100 YEARS OLD
CENTENNIAL 1855-1955

In early 1977 Darrell Bleeker formed a company in partnership with Bob Havens called United Solar. 

They set up shop in the former Burns Grocery building that had burned earlier. 

They wanted to make people aware of the fact that solar heating had been around for a long time. It was an efficient and low cost form of energy, and the government was encouraging it’s expansion. This coupled with the fact that energy costs were rising rapidly in the 1970’s made them feel that it was the right time to open a business. 

Their intent was building and manufacturing solar panels and solar equipment for heating homes and water. 

The company did install some of their equipment, but did not do well enough to continue. 

Energy conservation and energy creation were the goal that they had, and while they were successful in creating products that met that goal, the company did not succeed in getting others to share their views.