HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1975-07-24, Page 85'.1
and omp.te
hY
nt1eoccas
he iown's ehregng'
Pod anniverserY of bydi
flied for this Ceateaalal
IforierrOtt.
days, Clinton* Of all
**a County, had
,oportions 91 steant
' powered Oafs. This was due
lack of et Water power
presence of an
the name Or
. Whitehead
tbeen .the fireman on the
14t" driven by Stephensono
e -making first railway
in Britain. -therefore
twith him to 'Clinton
vjuab1e IIMIWIedge of steam
dWgines . and Stettin power.
• (Whitehead was the first Reeve
Clinton.af when it was a village -
APOSithni he held for 10 Years. He
later served as its seventh Mayor
from 1987 to .1$90, after its in-
corporation as a town.)
The magic of electricity swept
Oughenter10 in the late 1880's..
While Most or the surrou' riding
.towns developedtheir Own source
energy, Clinton made use of an
already available steam
generating plant to provide a new
source of energy for lighting.
Shortly after proposal made in
November1888, by the Reliance
Electrie, Light Company (a local
group). electric light heating
was introduced in commer-
cial establishments.
•The company made an
agreement with David Graham
of the Woollen Mill where there
was an excess of baler capacity.
2 In August 1889, an electric light
• committee appointed by the
town. reached an agreement with
the Oakes Organ Factory to
supply the town with lOarc lights.
• (Just prior to this Graham had
leased his Woollen Mill Faco
Factory to _the Oakes Organ
Factiory, retaining a half interest
in the electric plant adjoining it.), .
This condition existed for
three years at which time
competition appeared in the form
of the Edison Incandescent
•• Light Company which sought to
introduce their incandescent
light system to the community.
Somehow, a compromise bet-
ween Edison and Graham and the
Clinton Organ Factory. formerly
the Oakes Factory, was reached
and Incandescent lights were in
service to some extent by the end
of March.
The following month' Graham
took in a partner, a Mr. Shan-
nahan. who brought in new
capital with subsequent ex-
pansion of facilities. Shortly
after the Organ Factory burned
down, but the boiler rooms
-remained virtually intact.
Graham and Shannahan decided
to continue on their own as the a
Clinton Electric Light Company.
A lighting contract for the
streets. the Town Hall and the
concert hall was completed and
in 1895 when the Huron County
Home toss built service was ex-
tended to it — making this one of
the first rural lines in Ontario.
By 1897 Mr. Graham had a new
partner - John McGarva, a salt
manufacturer - for the year
previous was one of trouble.
Shannahan died, and his son who
continued in the business. also
died. Transformers wereburnt
out because of severe thun:
derstorms. Lightening damaged
the dynamo and generator and
the switchboard—all resulting in
• the use of the coal oil lamps
• again.
Although /he dprnpany
con-
tinued to an r. Graham
sold ouM 1905 to Messers W.J.
Stevenson aid W.J. Nediger, for
a total price of 118.000. One of the
first changes Made by the new
owners was that the street lights
should remain on all through the
night. Originally they had, been
kept on only until midnight and
then for only 100 days 2 yult—it.
being assirined that the other 65
days had sufficient moonlight.
The other change was the use of
the ,18 arc lights. The in-
candescent system with 116 lights
spread around the town proved to
be much' more satisfactory.
A dedicated and fearless ex-
ponent of theconeept that hydro
electric power could be
7 •
erated three,* the -natural
er of Niagara Falis. Adam
k, London (He was inter.'
Med) as great - cant,
iwkignee, took to thtroad, and. .in.
Oil 'meek!! Clinton). His Visit
WAS a some or e qualified
voters •tavottr!edH,2 a bylaw On
January 1, buy the town's
supply of Power from the newly.
formed Hydro Electric Power
Commission, of Ontario,. The:
:CounCil bought out the Clinton
Electric 404 Company on July
190 and changed the name to •
the Municipal Electric Light and
Power Department. . g-'43,' Chant,
a mechanicalsuperintendent Who
sWas referred to es a mechanical
wizard by his employer. the W.H.
Doherty Company, was. ay.
pointed* Superintendent. In 1914.
voters favoured a 4341 tO
Operate the hydro and water-
works • under. a Public Utilities
1
/lotion. -The first core
oaers were *-
-
seer* • and Mayor Fred '-
Jackson. Hydro Ard
19124, a, within a year* Cbant
Ing his ingenuity was suPt
sftd in having the street lights
ed alT auto.hlaticallY. He used
nothing „t one of his relay calla
and an ordinary kitchen clock
with an alarm.
xn ion the Palace Bleck (the
present Galbraith block), was
leased to.be purchased one year
• later for the promotion of an
elaborate display of electrical
devices, as well as a business
office. This was' replaced in the
early 1150% when a new office
and service building was n-
structed on Park Lane.
A.E. Rumba replaced Mr.
Chant who died in 1919. Upon Mr.
Rumball's retirement in 1955.
position was changed
that of Manager, Itt 1$T RJ.
Bosey o was -
associated with electricity ws
ma4 Manager.
MarcOn A 74, irts,
memorative plaque markl
ot the -Public UtiliUes
mission was tmv
on Park Lane
ce
bringing logs by si
Factory. Legs were iZ feet long and Ike feet in diameter.
They are softelm.
In January of isel tar
•
SHERLOCK-MANNING PIANO Co., Lm.
Office & Factory
CLINTON, ONTARIO,
CANADA
"Makers of fine Pianos Since: 1900"
OUR HISTORY
Sherlock -Manning Piano Co. Limited, established 1902.
is the, successor to the W. Doherty Company,
established 1875, having purchased the4atter company
many years ago. Thus for all practical purposes
Doherty and Sherlock -Manning have been manufac-
turing organs andpianos in Clinton fok 100 years and•
consequently shares with the town a measure of
satisfaction on attaining our first centennial.
The life style of a community is go;erned by the
characteristics nt the people who make up the. com-
munity. In the 'Same way the value of a product is
governed by the quality of materials and workmanship
which go into its manufacture. 11,1e at Sherlock -
Manning are aiming our sights high in order to attain a
quality of product which will,be judged worthwhile and
hope to continue as part of a community which ail* at
achieving a worthwhile quality of lif.'
ktr
' REPRODUCED FROM. 1$$1 DOHERTY ORGAN SOOK
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