By Jessica Gorman

Electric light was first provided to Minden through the efforts of the Minden Electric Light and Power Company, Ltd. This company was chartered in February of 1901. The first Board of Directors was composed of R.H. Miller, president, E.E. Fitzgerald, vice-president, F.H. Drake, T. Crichton, J.A. Crichton, A.M. Leary, A.A. Stewart, and A.G. Chaffe. 

The power plant was located at the newly-constructed Minden Lumber Company.  This mill was located on property between Pine Street and the L&A Raiload purchased from Alfred Goodwill. Some of the mill houses were located in what is now the “new section” of the Minden Cemetery. On April 30, 1901, the first electric lights were turned on in Minden. The Taylor Hotel was the first building to be lit. 

In 1918, the sawmill was destroyed by a fire suspected to be the work of an arsonist. A federal investigation followed. Minden was left without a power plant. It was decided that the mill would not be rebuilt and the power plant would be operated at the Minden Cotton, Oil, and Ice Company as soon as a generator could be obtained. Within the month, the town entered into an agreement to operate the power plant at the Minden Water Works on a trial basis. It was 1920, before the Town of Minden purchased the Minden Water Works and Electric Light Plant.

(Jessica Gorman is the Assistant Director and Archivist for the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum in Minden and is an avid genealogist.)