer then living on the future site of Preston, made the proposition that they come to this locality and start a village. He pictured the country and the future of the county in glowing terms and assured them that were they to locate in this vicinity with the capital they would secure by the sale of their Iowa property and establish a sawmill and gristmill, they could easily secure the county seat.
Accordingly, in the winter of 1854, John Kaercher, Theobold Schweitzer, Michael Anstett and Berry Olson came to this locality, and looked about for a suitable location for a village and a mill.
In relation to this visit a former history of the county has said: "John Kaercher and Theobald Schweitzer visited Cari- mona, which had an embryotic village with a sawmill which had been erected by the three Pickett brothers. It was at once de- cided that this was a very desirable piece of property to have, although there was not a superlative abundance of first-class lum- ber to keep it in operation. However, Kaercher and Schweitzer opened negotiations with a view of purchasing the property if it could be obtained at a satisfactory figure. Two of the brothers were consulted, and they agreed that $1,400 would be a fair val- uation. When, however, the third Pickett arrived upon the scene, he affected the most supreme indifference about selling and placed his figures at $1,600, and to this unexpected raise the young prospectors expressed their surprise. The two young men thus seeking their fortunes were attired in overalls, and shirts made of bed ticking, which would not create the impression that they had several thousand dollars in ready cash. The conversa- tion finally became animated with spicy remarks on both sides. and finally they were told that Carimona could get along very well without any striped Dutchmen. Of course this abruptly closed negotiations in that quarter. It must not be forgotten that this was then a new country, that straggling bands of Indians still
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roamed about their native wilds, and that the fleet-footed ante- lopes still held possession of the choice pastures that now, for a quarter of a century, have yielded a wealth of golden harvest to those who have followed these pioneer footsteps."
Michael Anstett, who was one of the party, does not relate the incident of the negotiations at Carimona.
After looking about for a few days, the party selected the present site of Preston as the field of their future endeavors and concluded the negotiations with John Vail.
The location was a most desirable one. The river afforded opportunities for a dam, there was a good place for mill sites, there was plenty of room for residences, the soil in the neigh- borhood was well adapted to agriculture, timber and stone were available, and the water supply was excellent for domestic pur- poses, a fine spring being situated near the cabin.
In April, 1855, their Iowa interests having been disposed of, the little colony came here and moved into Vail's cabin. The party consisted of Mrs. Barbara Kaercher Schweitzer, her two sons, Theobold and Jacob; John Kaercher, his wife and two daughters; Michael Anstett, his wife and two sons, Michael and John; and Berry Olson.
At that time there were several families living on farms in the vicinity of what is now the village.
When the Kaercher colony arrived there began a season of busy activity for the people of this vicinity. Work was com- menced on cabins and on the mill. The stone mill, which with additions is still standing, was started, and Luther Preston, the millwright, moved into it with his family. A sawmill was also erected a short distance down the river and was soon in opera- tion. This mill was of wood and is no longer in existence.
John Kaercher needed many men to work on his mills, and millwrights, carpenters and common workmen, as well as farmers, began to settle in or near the new village.
The Vail cabin was much too small for the use of the families that were crowded into it, and soon after his arrival here John Kaercher started the erection of a house, which occupied the present site of the Popple & Cummings foundry.
The next house to be erected was that of Michael Anstett, on the present site of the office of the Colman Lumber Company.
Early Residents. Among those who lived in or near Preston in the days of the earliest settlement were the following: Rich- ard Hahn, Christ Hahn, John McLean, James Connell, Christ Brill, Aaron Knight, William Sawyer, John Merrick, David Carr, James Kinman, John Hurlbut, Jasper Kent, Nicholas Ream, John Borden, Elias Lint, W. W. Fife, Samuel M. Shook, C. Peterson, M. C. Shook, William Lipe, Thomas Quinn, A. H. Butler, S. B.
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Murrel, James Crowley, Simon Stilson, Jarvis Billings, Aleck White, Franklin Coleman, Amos P. Day, Ed. McGowan, S. O. Thayer, "Tailer" Taylor and David Smith, Jonas Conkey, Myron Billings, Henry Billings, Stephen Carpenter.
Early Business. The year 1855 was a busy one in Preston. Aside from the work on the mills and on various residences, two hotels, a photograph gallery and a store were erected, and a blacksmith shop was in full operation.
The Preston Hotel, which was the first hotel in the village, was erected in 1855, and was opened in the spring with Menno Ebby as the proprietor. The hotel occupied the present site of the Farmers' Home, on St. Paul street.
The New England House was erected later in the same year by James P. Tibbetts, being opened with D. W. Morrell as pro- prietor. Mr. Tibbetts also opened a photograph gallery in the same building. The site is now occupied by the store of George Moore.
The first store was opened in February of 1855, by Theobold Schweitzer, but was closed out a few years later.
A blacksmith shop was operated by C. Rappe, beginning with July, 1855. He bought out an earlier blacksmith. This earlier blacksmith, who is said to have established his forge here shortly after the arrival of Vail, was a Scotchman, but there seems to be an uncertainty as to his name, although he is said to have been William Douglass. It is also said to have been Dougherty. The site of the forge was just south of where the old Minnesota Hotel is located.
The postoffice was opened this year.
1856. In the spring of 1856 Harvey Egbert opened a store on the corner now occupied by the M. M. Blunt hardware store.
J. B. Fraser came the same year and opened a store north of the court house, about where the Read Brothers store is now located.
In the same year T. G. Eames opened a store on the corner now occupied by the Weiser Block. He soon afterward went to Texas.
The brick yard was opened this year by Henry Webb.
The first school was opened this spring in a little shanty near the river on Main street.
The county seat was located here this year.
1857. The first drug store was opened in 1857 by Dr. John Krees, who was succeeded later by James P. Tibbetts.
Two important hotels were erected this year.
The Minnesota House, which is now standing, was erected by Joseph Ober, who conducted it for many years. It is now used as a residence.
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The Stanwix Hotel, now known as the Tibbetts House, was built by John Kaercher.
1858. In 1858, Thomas Hall, who arrived in 1856, opened a store and saloon in the building erected by Joseph Summers, on the corner now owned by the Preston Realty and Investment Company. Tom Hall's place was an historic spot, and many were the heated discussions held here during war times.
The woolen mill, the building of which started in 1857, was opened this year by Wayback & Schweitzer.
I. and D. O'Brien also opened a hardware store, corner of River and St. Anthony streets.
Preston in 1858. A booklet issued just after the state was admitted contains the following picture of Preston at that time. "No court house has as yet been erected, but a convenient build- ing of brick is completed for the register of deeds' office. The river, which runs directly through the town, affords, within a distance of less than a mile, three excellent water powers, two of which are already improved-the lower one by Theobold Schweitzer and the next above by John Kaercher. The former gentleman has just completed, at a cost of $8,000, a woolen fac- tory and furniture shop. The building, which is of stone, is 35 by 45 feet in area, and three stories high. The grist mill erected by John Kaercher, in 1855, was the first built in the county. It is of stone, 30 by 40 feet in area, and four stories high, capable of flouring five hundred bushels of wheat in twenty-four hours. The grist mill, saw mill and dam were completed at a cost of over $15,000. The Stanwix Hotel is a building 36 by 50 feet, four stories high and well furnished. It is kept by Theobold Schweitzer. The Minnesota ITouse, kept by J. Ober, is a fine building of brick and receives a good patronage. An excellent quarry of building stone is found adjoining the village. The brick yard, worked by Henry Webb, has turned out over 600,000 brick, and a number of dwellings in the village are built of that material. The citizens have unanimously voted a tax of $2,500 for the erection of a school house, 28 by 50 feet, two stories high, to be built of brick. It will be completed during the present summer. The village at present comprises about forty houses, and the population is estimated at 300." The advertisements which accompany this description are: Preston Mills, grist mill and saw mill, John Kaercher, Stanwix Hotel. N. P. Colburn, attorney. Woolen mill and furniture shop, T. Schweitzer. I. and D. O'Brien, hardware and the like, corner of River and St. An- thony streets. Preston Brick Yard, Henry Webb.
Municipal History. Preston was incorporated by the state legislature, approved March 4, 1871. The first village council met May 15, 1871. The charter provided that the citizens of the
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village should remain citizens of the township, and this connec- tion between the city and township continued until the present year, when they were separated. The principal officers of the village have been as follows:
1871-Mayor, Reuben Wells; councilmen, J. O'Brien, H. R. Wells, H. A. Billings, William Carpenter, D. C. Kerr; treasurer, D. B. Colman; justice, Reuben Wells; overseer, A. Kalder; mar- shal, A. Kalder; recorder, J. B. Viall; attorney, N. P. Colburn.
1872-Mayor, Reuben Wells; councilmen, J. O'Brien, H. R. Wells, H. A. Billings, William Carpenter, D. C. Kerr; treasurer, D. B. Colman; justice, R. Wells; overseer, D. C. Kerr; marshal, S. A. Bennett ; recorder, J. M. Kramer; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1873-Mayor, Reuben Wells; councilmen, C. H. Conkey, A. Howell, W. D. Lipe, B. S. Loomis, J. J. Merrill; treasurer, W. W. Fife; justice, R. Wells; overseer, T. Vickerman; marshal, C. M. Foote; recorder, G. W. Hard; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1874-Mayor, J. J. Merrill; councilmen, A. Howell; W. D. Lipe, C. A. Wheeler, T. Vickerman, M. F. Thieme; treasurer, W. W. Fife; justice, R. Wells; overseer, M. Newman; recorder, G. W. Hard; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1875-Mayor, H. A. Billings; councilmen, C. Rappe, H. Neu- man, A. Weiser, C. A. Wheeler, H. R. Wells; treasurer, W. W. Fife; justice, R. Wells; overseer, C. W. Mann; recorder, G. W. Hard; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1876-Mayor, C. H. Conkey; councilmen, J. O'Brien, W. D. Lipe, W. W. Braden, D. H. Priest, H. R. Wells; treasurer, W. W. Fife; justice, R. Wells; overseer, T. Vickerman; recorder, G. W. Hard; attorney, N. P. Colburn.
1877-Mayor, C. H. Conkey ; councilmen, W. W. Braden, H. R. Wells, Thomas Quinn, E. Lint, C. A. Wheeler; treasurer, W. W. Fife; justice, R. Wells; overseer, S. F. Stilson; recorder, E. W. Stevens.
1878-Mayor, C. H. Conkey; councilmen, H. R. Wells, L. O. Hamre, W. W. Ford; H. Neuman, J. A. Kramer; treasurer, Chas. Webb; justice, R. Wells; overseer, C. W. Mann; recorder, F. M. Jewitt.
1879-Mayor, H. R. Wells; councilmen, L. O. Hamre, W. W. Ford, A. Weiser, H. Neuman, J. M. Kramer; treasurer, Chas. Webb; justice, R. Wells; overseer, C. W. Mann; marshal, S. E. Ford; recorder, F. M. Jewitt.
1880-Mayor, H. R. Wells; councilmen, J. P. Tibbetts, H. Neu- man, W. W. Ford, P. Linxweiler, Peter Nelson; treasurer, Chas. Webb; justice, E. Lint; overseer, Albert Ibach; marshall, R. C. Joseph; recorder, M. C. Ford.
1881-Mayor, H. R. Wells; councilmen, J. P. Tibbetts, H. Neu- man, A. Schoenbaum, Peter Nelson, J. M. Kramer; treasurer,
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G. W. Hard; justice, E. Lint; overseer, Thomas Levy; marshal, John Garietz; recorder, P. Linxweiler.
1882-Mayor, G. W. Hard; councilmen, Henry Newman, J. P. Tibbetts, Ole Nelson, W. E. Bigelow, J. O'Brien; treasurer, A. H. Kramer; justice, E. Lint; overseer, H. Seeley; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, F. E. Bennett.
1883-Mayor, G. W. Hard; councilmen, C. Peterson, W. W. Ford, M. F. Thieme, Henry Newman, J. C. Benedict ; treasurer, A. II. Kramer; justice, E. Lint; overseer, H. Luhman; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, F. E. Bennett; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1884-Mayor, M. T. Grattan; councilmen, F. E. Bennett, W. W. Ford, H. Neuman, C. Peterson, L. O. Hamre; treasurer, A. H. Kramer; justice, E. Lint; overseer, C. Kathan; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, O. H. Jacobson; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1885-Mayor, Philip Brady; councilmen, A. Weiser, C. Peter- son, F. E. Bennett, W. K. Read, G. Renner; treasurer, A. H. Kramer; justice, E. Lint; overseer, H. Luhman; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, O. H. Jacobson; attorney, H. R. Wells.
1886-Mayor, H. R. Wells; councilmen, A. Weiser, F. Read; C. Kuethe, H. Rose, W. W. Foote; treasurer, H. S. Popple; justice, E. Lint; overseer, I. Luhman; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, O. H. Jacobson.
1887-Mayor, A. D. Gray; councilmen, J. H. Phillips, A. L. Bennett, F. F. Fraser, II. C. Gullickson, F. A. Burton; treasurer, C. E. Mckinlay ; justice, E. Lint; overseer, Fred Wick ; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, G. F. Mann; attorney, R. E. Thompson.
1888-Mayor, H. R. Wells; councilmen, G. A. Love, W. W. Fife, W. W. Foote, A. Weiser, H. C. Gullickson ; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; justice, E. Lint; overseer, II. Luhman; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, G. F. Mann; attorney, H. S. Bassett.
1889-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, H. R. Wells, W. W. Foote, A. Weiser, C. II. Conkey, S. A. Langum; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; justice, E. Lint; overseer, II. Luhman; marshal, John Garletz; recorder, C. Peterson; attorney, H. S. Bassett.
1890-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, II. R. Wells, C. H. Conkey, A. Weiser, W. W. Foote, J. H. Phillips; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; recorder, Julius Johnson ; justice, E. Lint ; marshal, John Garletz.
1891-Mayor, C. H. Conkey; councilmen, H. C. Pooler, M. Anstett, A. W. Thompson, C. Kuethe, George Renner; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; recorder, O. H. Jacobson; justice, E. Lint; mar- shall, John Garletz.
1892-Mayor, C. H. Conkey; councilmen, M. Anstett, A. W. Thompson, H. C. Pooler, George Renner, C. Kuethe; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; recorder, O. H. Jacobson ; justice, E. Lint ; marshal, John Garletz.
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1893-Mayor, H. S. Bassett; councilmen, Carl Kuethe, F. A. Tinkham, L. O'Brien, H. S. Popple, George Hopp; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; recorder, Wm. J. Hey; justice, E. Lint; marshal, W. H. Pooler.
1894-Mayor, F. A. Tinkham; councilmen, C. Kuethe, L. O'Brien, George Hopp, George Renner, John Brady; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; recorder, William J. Hey; justices, E. Lint and C. Peterson; marshall, Elisha Barber; street commissioner, H. Seely. The mayor resigned September 1, and September 4 J. P. Tibbetts was elected in his place. This election was by the council declared void. October 11 M. R. Todd was elected mayor.
1895-Mayor, M. R. Todd; councilmen, C. H. Conkey, G. W. Hard, G. W. Robinson, Ole Nelson, W. W. Fife; treasurer, A. L. Bennett; recorder, Julius Johnson; marshal, Elisha Barber; jus- tices, E. Lint, C. Peterson ; street commissioner, Robert Joseph.
1896-Mayor, M. R. Todd; councilmen, G. W. Robinson, Ole Nelson, C. H. Conkey, G. W. Hard, W. W. Fife; treasurer, C. Kuethe; recorder, Julius Johnson; justices, E. Lint, C. K. Read; marshal, John Garletz; street commissioner, Jacob Kramer.
1897-Mayor, M. R. Todd; councilmen, G. W. Robinson, C. H. Conkey, W. W. Fife, Henry Nupson, G. W. Hard; treasurer, C. Kuethe; recorder, Julius Johnson; justice, B. F. DeHaven ; marshal, William Ibach; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn.
1898-Mayor, J. H. Phillips; councilmen, H. G. Hazen, A. W. Thompson, Henry Nupson, H. M. Wells, H. M. Conkey ; treasurer, Gust Gartner; recorder, J. J. Hagen; justices, E. Lint, B. F. DeHaven ; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn; marshal, William Ibach.
1899-Mayor, A. W. Thompson; councilmen, H. G. Hazen, Henry Nupson, H. M. Conkey, J. H. Phillips, Charles Groth, Sr .; treasurer, Gust Gartner; recorder, Charles Kruppenbacher; mar- shal, William Ibach; justices, E. Lint, J. G. Viall; street com- missioner, Thomas Flynn.
1900-Mayor, G. F. Mann; councilmen, H. S. Popple, H. M. Conkey, J. H. Phillips, E. G. Rappe, T. H. Morgan; treasurer, Gust Gartner; recorder, Charles Kruppenbacher; marshal, Edward Haase; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn.
1901-Mayor, A. W. Thompson; councilmen, M. M. Blunt, A. L. Long J. H. Phillips, J. W. Hopp, G. W. Hard; treasurer, Gust Gartner; recorder, Charles Kruppenbacher; marshal, J. B. Grobey; justices, E. Lint, J. G. Viall; street commissioner, Wil- liam Pooler.
1902-Mayor, A. W. Thompson; councilmen, G. W. Hard, Herman Kuhl, A. B. Smith, M. M. Blunt, H. M. Conkey; treas- urer, Gust Gartner; recorder, Charles Kruppenbacher; street
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commissioner, Thomas Flynn; marshal, J. B. Grobey. A. W. Thompson resigned, G. W. Hard acted as mayor pro tem until T. L. Donovan was appointed.
1903-Mayor, T. L. Donovan; councilmen, Herman Kuhl, J. C. Mills, F. Read, C. F. Groth, H. Holdhusen; treasurer, Gust Gart- ner; recorder, Charles Kruppenbacher; marshal, J. B. Grobey ; justices, E. Lint, O. H. Jacobson; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn. T. L. Donovan resigned and G. A. Love was elected August 10 as mayor.
1904-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, J. C. Mills, George Renner, Herman Kuhl, F. Read, H. Holdhusen; treasurer, Gust Gartner; recorder, A. Backman; marshal, William Young; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn.
1905-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, O. H. Gilbertson, Her- man Kuhl, J. C. Mills, F. Read, George Renner; treasurer, E. T. Schoenbaum; recorder, A. Backman; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn; justices, E. Lint, O. II. Jacobson; marshal, William Young.
1906-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, Herman Kuhl; F. Read, George Renner, Ole Gilbertson, J. C. Mills; treasurer, E. T. Schoenbaum; recorder, George Weatherill; marshal, William Young; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn.
1907-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, J. C. Mills, F. Read, O. H. Gilbertson, W. H. Williams, Joseph Dreier; treasurer, E. T. Schoenbaum; recorder, George Weatherill; justices, W. K. Read, E. Lint ; marshal, William Young; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn.
1908-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, W. H. Williams, Joseph Dreier, Henry Nupson, C. E. Snyder, Gust Gartner; treasurer, E. T. Schoenbaum; recorder, L. J. Luhmann; marshal, H. Holdhusen; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn.
1909-Mayor, A. W. Thompson; councilmen, Joseph Dreier, W. H. Williams, Henry Nupson, C. E. Snyder, Gust Gartner; treasurer, E. T. Schoenbaum; recorder, L. J. Luhmann; justices, E. Lint, Julius Johnson; marshal, H. Holdhusen; street commis- sioner, Thomas Flynn.
1910-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, A. L. Bennet, M. M. Blunt, Gust Gartner, Joseph Dreier, F. Read; treasurer, G. W. Hard; recorder, William Kruppenbacher; marshal, O. W. Krause; street commissioner, Thomas Flynn. O. W. Krause resigned March 13 and George Ibach was appointed to fill the vacancy.
1911-Mayor, G. A. Love; councilmen, M. M. Blunt, Gust Gartner, Joseph Dreier, E. T. Schoenbaum, Thomas Churchill; treasurer, G. W. Hard; recorder, William Kruppenbacher; mar- shal, George Ibach; justices, E. Lint, Julius Johnson.
1912-Mayor, Henry Nupson; councilmen, A. G. Olson, E. T.
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Schoenbaum, A. H. Langum, Gust Gartner, Thomas Churchill; recorder, William Kruppenbacher; treasurer, George W. Hard; assessor, George Hopp; marshal, George Ibach.
Electric Light System. Preston has a municipal electric light system, the station being located on the site of the old Vail cabin, the first house in Preston village. The municipal pumping station is in the same building. The streets are well lighted, and the citizens, to a large extent, have availed themselves of the system to illuminate their places of business and their residences. The current was first turned on for about ten minutes at 5:30 in the afternoon on October 29, 1896. The next day the system was in full operation, illuminating both streets and buildings.
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