Mills County, Iowa

Silver City Community History
1879 - 1979

STREET LIGHTS

The following articles with dates of appearing in issues of the Silver City Times tells the story of the early kerosene street lights in our town.

We understand that the Mayor of the City instructed Silas Morse to visit Chicago for the purpose of selecting street lamps for our city, also if he failed to find the proper lamp and figures in Chicago, he shall pass on to the New York and when his selection of lamps is made he is instructed to wire Mayor for the purchase price. June 10, 1897

Silver City will soon have a good supply of street lights. Silas Morse has returned from his eastern trip, and we understand that the lights will arrive in a few days by fast freight. June 24, 1897

An ordinance to establish lamps on public streets and at crossings of the same in Silver City, Iowa. Be it ordained by the town Council of Silver City, Iowa. August 12, 1897

An ordinance has been passed and a levy made for the purpose of securing and maintaining street lights in our city. The lamps to be purchased will be of the time variety, and be set so as to be extinguished at any hour desired. August 26, 1897.

George P. Pullman, a member of the city council of Silver City went to Council Bluffs yesterday to purchase new street lamps. We can now look for them to be put up and in running order in a few days. October 21, 1897

The committee appointed on locating and buying the new street lamps have decided that 5 are needed and will be located as follows: one on the corner by George Swarts residence, one at M .J. VanKirks, one at L. W. Huffakers, one at A .P. Reeves and one near the depot. This will make an addition in lighting our town.May 5, 1897

And so Silver City had kerosene street lamps. They were not of the time variety as stated in an article above, but they were maintained by C.A. Rommel for many years.

~submitted by Roseanna Zehner & Darlene Jacoby