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Electricity for
Christmas
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In December 1966
linemen from the Alger-Delta Cooperative Electric Association of
Gladstone, MI began the task of running electrical lines from the
Harris area (ie. West U.S. 2) onto the Hannahville Indian
Reservation, a distance of approximately five miles. The cable
installation was completed on Dec. 23, 1966.
After this task was
completed a team of 40 volunteer electricians from throughout the
state began wiring 16 homes to receive electricity. All 40
electricians were members of the International Brotherhood of
Electricians. The 16 homes were completed and ready for "flipping
the switch" late that evening.
In 1966 the union scale for
electricians was $10 per hour for Saturday work. This would have
been $400 per hour for the crew of 40 totaling $4,000 for the day’s
work.
On Dec. 23, 1966 at 3 p.m.
EST a small handful of local county officials and community members
watched as "hotlines" were activated at Hannahville for the first
time. |
Hannahville resident
Henry Philemon Sr. (center), along with a BIA representative looks
on as an electrician makes the final connections into the breaker
box. |
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The "Lights for Christmas Project,"
was a multi-agency sponsored effort. Agencies involved included the
Upper Peninsula Committee for Area Progress (UPCAP), the Community
Action Agency, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Marquette
Catholic Diocese.
The $6,000 abandonment
deposit required earlier in the year by the Alger-Delta Cooperative
Electric Association was donated by the Marquette Catholic Diocese.
In addition, each of the 16 households to receive electricity were
required to pay the Cooperative membership fee of $5. The request
for the abandonment deposit was based on the pending Bureau of
Indian Affairs housing project in Hannahville. If these new homes
were not constructed in the area of the existing homes there was the
possibility that the electric lines would be abandoned.
(Note: Give locations of
original 16 homes. Include map.)
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 Left
to Right: Bishop Thomas L. Noa, Father Louis Cappo and Father Vincent
Ouellette with the Thomas Wandahsega children. Taken December 17, 1966
at the Hannahville Indian Community.
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 Linemen
from the Alger-Delta Cooperative Electric Association installed a 5½
mile power distribution system at the Hannahville Indian Community.
Poles were set on Saturday, December 17, 1966 while 16 area homes were
being wired by members of the IBEW. |
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