Electricity Arrives in Rural Meeker County

Just over ninety years ago, in May 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced the start of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). Almost immediately, Meeker County residents began organizing what would become the Meeker Cooperative Lights and Power Association, the first such co-op in the state.

As you might imagine, there were many details to work through before power could arrive in rural Meeker County. A federal loan of $450,000 was obtained; engineers and electricians were consulted; and farmers learned electrical safety.

By May 1936, the co-op was ready to move forward and unanimously voted to build 125 miles of power lines. The first power pole was erected in July, and by November Minnesota’s first REA power lines were bringing power to 300 Meeker County farms.

At first, farmers focused on lights and water pumps, but the REA wanted to show how much more electricity could do. One of the best ways to do this was to create demonstration farms to showcase the wide range of electrical appliances and tools available. The REA directors selected the Charles Ness farm west of Litchfield to be the only demonstration farm in this part of the United States.  

By opening their farm to the public, the Ness family would help spread the word about the REA. Charles Ness wrote, “If we could in any way help someone find a way to ease their work or make their way of living healthier or happier by seeing some new appliances in operation at our place, it would be worth the time and effort.”

In agreeing to be the demonstration farm, the Ness family would open their home and farm to a potential constant stream of visitors. The farm was “open” seven days a week from 9 a.m. until noon and 2 to 5 p.m. The farm had over 60 appliances that the family would demonstrate to visitors in just about every farm building and room in the house.

Ness wrote, “I was busy explaining the tremendous savings and efficiency made possible by the use of the feed grinders, milk coolers, automatic pumps, etc., and my never-tiring and patient wife assisted by our very capable daughter, Ruby, were constantly telling visitors about the marvelous features of cooking with electric range and using electricity for the dozens of tasks in the house.”

The Ness family did all of this without pay, although the REA did provide the electricity, and many of the appliances were sponsored by local businesses. When the family first agreed to be the demonstration farm, they expected hundreds of visitors over the year. Instead, people came in the thousands! The electrified farm was so popular that the REA asked the Nesses to continue for another year, and they agreed. By the end of the two years, the farm had been visited by over 34,000 people from dozens of states and several countries.

Bringing electricity to all of the county is just one example of Meeker County citizens leading the way in working together towards progress.