Robinson’s Circus Brought Shelby Its First Blinding Electric Light
Mamie Jones wrote that Thomas Edison perfected the incandescent light (after 3,000 trials) in October 1879. During the early 1880s, Robinson’s circus showed in Shelby and gave demonstrations of Edison’s light. An eye witness described it this way: a steam engine was brought in to generate power; a hole was opened in the top of the canvas tent to let out smoke from the engine; the engine generated the electricity; two large carbons were drawn into close contact by ropes, and the current was turned on. Some spectators complained the light was so bright it blinded them, and they could not see the remainder of the performance.
She wrote that Shelby had electric lights in some homes and business places as early—or perhaps earlier—than 1900. She stated that her own house had electric light in 1901. R. B. Miller installed the first generator at Laura Glenn Mills south of Shelby in the late 1890s and furnished current for local homes and businesses.
She wrote that in the early 1900s Hugh Miller and A. W. McMurry bought from R. B. Miller the generator he had used at Laura Glenn Mills, installed it (with additional new equipment) at the Shelby Cotton Mills, and furnished power from there for business places and homes. A. W. McMurry said he was not sure exactly when they started, but soon thereafter the City of Shelby installed electric street lights and bought current from them; she said it was her understanding that electric street lights were first used here in 1902. To induce householders to install lights, the houses were wired free, and Mr. Barron was brought here from Rock Hill to manage the electric light plant.
She added that later the Shelby Electric Light & Power Company, Inc. was organized and stock was sold. Among the stockholders she listed were S. A. McMurry, J. J. McMurry, A. W. McMurry, D. D. Wilkins, O. C. Blanton, and others. She also wrote that when she went to City Hall to get early contract information, the earliest Town Council Minute Book she found was dated May 1911.
Source: Mamie Jones.
