SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION

In 1910 Eldora was being lighted with electricity produced by a direct current steam powered plant. Interestingly the lights were turned on about an hour before sundown, and turned off at midnight. 

Ed. H. Lundy, was a lawyer in Eldora, and he felt that the town should have electricity twenty-four hours a day, and it should be alternating current. In 1912, he organized the Park Dam Company and built an earthen dam at the site of Eldora’s old flour mill, covering the top with concrete. A power plant was built, and water power was used to generate electricity. 

It was reported in the newspaper that in 1911, there was a city hall meeting for discussion of a city lighting system. Results of that meeting were not found, but in 1912 a vote was taken and 76 votes were cast, 72 in favor of the Park Dam Company being allowed to build a power plant on the river at the former location of the grist mill. Lowell Carpenter was granted a 25 year franchise for electric company. 

In 1912, the Park Dam Company bought the old mill site and dam in Steamboat, and began a project to bring 223 electric power to the homes of Steamboat Rock. It was surprisingly difficult to sell the idea, because they were afraid to have that raw power and fire hazard in their homes. With only a few subscribers the fledgling electric company did not succeed.