Electric Lights Come to Sheridan 130 Years Ago

Today, we take electricity for granted. We flip a switch, and we have light. Electricity has changed the lives of people in Sheridan since the late 1800s. Before electricity came to town, people used oil lights, lanterns, and natural light. Most ranchers and farmers ‘got up and went to bed with the chickens,’ or worked from ‘can see to can’t see’ But, in May of 1893, the first electric lights were turned on in Sheridan, at the Sheridan Inn.

The Enterprise, May 20, 1893

This from the Newcastle News Journal May 26, 1893. – F. J. Pierson, an electrician who is putting the electric system into the Sheridan Inn is the inventor of the amalgamator which he claims will greatly facilitate placer mining. He will soon test his machine at the Bald Mountain mines.

The Enterprise June 3, 1893. – Sheridan’s first electric light flashed its presence in the city about 9 o’clock on Saturday night (May 27) at the Sheridan Inn. It was announced by a shrill whistle from the engine house adjoining the hotel, and hundreds of people were attracted by the grand illumination which followed. Every room in the big building was lit up, and the scene was a pleasing and inspiring one. In a short time, now, the city will he lit entirely by electricity, and the lights will be kept burning from dusk until dawn.

These were prophetic words. Even before the first lights were switched on at the Inn, this opinion piece was published in The Enterprise, on March 11, 1893, and was a part of a longer story.

Another want greatly felt is the numbering of business places and private residences. The time has gone by in this city when it is sufficient to tell a stranger we live five doors below zero or three houses from the foot of the hill. You can’t make a full dress suit out of a pair of overalls nor a crinoline from a barrel stave. It takes hoops for the latter, and Sheridan can’t hoop ‘er up at a fifty cents on the dollar gait. All wool and a yard wide or nothing, that’s the way to measure city goods.

Still another necessity, and one that cannot be overlooked or overestimated, is the lighting of our streets by the most modern process— arc electric lights. It may well be that no franchise can be given for this great acquisition, but where there’s a will, there’s a way. No city the size of Sheridan, with the prospects ahead of her that Sheridan has, can afford to have her people groping their way through the streets after dark with candles in their Inside pocket. It will not do to speculate on such an important matter. Action must be taken at the earliest possible moment. An electric light plant could be put in here at a surprisingly low figure, and the investment would be one of the best paying possible to imagine. Sheridan cannot afford to be behind in the procession of progress. She must let her light shine as a beckoning beacon to the home-seeker and investor. Strike while the iron’s hot. Agitate! Advertise! Act!.

The Enterprise, April 22, 1893

In 1893, there were no power lines, bringing in electricity from hydro-power plants or other sources that generate electricity, electricity was home-grown, as seen in this article from The Sheridan Post, August 24, 1893 – A Post reporter called at the power home of the Sheridan Electric Co. on Tuesday afternoon and found everything in good running order, preparatory to giving the town a bath of light that evening. The pleasant expert electrician and superintendent, Mr. Louis Casper, took us in charge and explained, both theoretically and practically, the various mechanical devices necessary for running an electric plant.

The company own an Armington & Sim’s 45 horse power engine which runs the alternating and incandescent dynamo. This engine tears along at the rate of 150 revolutions per minute. A 20 horse-power Armington A Sim’s engine furnishes the power for the arc dynamo.

The arc dynamo, which is capable of furnishing power for 30 arc machines, can also provide motive power for various other machines. One firm of butchers have already applied for power to run the machines in their establishment.

The incandescent dynamo is capable of running 600 lights. On the larges switch board are all sorts of safety devices and indicating apparatus which were explained to us but which would be a wearisome repetition to our readers. The plant will be under the superintendency of Mr. Louis Casper, to whom much credit is due for the organizing and completion of the project.

Mr. O.D. McClure, of Chicago, an expert electrician, will have charge of the mechanical department. During the short time Mr. McClure has been with us he has made many friends and will be a valuable acquisition to our society circles. Mr. P. S. Cook, of Cheyenne, the gentleman who placed the machinery and piping in position, is said to be the best workman in the state at his line of business, and his work here detracts nothing from his reputation. We congratulate all concerned on the successful completion of the plant.

And later they enlarged the plant. This from The Sheridan Post, January 10, 1895 – The Sheridan Electric Co. last night let a contract for the erection or a new, or rather the enlargement of the old power house. The plans contemplate the erection of brick building 50×77 feet, to cost $12,153.00. The contract was secured by Messrs. Johnson & Harmamon who will commence work on the structure at once. The machinery recently purchased is expected daily, and will be placed as soon as the new building is ready to receive it.

Other businesses soon followed the Sheridan Inn, including the courthouse. The Sheridan Post, January 10, 1895

Although most people were in favor of the street lights, in this article in an Oct. 11, 1890 Enterprise, it talked about the downside to the street lights. –The opinion has become current that electric lights are killing shade trees in cities. Observations, however, go to show that not the lights but the insects attracted by them do the harm. As soon as the currents are shut off the insects seek refuge in the trees and commence their work of destruction. Certain species of black beetle eat off the bark in large quantities.

However, streetlights came to pass in most cities, including Sheridan, as we see in this Sheridan Post on June 4, 1896 – An agreement between Sheridan Electric Company and town of Sheridan in reference to prices to be charged for lights, was presented, and the clerk was instructed to notify the Electric Light Company that the matter will be laid over until such time as new poles are erected and street lights raised to conform with ordinance: and further, the mayor and clerk were ordered to sign contract whenever the provisions of the ordinance are complied with, as to the elevation of the lights.

And even in Cheyenne Sheridan was noted for it’s fine hotels, complete with electric lights. This from the Daily Sun Leader, October 2, 1897 – There is no other town in the west with the population of Sheridan that can boast such fine hotel. (in the Cady House). “The hostelry known as the Towns is a three-story brick building”, under the management of Joseph Opelt. and is magnificently furnished. The hotel has steam heat, electric lights, bathrooms and finely equipped bar and billiard room. free bus conveys passengers to and from all trains. The cuisine is of the finest and of superior excellence are the accommodations that guests are always loath to leave.

Other towns, such as Newcastle, had big plans for electric lights. This from the Wyoming Weekly Republican, March 5, 1890

Unlike today, when electric lights are taken from granted, they were a selling point back in 1891.

This ad from The Wyoming Commonwealth, Cheyenne on May 24. 1891.

And it didn’t take long before people became accustomed to the lights, were upset if they didn’t have them on.

The Sheridan Post, April 8, 1897

Today, nearly every place has electric lights. We use electricity to power our fans, our heaters, our television sets, our clocks and our lights. But in 1893, turning on the electric lights was brand-new event in Sheridan. The first electric switch was flipped 130 years ago this month.