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Old News Stories
Electricity Turned On, 1929

From The Chatsworth Times
March 14, 1929

Power Turned on in County
Tuesday
Dream realized as Mayor Touches Button.

The citizens of Chatsworth and community realized a dream of long standing Tuesday when Mayor J. F. McGinty, at exactly 12:20 p.m., pressed the little white button at the substation of the Georgia Power Company and turned the electric current of that vast system into the homes, business houses and factories of Chatsworth for the first time in history.

This important event in Murray County's history was marked by no formal ceremony, and owing to the fact, that the hour for cutting in the service was not made known until an hour within the time of the cut-in, only a comparatively few citizens of the community was present. But there was no doubt about that few realizing the tremendous importance of the occasion to Murray County.

Mr. Linton K. Starr, director of the public relations department of the Georgia Power Company, represented the company at Tuesday's event. Mr. Starr, who is the son of the late Col. Trammel] Starr, was born at Spring Place, and was quite as enthusiastic over the turning the service of his company into his native county as were the citizens of this community. Just before the current was turned on Mr. Starr told those assembled at the sub-station that he had been a citizen of Murray County since 1890, but that on March 12, 1929, the Georgia Power Company, whose slogan is, "A Citizen Wherever We Serve," became for the first time a citizen of the county.

At 1 o'clock, a luncheon was tendered. Mr. Starr and other representatives of the power company at the DeSota Hotel, Editor J. Roy McGinty, of the Times, acted as toastmaster, presenting Mayor J. F. McGinty, who extended the welcome of the city to the power company and their representatives.

Mr. Starr, introduced other representatives of the company who had been in charge of the office, responded for the group, declaring that Chatsworth had one of the most up-to-date distribution systems in Georgia.

Mr. Starr announced that Mr. R.E. Chambers had been appointed to represent the company here in the collection of bills. Mr. Chambers made a brief talk in which he said that we here at Chatsworth have been telling of the great things we could do if we had electric power. Now we have it, and we no longer have that alibi, he declared.

Col. C. N. King, counsel for the power company, made an interesting talk on the development of the community and the possibilities here for future development. The assemblage was graced by the presence of Mrs. Sarah Kelly, grandmother of Mr. Starr, and Mrs. Lou Ogletree. Mrs. Kelly delighted the luncheoners with a graceful little talk, which was much appreciated by all.

Electric service was also cut in at Spring Place Tuesday, and Eton will be served as soon as some questions affecting right-of-way for the lines are settled.

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