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--CLP History-- Welcome to the History of Cooperative Light & Power. For your convenience, you can double-click on the following links to bring you directly to a specific point in CLP History. Note: You can enlarge all photos by double-clicking on the photo. Wednesday, August 14, 1935, was destined to be memorable for Lake County and part of St. Louis County. The day was the beginning of a brighter future for the farmer at Clover Valley, the fisherman at Knife River, the general store at Castle Danger, and the resort on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior. The people of Lake County had, for years, worked to find ways and means to bring electricity into their farms and homes. When the news reached these people that President Roosevelt had created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), they worked with even greater vigor. Meetings were held frequently, and wherever rural people gathered their main conversation was about electricity. By August 14, 1935 the preliminaries had so developed that some sixty farmers from the various communities of Lake County, determined to get electricity, met for the purpose of organizing an electric cooperative. Positive action was taken on this memorable day and the group moved to organize an electric cooperative. It was the following spring that the incorporation papers were finally signed. Elected as directors at the August meeting were: Emil Westholm, Archie Giddings, Charles Elving, Paul Nordley, William Hill, J.C. Wilson, and Albert Germain.
The directors held their first meeting on August 24, 1935, at which time Emmet Jones, Lake County Attorney, was engaged to prepare a petition for a member sign-up and the collection of a $1.00 deposit. This deposit was to be credited towards a membership if the Cooperative succeeded in receiving a loan from the Rural electrification Administration (REA). In September the directors received the petitions with 272 signatures paying a total of $261 in deposits.
On December 2, 1935, Archie Giddings and Torstein Grinager, representing the Cooperative Light & Power, met with the City of Two Harbors Power Committee regarding the purchase of electric energy from the City of Two Harbors. Representing the City were Rudolph Erickson, L. Claffy, Mayor Brickley and Carl Barr. As a result of these negotiations, the City of Two Harbors continued to serve the Cooperative's power requirements through 1956. One of the obstacles confronting the organization was the false propaganda that farmers and home owners who ventured to sign up for electricity would loose their farms and homes. When it was evident that the rural areas could not be denied, opponents resorted to "Spite Line" and "Cream Picking" activities. This Cooperative was a victim of these activities. One year to the day after the creation of the REA, farmers of Lake County were ready to incorporate an electric cooperative. On May 11, 1936, the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were received and reviewed with Mr. Russell Fisher of the REA legal division assisting. Appointed as incorporators were: Emil Westholm, Archie Giddings, Charles Elving, William Hill, and Torstein Grinager. On the first board of directors, Paul Nordley was named in place of Mr. Grinager. On May 11, 1936, the Cooperative received a letter from Morris L. Cooke, REA administrator, informing the directors that a $60,000 allocation had been made to the Cooperative. Eleven days later the Cooperative's engineer, Clayton Hopkins, briefed the directors on the area survey and the proposed line extensions. The directors were burning the midnight oil, and on July 25th the directors opened the construction bids for the first lines. After some consideration regarding contractors, the bid was awarded to the Commonwealth Electric Company, the low bidder, to construct 56 miles of line for $44,143.84.
In a press release dated September 24, 1936, President Emil Westholm announced that the line construction would begin on that date. The first poles were hauled out on September 24th and the pole setting was underway on Monday, September 28, 1936. On the pole setting crew were: Ernest Lassonde, Ed Johnson, Jack Giddings, Arthur Peterson, Verner Juth, Wm. "Bill" Kuronen, and Ray Hanson, foreman. In November Paul Nordley resigned from the board and Mr. Frank Shelhon of Clover Valley was appointed to complete the year.
The first annual meeting of the Cooperative was held at the Lake County Court House, and the members elected as directors were Emil Westholm, Arvid Bostrom, Archie Giddings, Paul Nordley, and David Ivarinen. On January 29th the directors hired Walter Cullen as maintenance man at $150 a month and also approved the renting of office space in the Cullen Building at $15 per month. First Board of Directors
Picture above left to right are: Emil Westholm (1935 -- 1940), Charles Elving (1935 -- 1936) and William Hill (1935 -- 1936). Pictured above left to right are: Archie Giddings (1935 -- 1940) and Paul Nordley (1935 -- 1939).
The big day came, and on February 28th the lines to Waldo, Knife River and Knife River Valley were energized and 93 rural homes were lit up with electric energy. In August Arvid Bostrom resigned from the board, and Julius N. Jacobson was appointed as director. The Cooperative's office was moved to the Lyon Building on the corner of 6th Street and 7th Avenue. The Cooperative continued to operate in these quarters until the summer of 1956 when the offices were moved to the corner of 4th Street & 15th Avenue. In August of 1999, The Cooperative changed locations once again, to the the present modern facilities on Highway 2. The Cooperative's manager was instructed to wire the REA in Washington for additional allocations so that electric service could be extended to the many additional applicants.
The members at the January 26, 1938, annual meeting elected five new directors: Emil Westhoml - 3 years, Archie Giddings - 3 years, Julius N. Jacobson - 2 years, Paul Nordley - 2 years, and Ralph Alseth - 1 year. Mr. Alseth was elected for a three year term in 1939. The E.W. Wylie bid for the construction of the lines to Beaver Bay, Finland and Little Marais was accepted at the July 1939 board meeting. In September Engineer Hopkins resigned, and R.O. Passi was hired to perform the engineering duties. A $100,000 loan application was submitted to REA so that an additional 207 consumers could be provided electric service. The board authorized the purchase of a Ditto machine at a cost of $194.80. In these years nine new directors were elected, namely; John M. Jacobson, Gunnar Palm, Oliver Isackson, Albert Rafn, Arthur Lorntson, Campman Anderson, Ben Fenstad, Eli Ronnback, and David Anderson. During this period the Cooperative hired four managers: Rudolph Jensen, David Anderson, William Helin and William Himango. Eugene Neil was hired as a bookkeeper in 1946. Evelyn Stone and Audrey Koop worked during this period as bookkeepers, cashiers and stenographers. During this period World War II was fought and won. Construction was at a standstill, and the Cooperative's attorney, Emmett Jones, and lineman, William Kuronen, entered the armed forces. The Cooperative purchased two trucks, a 1½ ton flat bed - 5 man cab truck, and a one ton line truck. The first "after war expansion" got underway in October 1950 when the Cooperative started the construction of 70 miles of line to serve the Brimson, Fairbanks, and Toimi areas. The original substation north of Two Harbors, having a capacity of 150 KVA, was removed and a new 600 KVA station was erected within the City of Two Harbors near the City power plant. This substation was retired in 1956 when the Cooperative's source of power was changed. In this period the members elected seven new directors, namely: John Stone, Frank Metzinger, Thor Borgen, Harold Koop, Richard Schneiderhan, Harold Cleveland, and A.W. Pearson. During this period, many major accomplishments took place. The North Shore Line was converted to 14400/24900 volts from 7200/12470 volts, and the NO. 6 copper conductor was replaced with 3/0 aluminum. Two new substations were constructed, the Silver Bay substation of 1500 KVA capacity and the Two Harbors substation with a 2500 KVA capacity. The Cooperative constructed its new headquarters on 15th Avenue and 4th Street in Two Harbors. Two-way radio communications from truck to office were purchased and put into operation. The Cooperative has grown tremendously since 1960. It has entered into new horizons such as LakeNet Communications, the area's local internet access and long distance provider, DIRECTV, MainStreet Messenger, and much. We will continue to strive to bring progress to the communities we serve. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the history of Cooperative Light & Power. We look forward to serving you in the years to come!Home / Contact Us / Touchstone Energy / Economic Dev
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