Mills County, Iowa

Silver City Community History
1879 - 1979

ELECTRIC LIGHT

Taken from the Times, July 13, 1911

Silver City stands a splendid chance of getting electric lights if the thing is pushed. The idea is to run a wire from Malvern or Glenwood. A committee was appointed by the city council to go to Tabor to investigate the lights there. Those in the party were M. Kehoe, W. H. Burrows, M. E. Huffaker and J. G. Flanagan.

In August 1911 An Ordinance No. 52 granting right of way to the Silver City Electric Light and Power, its successors or assigns to erect and maintain the necessary fixture and apparatus to supply electric current for all purpose to the city. Sept. 1911 — Silver City is to get out of the “dinky” class and have electric lights just as soon as they can be installed. It was so decided at a special election Monday when the voters cast their ballots in favor of granting a franchise to the Silver City Electric Light and Power Company. Dec. 1911 The Silver City Electric Light and Power Company has a large force of men at work setting poles. We predict that in 30 days time electric lights will be used in Silver City.

The Silver City Electric Light Company ran their first advertisement. It said “Use Electric Lights.” Better than old fashioned kerosene lamps and less bother than gasoline, no lamps to clean and fill, or wicks to trim. No danger from explosions, all you have to do is turn the switch.

~submitted by Roseanna Zehner & Darlene Jacoby