1936 INCORPORATION

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.
Mr. Torstein Grinager, County Agent of Lake County, worked with the rural people so that they might realize electric service. Besides assisting in the organization and incorporation of the Cooperative, he participated in many community activities. He has served as an officer of the Lake County Civic Association, the Lake County Fair Board, and the Lake County Industrial Committee.

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.
Mr. Clayton Hopkins (Pictured Right with Mrs. Clayton Hopkins) was the Cooperative's first engineer. He staked lines and supervised the construction for the Cooperative in its early years.

Frank Shelhon was first appointed as Director in November 1936 to complete the year until the next annual meeting, Paul Nordley having resigned. Frank was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on April 6, 1886. Frank passed away in 1951.

Cooperative Light & Power set the first pole on September 28, 1936, at the southeast corner of section 25, Township 53N, Range 11W. Pictured right (left to right) are: A. Giddings, Emil Westholm, Albert Rafn, L. Gualteri, Ed Nauha, Einar Anderson, Torstein Grinager, C. Brickley, Paul Nordley, Ed Schorr, C. M. Hopkins and H. Johnson.