100 years ago today: Electricity that keeps kids on the farm!
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
March 10, 2021 4:39pm CST
This was borrowed from the Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, March 10, 1921, Image 2 Found on ChroniclingAmerica.Loc.Gov
What better way to keep the kids on the farm and doing their chores than to install electric light. Delco Light was advertised as "electricity for every farm." in this newspaper in 1921.
As you can see at the bottom, one was invited to write the Northwestern Motor Company for a catalog. That's because in 1918 the rights to the delco light generator were sold to General Motors.
The machine could handle 15 individual electric lights, but it would be fewer when combining appliances that would require more voltage.
If you are for it, more info can be found here: https://www.farmcollector.com/farm-shows/delco-light-plant-zmlz13janzbea (including another advertisement, this time trying to get the wives in the mix)
10 people like this
10 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
So very true. I bet people in those days never dreamed there would be a light that could be activated by motion alone.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
11 Mar 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I just cannot imagine living in those days.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
@CarolDM That kind of stuff is always romanticized. The truth is that it was hard for them.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117272)
• El Paso, Texas
11 Mar 21
Dad was a farmers son, one of 5 kids, and he once told me about how he'd have to start chores at 5am milking the cow then gathering eggs @ScribbledAdNauseum after breakfast he'd have to catch and butcher a chicken so grandma could pluck it and cook it for dinner. This was before he'd get ready for school.
After school there was hay bailing and cleaning the stalls and other chores, I can't remember all the stuff he did but I know he didn't have much leisure outside of eating and sleeping.
Dad was born in 1921, things were really hard back then.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117272)
• El Paso, Texas
11 Mar 21
Yeah, nothing romantic about having to milk cows, kill chickens, clean stables/barns, fixing tractors, doing laundry outside in a large black caldron or raking and plowing that field out back so you'd have some veggies to eat @ScribbledAdNauseum I know there's more but I can't remember all of it.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
I'm sure you are right. Though I guess it might have given them more time outside to get chores done.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209168)
• United States
10 Mar 21
Well electricity was much safer than lanterns. Think of Mrs. O'Leary's cow.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
I don't think I actually knew how the Great Chicago Fire started. Wow, poor Mrs. O'Leary!
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
10 Mar 21
Think of the Amish they did not have electricity they did farming also they had lanterns for lighting.
3 people like this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
11 Mar 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yeah which Is so hard to believe
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
@Tina30219 You kind of have to admire them, though. Their life is probably less stressful than ours in comparison.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
@jstory07 You're right. My niece and nephew are forever on their phones and tablets.
@popciclecold (40214)
• United States
10 Mar 21
It wouldn't work with these kids.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (141905)
• Philippines
11 Mar 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum In my life, I had experienced using lamps in the countryside. It was in my mom's hometown. At that time, electricity was not accessible there.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
@Shavkat I have used oil lamps before, but only when the power is out because of stormy weather.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
You are right. I do not know where we'd be today if it weren't for electricity.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
11 Mar 21
Isnt that lovely..so glad they had it back then.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
As am I. That was about the time household chores really changed for womenfolk.
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@LindaOHio (222806)
• United States
11 Mar 21
I'll bet that was thrilling to get electric lights installed back then.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
11 Mar 21
Oh I bet so! I'm sure there were many who were afraid of them, but many more who were happy to have the convenience.
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