"Marblehead Electric Light Station," circa 1895

1895 The Light Plant is completed on Commercial Street overlooking the harbor. The brick building contains two 150-horsepower steam engines in the engine room, two boilers in a separate room, a storeroom and an office. A 110 -foot chimney stack with a four-foot flue completes the facility. The new plant supplies power after dark to 36 buildings using 537 commercial lights. On nights when there is no moonlight, the streets are lit by 165 arc lights and 40 incandescent lamps. The Electric Light Committee proudly notes: "Marblehead is no longer behind other communities in regard to light."

Inside the Light Plant, circa 1895

1899 Charles Graves becomes the first general manager of the growing plant, which now has 228 permanent and 87 summer customers. William Haskell takes over the job a year later, when a third generator is added.

1901-05 A new well room is built to collect salt water for the steam boilers because the original design goes dry for four hours around low tide, causing a severe drain on the Town's water system when street mains are used for back-up. Wharf walls are built so coal can be landed for all Town departments at a lower cargo rate. Charles Tucker becomes manager in 1903.

January 6, 1907 The plant begins 24-hour service so customers can use electricity during the day. However, there is still no service on Sundays and holidays, except during the summer. Power is increasingly used for purposes other than lighting - mostly for 1/2 to 15-horsepower motors.

1910 Under the leadership of Robert Carey, named manager last year, the utility continues to modernize with its first "horseless carriage," a Chase 20-horsepower gasoline automobile. While horses are still used, this $930 purchase marks the beginning of the end for horse-drawn equipment.