A similar photo was posted a few years ago but I now have a much better image to share with you about the square chestnut poles this municipal utility once had and was very proud of. The last of them rested in peace in our pole yard in 1984 for a few years. I do not have any photos of the last survivor but their chestnut wood poles was hard as a rock so I was told. In addition, old-timers who worked at this town-owned utility said they were a real b***ch to climb owing to the fact that a lot of their cast-iron pole steps were unsafe and quite rusty. At any rate, enjoy the image! During 1994 we celebrated our 100-year anniversary. Upon request by General Manager, Mr. Joseph R. Spadea, Jr. and the Hingham Municipal Light Board Commissioners, I presented a detailed archival description of our well-respected public electric utility. Please refer to: http://www.hmlp.com The hyperlink above may not be highlighted. So, simply enter in the site address. Then once on the HMLP home page, click onto "About Us" and then go to the "History" tab. A complete description of HMLP's history as in our archives at the time (1994) was sent as a lengthy pamplet to every single one of our customers. I was very proud to be part of this endeavor. My superiors respected my work and voluntary assistance. Also please refer to other "Hingham" as keywords within the ICON Vintage Photos Gallery for other neat photos of line and pole construction this south-of-Boston coastal suburb once had. Added Notes! This photo was taken looking South from the intersection of North and Central Streets. Central Street extended up the hill you can see (crossing over South Street, across the RR tracks, a little bit in the background). A one-room school house (built in 1879) was near the top of the hill at the intersection of Central and Elm Streets. This quaint building was purchased by the Light Department for one dollar from the Hingham School Department in 1960. It was utilized as the Light Department's office until 1998. Mr. Clyde H. Curtis became the General Manager of the Hingham Municipal Light Plant in 1957. He started as a grunt digging poles in 1941. He retired in 1981 and retained the "charm" of the "Elm Street School House" all the way through his years as General Manager. In addition, incandescent street lights were still being installed under his direction until his retiremement (1981). Rotary dial telephones remained in the HMLP office until the mid 1980s and they had that rell-ringing-clatter-charm of telephones now-almost-forgotten.. Dedicated office administration (James E. Morrison who was hired in 1950) and Miss Mary Gorman (hired in 1946) were nothing but five-star-plus examples of hometown public power employees dedicated to serving their town's municipal system. Both of these individuals nearly reached 50-years-in-service. These folks definitely are a tribute to old-school methods of doing business and public relations, to say the least.... Not to mention continuing the 100-year-plus-tradition of being nothing but the best of customer service, low rates and quick, responsive power restorations as other Public Power communities also are well acclaimed for. Joe Maurath, Jr. ===================================== |