Astoria in Clatsop County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Site of Astoria's First Electric Generating Station

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 23, 2017

1. Site of Astoria's First Electric Generating Station Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

On Christmas Eve, 1885, direct current flowed from a small dynamo in a planer shed of West Shore Lumber Mills to light Astoria's first electric lamps. Wires strung across housetops connected the dynamo to 30 arc lamps. Customers paid $16 a lamp per month to enjoy the novel service instituted by J.C. Truellinger, proprietor of West Shore Mills and an Oregon pioneer of 1847. Out of his early venture grew Astoria Electric Company which in 1910 became an original part of the Pacific Power & Light Company system. This commemorative marker contributed by Pacific Power in recognition of pioneers of the electric industry.

Erected by Pacific Power, Clatsop County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. A significant historical date for this entry is December 24, 1885.

Location. 46° 11.436′ N, 123° 50.628′ W. Marker is in Astoria, Oregon, in Clatsop County. Marker is on West Marine Drive (U.S. 30) near Hume Avenue, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 99-1 West Marine Drive, Astoria OR 97103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Butterfly Fleet (approx. 0.2 miles away); Soldiers Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ghadar Party (approx. 0.3 miles away); Uniontown Curfew Bell (approx. 0.3 miles away); Captain Flavel Trees (approx. 0.4 miles away); Astoria & Warrenton (approx. 0.4 miles away); Captain George Flavel Mansion (approx. half a mile away); Crossroads of Cultures (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Astoria.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 23, 2017

2. Site of Astoria's First Electric Generating Station Marker

West Shore Mills circa 1883 image. Click for full size.

Public domain

3. West Shore Mills circa 1883

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 1, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 197 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 1, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.