Wiktor Wise
The White House, the official residence of the President of the United States, first got electricity in 1891. Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, was the first president to live in an electrified White House. However, President Harrison and his wife, Caroline, refused to touch the light switches for fear of electric shock.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Benjamin Harrison |
| Position | 23rd President of the US |
| Year of electrification | 1891 |
| Fear of electricity | Yes |
| Reason for fear | Fear of electrocution |
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What You'll Learn
Benjamin Harrison was the first president to have electricity
Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, was the first president to have electricity in the White House. Electricity was first installed in 1891, during Harrison's administration. The Edison Company installed a generator for the State, War, and Navy Building (today's Eisenhower Executive Office Building), with wires strung across the lawn and into the White House. Wires were buried in plaster, and round switches were installed in each room to turn the current on and off.
However, President Harrison and his wife, Caroline Harrison, were afraid of being electrocuted and refused to touch the light switches. Irwin "Ike" Hoover, an electrician who later became the White House Chief Usher, recalled that he was responsible for turning the lights on and off for the Harrison family:
> "The Harrison family were actually afraid to turn the lights on and off for fear of getting a shock… I would turn on the lights in the halls and parlors in the evening and they would burn until I returned the next morning to extinguish them."
Despite their initial fears, the introduction of electricity to the White House marked a significant step forward in terms of energy efficiency and modern conveniences. Over time, as presidents became accustomed to the benefits of electricity, such as heating, cooling, and refrigeration, the rest of North America followed suit.
Benjamin Harrison's administration oversaw other technological advancements as well. For example, a thirty-second recording of his voice, made on a wax phonograph cylinder in 1889 by Gianni Bettini, is the earliest extant recording of a president while in office.
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The White House was first electrified in 1891
At the time, electricity was a relatively new concept, having been in use for barely a decade. As a result, few people, including President Harrison and First Lady Caroline Harrison, trusted it enough to use it exclusively. The couple refused to operate the light switches, fearing electric shock, and often left the lights on until they could be turned off by staff the next day. Irwin "Ike" Hoover, an electrician who later became the White House Chief Usher, recalled:
> "The Harrison family were actually afraid to turn the lights on and off for fear of getting a shock… I would turn on the lights in the halls and parlors in the evening, and they would burn until I returned the next morning to extinguish them."
Despite their initial wariness, President Harrison and the First Lady played a significant role in bringing electricity to the White House, marking a notable technological advancement in the history of the iconic building.
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The Edison Company installed a generator
In 1891, President Benjamin Harrison became the first president to have electricity in the White House. Electricity was installed in the White House as part of a project for wiring the State, War, and Navy Building next door, today’s Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
The Edison Company played a significant role in this historic moment by installing a generator for both buildings. This undertaking involved stringing wires across the lawn and into the White House, burying them in plaster, and installing round switches in each room for controlling the current. Irwin "Ike" Hoover, an electrician who later served as the White House Chief Usher, recalled that the Harrison family was hesitant to use the light switches due to a fear of electric shock. As a result, he was responsible for turning the lights on and off during their residence.
The Edison Company, founded by Thomas Edison, had been making strides in the field of electric power and lighting distribution for several years prior. As early as 1882, Edison introduced a system that included a large central power plant with generators (known as dynamos), voltage regulators, copper wires connecting the plant to other buildings, and the necessary wiring, switches, fixtures, and light bulbs. This system was first installed at New York City's Pearl Street Station, where Edison's team designed and built the largest dynamo up to that time, nicknamed the "Jumbo."
Edison's company also took on projects beyond stationary power plants. In 1880, he installed his electric lighting system aboard the Columbia, a steamer operated by the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company. This was Edison's first commercial application of his incandescent light bulb. Additionally, in 1881, the Mahen Theatre in Brno (now the Czech Republic) became the first public building in the world to utilise Edison's electric lamps.
The installation of electricity in the White House by the Edison Company marked a significant milestone in the adoption of electric power and was a testament to the company's pioneering role in the field.
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President Harrison and his wife were afraid of electrocution
Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, was the first president to have electricity in the White House. Harrison and his wife, Caroline, refused to touch the light switches out of fear of electrocution. This fear was not unfounded, as electricity was a new concept at the time, and electrocution was a common occurrence. In fact, in the early days of electricity, close to half of the linesmen died from electrocution. The White House staff had to follow the couple around, turning the lights on and off for them.
President Harrison's fear of electricity was indicative of the societal attitudes towards electricity in the late 19th century. Many people were uncertain about its safety and implications for daily life. This fear was not limited to the general public; even those in leadership positions, like President Harrison, were reluctant to engage directly with new technological advancements.
During his presidency, Harrison took steps to modernise the country's technology and infrastructure. He facilitated the creation of national forest reserves and substantially strengthened and modernised the U.S. Navy. He also made efforts to secure federal education funding and enforce voting rights for African Americans, although these proposals were ultimately unsuccessful.
Despite his fear of electricity, President Harrison embraced other technological advancements during his time in office. He had the earliest extant recording of a president made while in office. This thirty-second recording was originally made on a wax phonograph cylinder in 1889 by Gianni Bettini.
In summary, President Benjamin Harrison and his wife, Caroline, were afraid of electrocution, which was a common fear at the time due to the novelty of electricity. This fear led to them refusing to touch the light switches in the White House, instead relying on staff to manage the electricity for them. While this fear may seem unfounded today, it is important to recognise that it reflected the societal attitudes and understanding of electricity in the late 19th century.
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They refused to operate the light switches
Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president of the US, was the first president to have electricity in the White House. However, he and his wife, Caroline, refused to operate the light switches for fear of electric shock. This fear was not unfounded, as in the early days of electricity, close to half of the linesmen died from electrocution. Most houses at the time would also have required retrofitting for electricity, which may have made the technology even more dangerous.
The White House was electrified in 1891, during Benjamin Harrison's presidency. However, due to the novelty of electricity, the president and first lady never touched the light switches, leaving this task to the White House staff. This fear of electricity was not limited to the president and first lady, as subsequent presidents also exhibited similar behaviours. For example, Lyndon B. Johnson was known for wandering the White House and turning off lights in rooms he thought were empty, sometimes surprising people who were still working in those rooms.
Despite their reluctance to operate the light switches, Benjamin Harrison and his wife were the first to experience the benefits of electricity in the White House. This included access to modern conveniences such as heating, cooling, and refrigeration, which would have significantly improved their daily lives. While they may have been cautious about flipping the switches, they nonetheless recognised the importance of electricity and paved the way for future presidents to embrace this new technology.
The refusal of President Harrison and his wife to operate the light switches highlights the early days of electricity and how it was initially viewed with caution and even fear. It is intriguing to see how far we have come since then, with electricity now an integral part of our daily lives. It is a reminder of how technology can shape and transform our world, and how our understanding and relationship with it evolve over time.
In conclusion, while Benjamin Harrison was the first president to have electricity in the White House, his reluctance to operate the light switches showcases the early challenges and perceptions surrounding this new technology. It is a testament to the transformative power of innovation and our ongoing pursuit of progress and adaptation to new advancements.
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Frequently asked questions
Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president, was the first president to have electricity in the White House.
The White House was electrified in 1891.
Although electricity was installed in the White House during his presidency, President Benjamin Harrison and his wife, Caroline, refused to touch the light switches for fear of electric shock. They continued to use the old gaslights.
