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OPINION
As summer gets here, a couple things come to mind. The price of gas and the idea that we might have gas shortages like 25 years ago certainly bring to mind our wonderful lifestyles. Can you imagine only having electricity part of the day? When the power plant was first built in 1922 it only ran during the evening. The city had passed a bond issue for $15,000 to purchase all the equipment and build a place to locate it. During the summer of 1923 the demand was high enough with more power needed by the flour mill (which sat where city hall is today) and the new electric machinery at Jack’s Blacksmith Shop. The power allowed the use of irons, electric washing machines, fans and lights during the day! It was set up to operate the plant from about 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The time off was to allow for adjustment and repair of equipment. As the company gained in experience, and size this off time was reduced. In a year the plant was looking at operating 24 hours a day! T This last snow storm knocked lots of people’s electricity off. Right quick people relearn the old ways, even if it doe not help much. Being without gasoline can be a big headache too. Fortunately, there is now a bus system in place for us in town, but there are loads of people off that route. There is something else we do not want to see a shortage of, and it relates to electricity! A hundred years ago on Main, south of Ohio was Ames & Son general merchandise. Across the street was F.B. Ross’s general store. They both had Ice Houses, or ice rooms. The ice was not from machines, it was cut in the winter off lakes and stored in straw until needed. Some ice was brought in during the summer by the railroad. Colorado Springs had regular ice wagons, but not in little towns like Fountain. Fresh milk was an important user of the ice. In the country fresh milk was from the family cow. In town milk was generally sold out of a three or five gallon can, out of which the grocer poured just the amount each purchaser wanted. It was kept in a large cool room. In the area there were several dairy herds, like the Sinton herd just north of town. Fresh milk and ice were common commodities. In Colorado Springs there were wagons that delivered milk and ice. Here in Fountain there were some who could afford ice delivery, but some of the farms cut their own in the winter. |
