July 14, 2026
We now take electricity for granted. A flip of a switch and the room lights up. When did Marceline get its electricity? Dig into the newspapers articles I dug up!
May 17, 1889
Macon Times:
Marceline is to be lighted with electricity on and around June 15. The city has contracted for 15 arc lights of 20,000 candle power.
November 21, 1889
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
The Marceline Electric Light & Power Co. are figuring on putting in an incandescent plant, provided a sufficient number of subscribers can be obtained. The solicitor is meeting with satisfactory success at present.
May 22, 1890
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
Statistics prove that where a city owns an electric light plant the cost of lighting streets is reduced about three-fourths. At this rate it would pay Marceline well to purchase outright the Thompson-Huston plant now in operation within her limits.
June 19, 1896
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
The electric company is rapidly putting in poles for the new lights soon to be turned on. When Marceline shines forth in a blaze of glory, visible for miles on every hand, every loyal citizen will look on with pride and fully indorse the action of the council.
June 3, 1910
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
Electric Sparklets
Electricity as power, heat, light, etc. is growing in popularity each day. Following are a few of the uses it can be put to:
It is universally recognized that the electric iron is by far the most desirable and satisfactory in every way for ironing and pressing. It saves steps and fuel and it is said it improves the disposition. The irons can be had in size ranging from 3 to 20 pounds. For heating purposes it is very economical. Think of coffee and toast for a family of four for 2 cents.
Stoves, water heaters, coffee percolators, toasters, warming pads, broilers, curling irons, heaters, fans, motors and numerous other small articles can be purchased from local dealers. Among recent purchases of ceiling fans were Masonic Lodge, First National Bank and I.O.O.F. Lodge. The latest in electricity is a stove, patented 30 days ago.
May 18, 1911
The Marceline Journal-Mirror:
In the evening, in the City Park, will occur the inauguration of Marceline's first self-owned street lighting system, and Mayor B. B. Putman will turn the switch which will illuminate Marceline's thoroughfares with electricity made and owned by the city. Of course we have had street lights before this, but never has the "juice" been furnished by a plant in which every taxpaying citizen owns a share, and in which, it is safe to say, every public spirited citizen has a pride.
September 12, 1930
The Marceline News and the Bucklin Herald:
Farm Electricity Meeting.
On September 17 there will be a full afternoon meeting on farm electricity at the farm of L. C. Riddell, 2 miles west of Brookfield and 1/2 mile south on the gravel road, according to County Agent Hall.
This meeting has been arranged with the cooperation of Mr. R. R. Parks of the College of Agriculture, Columbia; Missouri Power and Light Company, and Consumers Public Service Company of Brookfield. All these agencies are taking part in making this one of the greatest shows and demonstrations of the use of electrical power on the farm that has ever been held in this part of the country.
High tension lines will be tapped and power will be made available for heavy work such as tractor duties, grinding feed, milking machine power, pumps and all household articles. A truck from the College of Agriculture will bring many of the demonstration articles set up and ready for operation. The Riddell home is thoroughly equipped with electrical appliances making the practicability of this demonstration obvious.
The time will come not many years hence when electricity will be made available at reasonable prices to all Linn County rural homes and farms. In line with this program and in order to bring about the labor saving that is assured when it does come, the Farm Bureau is taking this initial step in having one of these meetings in the county so the farmers may be abreast of the times and take advantage of the opportunities as they are able to finance the installation of such equipment.
