Quincy is a city a few miles south of Boston. This is a view looking south on Hancock Street about a quarter mile before the city's downtown district. Here we see multiples of primary voltage circuits (probably 2,400 v) strung upon heavy cedar poles (many stood until the late 1990s). In order to meet the ever-growing popularity of electricity and growth in this area, these lines were rebuilt during the 1920s and 1930s utilizing 4,160 volts primary. This pole line continued to stand however crossarms, wire and transformers were for the most part changed. Formerly glass insulators, wood crossarms and wooden pins were used everywhere on the system. The new equipment included porcelain insulators mounted on steel pins inserted in creosoted-treated crossarms (which lasted for many decades!). The downtown area had overhead utilities up through the 1930s. During the system upgrading all overhead lines and cables (except for trolley service) were placed underground.

Click "Next" for a closeup look at the pole on the left with additional information.