The Wisconsin magazine of history: Volume 6, number 2, December 1922

              the electric light system at appleton louise p kellogg the faith of wisconsin business men in the epochal inventions of the nineteenth century is illustrated by the action of a group of appleton citizens with regard to the electric light thomas a edison had been for some time developing the incandescent electric light machines and apparatus for supplying power for this purpose in the winter of 1880-81 a central station for demonstration pur poses was in operation at menlo park new jersey in the year 1882 the edison central-station utility was available for public use the first commercial central station was erected in london and put into service in april of that year but did not become a permanent institution in the english metropolis before that time however plans were being carried out for the utilization of this means of lighting in the united states in december 1880 the edison electric illuminating company of new york was organized the first corporation on a permanent basis to develop the edison central-station system in may of the next year property in pearl street new york city was acquired and the work of laying the underground conductors was begun not until september 4 1882 was the pearl street station placed in permanent occupation meanwhile the western edison electric light company of chicago had been incorporated may 25 1882 under the laws of illinois with territorial rights for illinois wisconsin and iowa this company was the predecessor of the present commonwealth edison company.1 forty years ago this summer therefore edison's electric-lighting system was first placed upon the market in the west a group of appleton mill owners and citizens had the enterprise and 1 letters of william e keily june 0 and aug 29 1922 chicago