Hingham, MA Municipal Lighting Plant, 1905, Tall Square Chestnut Poles at RR Xing

By Joe Maurath, Jr.; posted June 28, 2020

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This community had numerous betterment projects in place through the years and getting their poles in good order just about topped that list. As discussed in one of my postings recently, changeovers from flimsy, decaying hard pine poles to hefty chestnut ones continually were taking place through the early 1900s. The latter poles carried the light plant's equipment along with the heavier cables belonging to the railway and telephone companies with much more ease. A photo of two of these tall poles allowing for better clearance over RR telegraph lines in the town's center is shown above. Previously, utility wires were running too close together causing short circuits, safety issues and outages for the affected line owners.

Overall, in furthering reliable service and safer distribution of electricity throughout town during 1905, the general manager, Wallace Corthell stated in his year-end report: "142 more of the original hard pine poles were taken out and replaced by thirty-five foot chestnut poles...similar to those used in 1903. New crossarms have been put on, old wire taken down, and the lines put in such a condition that practically a new line has resulted."

He also added "and that it (Hingham's lighting plant operations) has been appreciated, is shown by a remark made to me a short time ago by one of the largest takers in town, when he said: "I want to say to you that I do not believe there is a town or city in this Commonwealth where better service is furnished than we have in Hingham."

Old school hard work and striving for customer satisfaction certainly had its rewards in its day!

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