Synopsis "The Electrification of Allegany County, Maryland"
This book shows the microcosm of Allegany County, Maryland, being yet again influential in its State and Region. Besides having what was possibly the best transportation options of the middle 19th Century, it was an early adopter of electrical power, replacing steam for industry and transportation. In the 17th thru the first half of the 18th century, it only had abundant raw materials, and rugged frontiersmen.Sparber has taken the results of meticulous research and spun it in a way that makes it exciting and interesting. He shows how a small circle of local businessmen, the "movers and shakers," contacted THE MAN, Thomas Edison, to bring them his magic. Sparber accessed the Edison Papers and scoured news archives to bring the picture together. The tale unfolds as the City of Cumberland can be reliability lit at night, providing safety and security. This expands into easily distributed electricity to light up local businesses, making manufacturing easier and safer. More things got done. Some individuals even got lights in their homes! And, then everyone wanted one.The early electric companies made money by getting people to use their product. So, they developed and sold not only light bulbs, but fans and toasters. Electrically powered tools and appliances followed. This electricity stuff might be a keeper.Sparber goes on to show the spread of electricity to other communities like Frostburg, and down the Georges Creek. Cumberland was sharing the wealth. In addition, the electric trolley system serving the County provided available alternative to the infrequent passenger trains. You could now live in Midland and go to school in Cumberland, as my father and his brothers did. You could open a branch business, as my grandfather did.This book should be required reading at the area's high schools and colleges. We take electricity for granted. It was not always so. I learned a lot of interesting things from this book.Patrick H. Stakem, native of Cumberland; Electrical Engineer, Carnegie Mellon University; "summer boy," Potomac Edison Co., 1967-68.
