Poplar Bluff Light And Power Company

Industrial 1890s

About

Original private owner and operator of the electric utility at this site at City Light & Water Works Building Notable event: Company Organized (Fall 1896) — The Poplar Bluff Light and Power Company was organized by S. S. Hartzell as a private electric utility, operating a 200-horsepower engine with capacity for 2,000 incandescent lights and 100 arc lights. Notable event: Featured in Poplar Bluff Republican Holiday Supplement (December 8, 1898) — The facility was described as 'a most important factor in the commercial and industrial interests of the city's commonwealth' and one of the best-equipped electric light and power establishments in Southeast Missouri.

Related Historic Sites

City Light & Water Works Building

Poplar Bluff's electric light utility — born as a private company organized in 1896 by S. S. Hartzell, and transformed into a city-owned municipal plant by 1917 that helped earn Poplar Bluff the title 'Best Lighted City in Missouri.'

Lost

These connections were automatically identified by AI from historical records and have not yet been verified. They may be inaccurate or incomplete. They are shown for research purposes and will be updated as they are reviewed by our archivists.

Possibly Connected People

S. S. HartzellUnverified

founder / organizer

Connected via site: City Light & Water Works Building

GEOR WheelerUnverified

Mentioned in story "From Controversy to Civic Pride: The Story of Poplar Bluff's Municipal Light Plant" linked to this site

James L. DaltonUnverified

Chairman of the Board, Wright-Dalton-Bell-Anchor Store Co.

LLM identified as "notable public opponent of municipal ownership (indirect relationship via public debate)" — "One of the most prominent opponents was businessman James L. Dalton, of the Wright-Dalton-Bell Anchor Department Store. In September 1915, Dalton publicly outlined his concerns, focusing primarily on financial risk."

Asa GreerUnverified

LLM identified as "contractor / builder" — "By late 1915, contractor A. W. Greer secured the contract for construction of the new plant building, reportedly valued at more than $13,000."

Details

Era Active: 1890s

City Directory Appearances

Auto-matched by name — this business listed in city directories over the years.

Poplar Bluff Light & Power Co

430-600 s 2d

1910

Sources

Extracted from historic site: City Light & Water Works Building

Extracted From

City Light & Water Works Building

Machine-extracted from a verified source. Facts are as stated in the source.