Greenville in Hunt County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Lights on

Photographed by James Hulse, August 14, 2025

1. Lights on Marker

Inscription. The first street lights in downtown Greenville burned oil. The city employed a lamp lighter to keep the oil reservoirs filled and light the lamps that were raised and lowered by rope. In those days, hitching your horse to a lamp post brought a stiff fine.

On March 4, 1891, Greenville's first power plant began generating electricity. The tiny Town Branch plant had just two steam-powered dynamos. It produced electricity for 40 streetlights and 1000 homes. The power plant, operated by the city, was the first municipally owned electric utility in Texas.

Until 1909, the power plant operated only at night unless a matinee performance at the King Opera House needed spotlights or a wealthy subscriber paid the steep daytime fee to throw an extravagant afternoon party with drapes drawn to show off their electric lights!

The photo is taken from a post card of the interior of G.A. Pfaeffle's downtown jewelry store.

Erected by Greenville Main Street.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is March 4, 1891.

Location. 33° 8.442′ N, 96° 6.384′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Texas, in Hunt County. It is at the intersection of Johnson Street and Jordan Street, on the left

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when traveling north on Johnson Street. The marker is located at the front entrance to the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2314 Johnson St, Greenville TX 75401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hunt County Courthouse Dedication (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Cotton Trade (about 400 feet away); Lt. Audie Leon Murphy (about 400 feet away); To our Hunt County Heroes (about 400 feet away); The Seven Courthouses of Hunt County (about 400 feet away); 1929 Hunt County Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Paul Mathews Exchange Building (about 500 feet away); Boom Town (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

The view of the Lights on Marker from across the street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, August 14, 2025

2. The view of the Lights on Marker from across the street

The view of the Lights on Marker building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse

3. The view of the Lights on Marker building

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 84 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.