1935 ORGANIZATION
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.
ALBERT GERMAIN was born in Two Harbors, Minnesota,
on March 28, 1901. He operated a dairy farm at London
Crossing. Albert served as Director and Treasurer of
the Cooperative. Prior to incorporation, he served as
Treasurer of the Silver Creek Farmer's Club and as a
member of the Lake County Fair Board.
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.
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