Title
Brodhead Electric Power Plant
Description
The electric power plant in Brodhead, Wisconsin. The photo was taken from the top of the old water tower. The plant was located at 1201 Eleventh Street. It used water power from the Mill Race that was originally dug to provide power to turn the large mill stone in the grain mill. Brodhead was one of the first cities in Wisconsin to have electrical power. The plant started producing power in 1889 and was built by C. W. Lucas and Dr. G. Bennett. It was run by A. F. Anderson. At first the plant only ran from dark until midnight, unless there was a dance or big celebration, when it ran sometimes until 2 AM. At first it was direct current, which meant the further you were from the plant the less power you had. At the beginning they did not have meters so the cost was 70 cents a month per 16 candle power lamp. The very first lamp was at Clark's drugstore. C. N. Pierce owned the plant for a time and it was purchased by the city in about 1914. The plant stopped producing power in the mid 1960's. The building no longer exists.
Date
1924
Format
5.5 x 10 Black and White Print.
Creator
Unknown
Contributor
Unknown
Identifier
#3208
Subject
Electric power plant, C. W. Lucas, Dr. G. Bennett, A. F. Anderson, Clark's Drug Store, C. N. Pierce.