Molly Ayala
The history of electricity is a long and complex one, with power transmission and electricity generation dating back to the late 19th century. So, what about electricity in houses in 1914? Well, that's a little harder to pinpoint. We know that in the early days of home electrification, electricity was often carried by bare copper wires with minimal insulation, and that knob and tube wiring was commonly used for electric installation from around 1890 to 1910. However, specific records of electricity consumption by households between 1898 and 1914 are scarce, and it wasn't until the late 1920s that standalone electrical departments began publishing official reports.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity in houses in 1914 | It is unclear whether there was electricity in houses in 1914. However, the first American home to be powered by hydroelectricity was in 1882, and by the 1920s, most cities and towns in America received electricity. |
| Early electrification | Electricity was carried by bare copper wires with minimal cotton insulation. Sockets, switch handles, and fuse blocks were made of wood. Lights would dim and brighten in response to demand. |
| Knob and tube wiring | From 1890 to 1910, knob and tube wiring was used for electric installation. Hot wires and neutral wires were run separately and insulated using rubberized cloth, which degraded over time. |
| Rural electrification | In the 1920s, few New York State farms had electric power. By 1930, 90% of farm families nationwide had no line-run electricity. By 1932, only about 10% of rural America was electrified. |
| Impact of electricity | Electricity brought light at the flick of a switch, improving the efficiency of work and the comforts of home life. It also created a divide between city and farm life, as rural Americans felt left behind. |
| Learning to use electricity | Advisors like Louisan Mamer were hired to teach people how to operate and maintain equipment, cook, do chores, and use electricity safely. |
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![Electric Cooking, Heating and Cleaning; a Manual of Electricity in the Service of the Home, by Maud Lancaster, Ed. by E. W. Lancaster 1914 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
The first electrified house
The electrification of houses is a fascinating topic, with the first instances of electrified residences popping up in different parts of the world in the late 19th century.
One notable example is Cragside, a country house near the town of Rothbury in Northumberland, England. Built by inventor and industrialist William Armstrong, it was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectric power in 1870. Armstrong dammed several small streams to create reservoirs and installed a hydraulic engine and a dynamo, powering not just Cragside but also the many farm buildings on his estate.
In the United States, the Hearthstone Historic House Museum in Appleton, Wisconsin, became the first residence in the country to be powered by a centrally located hydroelectric station using the Edison system in 1882. The house, originally the residence of paper company executive and entrepreneur Henry James Rogers, still stands today and features original Thomas Edison light fixtures.
While these examples showcase early adoption of electrification in residences, the spread of electricity to homes was a gradual process. Even in the 1920s and 1930s, many rural areas and farms in countries like the United States were still lacking access to electricity, relying instead on kerosene lanterns and early battery systems.
The journey towards universal electrification continued well into the 20th century, with each new connection bringing the bright world of electricity to more homes and transforming the lives of people around the world.
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Sources of electricity
In the early 1900s, electricity was a luxury that only a few could afford. Sources of electricity were limited, and the infrastructure to transmit power over long distances was still in its infancy. However, a few sources of electricity were available at the time, and they powered the homes, businesses, and streets of those who could access them.
One of the earliest sources of electricity was the generation of electric power through direct current (DC) systems. Thomas Edison, a pioneer in the field, developed the first large-scale investor-owned electric illumination "utility" in lower Manhattan in the late 1800s. This system used incandescent light bulbs to bring electric lighting into customers' homes and businesses. By the end of 1881, cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia had Brush arc lamp systems, providing public lighting. However, these early arc lights were extremely bright and hazardous, making them unsuitable for indoor use.
Another source of electricity during this time was hydroelectric power. In September 1882, a house in Appleton, Wisconsin, became the first American home to be powered by hydroelectricity, using the direct current system developed by Edison. This sparked a debate between proponents of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) systems, with inventors like Edison and George Westinghouse competing for contracts.
The transmission of electricity over long distances became feasible with the development of three-phase AC power. The International Electro-Technical Exhibition in 1891 demonstrated the long-distance transmission of high-power, three-phase electric current, which successfully operated motors and lights. This technology was later implemented in places like Germany and Italy, powering international exhibitions and cities.
At the turn of the century, most electricity was generated using coal, petroleum, and natural gas. The transmission of power over long distances was achieved through telodynamic (cable in motion), pneumatic (pressurized air), and hydraulic (pressurized liquid) systems. However, access to electricity was still limited, with most Americans illuminating their homes using gas lamps well into the 1920s.
Some rural areas and farms resorted to alternative sources of electricity, such as Delco-Light Plants, which consisted of glass-jarred lead-storage batteries located in dirt-floored basements. These systems were expensive and required recharging with gasoline-powered generators. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 played a significant role in increasing access to electricity, and by 1945, 85% of American homes were powered by electricity.
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Electric power transmission
The concept of electric power transmission, which involves moving electricity from its source to distant locations, first emerged in the late 19th century. This development built on earlier forms of power transmission, such as telodynamic (cable in motion), pneumatic (pressurized air), and hydraulic (pressurized liquid) systems.
The International Exhibition of Turin in 1884 featured the first long-distance AC line, transmitting power over 21 miles. This exhibition, powered by a Siemens & Halske alternator, demonstrated the feasibility of long-distance AC power transmission. Subsequently, between 1884 and 1885, Hungarian engineers from the Ganz company in Budapest invented the modern electric distribution system and efficient "Z.B.D." closed-core coils.
In the early days of home electrification, electricity was carried by bare copper wires with minimal insulation. Sockets and switches were made of wood, and voltage fluctuations were common. Knob and tube wiring was introduced around 1890, with hot and neutral wires insulated using rubberized cloth. However, it wasn't until the 1920s that most American cities and towns received electricity. Even then, rural areas lagged behind, with only about 10% of rural America electrified by 1932.
By 1925, only half of American households had electricity, and many farms remained without power even into the 1930s. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 played a pivotal role in expanding access to electricity, and by 1945, 85% of American homes were electrified. World War II did cause interruptions to electrification efforts, but by the 1950s, the spread of appliances like vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, and washing machines further increased electricity demand.
Safety improvements in electrical systems also evolved over time. Flexible armored cables were introduced in the 1920s to protect wires, and electricians started using metal conduits in the 1940s. Grounded wires, which became standard after 1965, provided additional safety by directing stray currents into the ground.
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Rural electrification
In 1914, electricity was already commonplace in cities, but it was a different story for rural areas. While some rural areas had access to electricity, it was not widely available. The slow pace of rural electrification in the 1920s and 1930s prompted action from political leaders who viewed the issue as one of social justice.
One such leader was Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot, who wanted to establish a statewide public power system. In 1923, he set up the Giant Power Board to study and plan for such a system. Pinchot was encouraged by the examples set by Ontario and several European countries, which had made significant progress in electrifying their rural areas.
In the United States, the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) was established by President Franklin Roosevelt under the authority of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. At that time, only 10% of the nation's farms had electricity. The Rural Electrification Act of 1936 provided federal loans for the installation of electrical distribution systems in isolated rural areas, and the funding was channelled through cooperative electric power companies. This act was one of many New Deal proposals by Roosevelt to address high unemployment during the Great Depression.
The REA proved popular, and in 1936, Congress established a 10-year loan program for utilities to extend power lines to rural customers. However, many existing utilities were reluctant to participate due to the higher cost per customer of building and maintaining lines in rural areas compared to urban areas. In response, electric cooperatives were formed to take advantage of the loan program. By the early 1970s, nearly all farms in the United States had electricity.
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Household appliances
The history of household electrification is a fascinating one. In the early days of electrification, electricity was often transported via bare copper wires with minimal cotton insulation. Sockets, switch handles, and fuse blocks were crafted from wood. Voltage regulators were non-existent, resulting in lights fluctuating in brightness based on the demand on the electrical grid. This period also witnessed the utilisation of knob and tube wiring for electric installation, where hot wires and neutral wires were separated and insulated using rubberised cloth.
The exploration of electricity intensified in the 18th century, with English scientist Francis Hauksbee making a significant discovery in the early 1700s. He created a glass ball that emitted light when rubbed, demonstrating electrical attraction and repulsion. This innovation paved the way for neon lighting in subsequent centuries.
By the end of 1881, several American and Canadian cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Montreal, had Brush arc lamp systems, providing public lighting well into the 20th century. These arc lamps were extremely bright and posed fire hazards due to high voltages, making them unsuitable for indoor use. Thomas Edison recognised the need for a safer alternative and, in 1879, invented the first commercially viable incandescent lightbulb. He then established the first large-scale investor-owned electric illumination "utility" in lower Manhattan, illuminating a one-square-mile area with six "jumbo dynamos".
The 1884 International Exhibition of Turin, Italy, featured the first demonstrative long-distance AC line, powered by a Siemens & Halske alternator. This exhibition proved the feasibility of long-distance AC power transmission. Subsequently, between 1884 and 1885, Hungarian engineers from the Ganz company in Budapest invented the modern electric distribution system and the efficient "Z.B.D." closed-core coils.
In the following decades, Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and other inventors introduced practical electric power systems in the 1880s. By the 1920s, most American cities and towns enjoyed electricity provided by private or municipal utility companies. However, rural areas lagged behind, with only about 10% of rural America electrified by 1932. This disparity in electrification between urban and rural areas significantly impacted the standard of living and modernising opportunities for rural Americans.
During the 1940s, electricians started using metal conduits to enclose multiple insulated wires within rigid metal tubes, enhancing safety. World War II disrupted the Rural Electrification Act's efforts, but President Roosevelt's signing of the Rural Electrification Bill in September 1944 reaffirmed the commitment to improving living standards and farm management in rural areas through electrification.
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Frequently asked questions
There are no figures for electricity units consumed by households between 1898 and 1914. However, we know that in the early 1900s, electricity was a recent addition to the average British home, especially in more remote rural areas.
By the 1920s, most cities and towns in America received electricity. In 1925, only half of American houses had electrical power.
No, even as late as 1930, 90% of farm families nationwide had no line-run electricity.
In 1882, a house in Appleton, Wisconsin became the first American home to be powered by hydroelectricity. Lagos in Africa also had electricity in some houses in the early 1900s.
Electricity brought light at the flick of a switch. It improved the efficiency of work and the comforts of home life, encouraging more people to stay on family farms.
