Electricity's Impact
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Within days after the installation of electricity, the people of Woodstock saw the impact that it had on their lives.
"Theo Rodeffer, our venerable lamp lighter...is gone...he simply stepped aside for the progressive spirit of the present day, and his lamps which had well served their day and generation have yielded to the bright electric lights which now so beautifully illuminate our streets" With the loss of one man's job came the creation of several others. Electricity provided employment to not only the Burnshire family, but also to electricians, linemen, and book keepers for WEP.
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 Shenandoah River near Red Banks copied from Art Folio of Shenandoah Valley by John Wayland (1924). Click to enlarge. |
Electricity sparked a new-found pride in the town. Woodstock was no longer a backwards county seat, rather, it was an example of modern innovation.
"The lights were entirely satisfactory....the arc light at the intersection of Main and Court streets is excellent, giving all the light that could be desired, and the incandescent street lights beautifully and satisfactorily light the town." |
"Instead of dingy coal oil lamps that attempted to light our streets... we have an electric light system...that favorably compares with that of the larger cities and is superior to that of many towns." |
