Electricity arrived in Newman over 100 years ago and the businesses, hotels, streets and homes were quick to change over to the new lights. The new invention caused many of the residents to put their kerosene lamps on the shelves as they signed up to try out the new way of lighting.

Newman Light and Power Co. was incorporated in 1904 by the McDonald brothers with a capital stock of 20,000 shares valued at $1 each, bringing Newman into the electric age.

Almost every business in Newman, and many homes had signed up for the new electric service by Christmas Day, and the downtown area displayed bright shop windows illuminated by the incandescent bulbs. Electric signs on the outside of buildings attracted people into the shops.

Power was cheap, too, and service according to the light company was first class in every respect.

The electricity bill was based on the number of light bulbs used by the customer. A home with three bulbs paid $1.30 a month. If a home had 10 bulbs, the tab was $3.65 a month.

Business houses paid 75 cents for one to three lights. Four to 10 lights cost 65 cents more each per month, and if a business had 10 or more the charge was 60 cents each per month. Saloons paid one dollar for one to three bulbs. More than three cost 75 cents each.

A story from the local paper at that time read, “One of Newman’s long-felt wants is to be supplied at once. In a few weeks, an electric light and power plant will be installed and the kerosene lamp will become a back number, while the racket of the gasoline engine will give way to the hum of the electric motor.”

Said the story, “The new plant is to be installed at the waterworks. New machinery will be put in, and an incidental effect of the change will be to give better water service, as the power plant will run continuously 24 hours a day and the reservoir will not be allowed to run low.”

The first electric sign in town was installed at the Lawrence House, located jut south of the present Simon Newman Building, which also had electric lights throughout. The two-story structure’s electric sign near the top merely said “Hotel” and a wooden sign below it advertised meals for just 25 cents.

Within two years, the power company’s generator was operating at full capacity and there was a power shortage. Company officials called on the public to conserve electricity and even made a proposal to shut off the power at midnight.

But the townspeople protested bitterly about that and soon the company installed a larger generator, and the customers were happy again.

Also, the power company introduced gas to the community, and gas stoves replaced the wood stove era.

By Donna and Sheldon Crow. Sources: Newman Diamond Jubilee 1888-1963 Book and early day newspapers at the Newman Museum.