In addition, these sturdy square poles supported the electric and telephone circuits vital to this beautiful and historic Massachusetts community. Similarly, square chestnut poles were used in Hingham, MA for many years by their Municipal Light Department; the last one laid to rest in 1984. For more information please refer to: www.hmlp.com From there, connect to "About Us" and the "History" link that will surely enchant you about the earliest days of the community-owned electric distribution and the benefits of Public Power which has grown to over 2,000 municipalities nationwide ;-)

PS...Other municipal electric utilities here in MA used a lot of square (chestnut) poles as well. You couldn't kill them, according to a long-timer... There would be more of them left in service here in MA if it was not for higher primary voltage conversions. Those poles resisted automobile knock-downs from the long timers I worked with (Hingham Light Department retired employees, especially the late Clyde H. Curtis; James Powers, Dwight Mayo, James Morrison, Mary Gorman and others who have "seen it all").

It has always been a privelege to have known these people and the stories they have told me.

Joe

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