Clinton News-Record, 1974-03-28, Page 26Arai
A. E. Rumba!! was
second superintendent
A. E. RUMBALL
1929 - 1955
Albert Ernest Rumball some years before the Public
Utilities was formed was working for the Clinton Electric
Light Company as an electrician and steam engineer, and he
took his shift at operating the Electric Light Plant and a
good many times, he was on the midnight to 7 a.m. shift,
When the town took over the Electric Light Plant, Mr.
Rumball continued on with the Utilities and became
superintendent in 1929 after the death of the PUC's first
superintendent, H.B. Chant,
Mr. Rumball carried on in his capacity as superintendent
until the end of 1953, when he was put in as assistant
superintendent. He held this position until June 30, 1955,
when he retired. He died in 1959 at the age of 72.
AFTER
60
YEARS
STILL LOOKING
AHEAD!
CONGRATULATIONS
TO THE
CLINTON PUC
OUR
BEST WISHES
to
CLINTON
PUC
AS THEY MARK,
THEIR
60th
ANNIVERSARY
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look back at our 28
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Clinton, we recall our
first location on King
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Fingland Law Office,
which is now oc-
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Canadian Cancer
Society. There have
been many changes
for us and many more
for the PUC over their
long history and we
salute their service to
the community.
CUNTON ONT. Aummummui
482-7021
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CLINTON NEWSIFtlECORD, THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1974--1IA•
PUC formed in 1914
Since 1902, a campaign had
been working that was called
then, Public Power or Peoples
Power with the main promoters
in Kitchener. This was spear-
headed by Adam Beck and
later became known as the
Hydro Electric Power Com-
mission of Ontario. Beck was a
dedicated arid fearless ex-
ponent of his concept. It was
simple that hydro electric
power could be generated
without steam through the
natural power of Niagara Falls.
He believed that the people of
South Western Ontario could
use electricity for much more
than just plain lighting and
that all such home appertaina-
nces such as stoves, irons, hot
water etc., could be provided by
electric power, A great cam-
paigner, he took to the road,
and he reached Clinton in 1911
Where he talked to the Town
Council, the Board of Trade,
and a number of interested
citizens. His work was ob-
viously successful because on
that same day at a special
meeting of council held at the
call of the Mayor, by-law num-
ber 14 for 1911 was passed to
submit to the qualified electors
:the question: "Are you in
favour of obtaining from the
Hydro Electric Power Com-
mission of Ontario a supply of
Electric Power"? The by-law
wits ordered to be printed the
required number of times in the
"Clinton News-Record." On
January 1, the results of the by-
law were 216 voters for; against
the by-law 101 votes, with a
majority for the by-law of 115
votes.
This, in effect, merely ap-
proved in principle the
existence of hydro electric
power in Clinton but did not
attend to the details of the
transaction. For example, how
much was to be paid for the
existing Clinton Electric Light
COmpany Plant and how much
was to be expended in bringing
Hydro to Clinton? These mat-
ters took some time and it was
only until late in December of
1912 that the details were
worked Out. Thise included a
payment of $20,000 to the Clin-
ton Electric Light Company
Plant for its facilities and
$13,000 dollars for the cost of
installing a hydro electric
system in the municipality.
This in turn required another
by-law which was passed in
January of 1913. The final con-
tract for hydro electric power
was passed in April of 1913
calling for 300 horsepower
which some, of the citizens of
the town said was far too much.
However, the transaction was
carried through and Town
council bought the Clinton
Electric Light Company from
Messers W, J. Stevenson and
W. J. Nediger, taking
possession July 1, 1913. The
name was changed to The
Municipal Electric Light and
Power Department and H. B.
Chant was put in charge as
Superintendent.
This did not mean that hydro
would immediately come to the
Town of Clinton. Actually it
did not arrive until early June
of 1914. In the meantime, the
Town was operating the
existing electricity facility and
it had its problems.
The newly appointed
superintendent, H. B. Chant,
had a good deal to cope with
before hydro took over. On the
other hand he was quite
capable of meeting these con-
tingencies. Although he had
begun as a cabinet maker as
early as the 1880's he became
interested in electricity and
took a course in that subject.
Prior to his appointment as
superintendent he was
mechanical superintendent of
the W. H. Doherty Company
factory working until it was
burnt down in 1898 and con-
tinuing on at the same capacity
in the new factory. His em-
ployer called him a mechanical
wizard and this he was.
In 1.914 the Town billed out
(continued on page 12A)
GROVES TV
Admiral DEALER
CLINTON
482-9414