SMETHPORT — Jim Herzog has donated to Smethport Borough two complete and original editions of the McKean County Miner from 1921 that document electricity coming to the county seat during the Roaring Twenties, a decade that saw much change and prosperity before the stock market crash in 1929.

“The newspapers came from the estate of Mary Backus, a local woman who died at the age of 103 and whose family at one time published the Miner,” said Herzog on Monday when he presented the framed copies of the April 4 and June 16 editions to borough council. “It is very unusual to find old newspapers in perfect condition,” Herzog added.

To recognize the almost 100 years of electrical service in the borough, officials agreed to display the copies at a prominently place in the borough office.

In an article from the April 14 edition, the Miner wrote: “There was a large and enthusiastic meeting held at the Hose House (fire hall) Monday night for the purpose of settling a most vital question — whether Smethport would have electricity or not and it is the firm belief all those who attended the meeting that it would not be so many days before Smethport will be on the map with the juice in the town.”

A Mr. Woolsey of the General Electric Company of Philadelphia was the principal speaker of the evening. He spoke about the beginning of electricity from the time of Thomas Alva Edison and explained the lighting plant system to all present so that they could be able to go and intelligently inform his next-door neighbor just what electricity would mean to him in dollars and cents in his home in the long run and just how much could be saved.

“I did not come here, gentlemen, to sell you anything,” Woolsey said. “I came here to help you better understand the feasibility of putting an electrical lighting system in your town that would stand the test and after 25 years. You would not have to tear down, as many, many other towns with their plants have been forced to do and likewise spend many thousands of dollars for what they should have had in the first place.”

Woolsey had made elaborate plans for the meeting. Besides preparing a chart showing how different units would be placed in town and electricity extended, he used a 60-watt light for comparison to a gas light and noted that three identical lights would be equal to nine gas burners that were installed at the Hose House and the cost of running those would be about the same.

The plan called for two 210 horse power engines K. W., or a larger engine for the units, and the borough council to run and operate its own plant with the site to be announced at a later date. It would be necessary to have three shifts to operate the plant.

What would it cost to supply electricity to the borough?

The Miner article answered that question. “The cost of the full equipment would be in the neighborhood of $75,000 that would include wiring for the town, the plant, etc., everything included.

“Now what say you?”

“Overwhelming Victory for Progressive Element” read the Miner’s June 16, headline, in reporting people voted 407 to 77 in favor of bringing electricity to the borough.
“Thus did the town take a long leap forward in the race with other municipalities of its size, and the result of which will be undoubtedly a big boom for local business and an added incentive for new industries to locate here,” the Miner reported.
“Much of the credit for this positive vote that led to the construction of the borough electric company,” Herzog said, “went to John Backus, inventor and founder of the Backus Novelty Company, who spearheaded the electric system development and strongly supported by the Conopus Club, a local service organization.”
The Miner article noted that this was “another victory for the Conopus Club and the men who led the electric light campaign proved themselves to be the best of citizens as they gave their time and money for a public benefit. To J. Clayton Backus, the ‘father of electricity” as he was the recognized head in Smethport , goes the bulk of praise rights. But each and every member of the Conopus Club and all who aided the campaign are entitled to the thanks of all local people.”
In a sentence that includes some opinion, the Miner article said, “They planned and waged a campaign the success of which is easily seen in plain, cold figures that showed overwhelming defeat for the ones who would hinder the town, rather than help it.”
Backers of the electricity vote prepared well in advance. The plan of getting the voters out was systematically arranged, according to the Miner. “Before Election Day, teams had been appointed to canvass the town and sense the sentiment of the voters. In this way an idea was gotten as to those who were for bonding of the borough for electricity, and those against.”
This made work easier on Election Day.  Approximately 800 voters were registered in the borough for this special election.
“Quick work in counting the votes was done by the election board, as by half an hour after the voting ceased, word of the victory was spreading like wildfire throughout the town.”
The next step in the process was up to the borough council. “The regular meeting falls on the Fourth of July, but it is likely that if the amount of $40.000 is raised by subscriptions from citizens within a week or two that a special meeting of the council will be called.”
At that time, the method of getting electricity here would be determined.
The Miner reported, “It is believed, judging from sentiments expressed at the polls yesterday by many persons, and also the opinion of the electrical expert of the Westinghouse Company at Pittsburgh that the plan of bringing current here from Portville is the most practical.
“So many advantages are to be had, it is said, by transporting the current over the building of a local plant that is almost certain the borough will decide upon transportation.”