S. M. Mitchell's Power Plant
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S. M. Mitchell - owner of the Cassville Milling Co. Cassville Milling & Power Company - The power plant was located at the rear of the Milling Company where the smokestack appears. "S. M. Mitchell of the milling company, left for Iowa Saturday night. He was accompanied by Mr. Holcomb of St. Louis, an engineer in electrical construction, who was brought to Cassville to draw plans for the building of an electrical light system for the town. Mr. Mitchell stated that the electric lights will be a go and within a few months will be the real thing in Cassville." Jan. 12, 1905, Thursday, Cassville Republican S. M. Mitchell in Cassville, came to the area from Nora Springs, Iowa in March of 1904, according to the Barry County papers. He brought with him show horses and also race horses. He developed two of the residential sub-divisions of Cassville on the northeast part of town that still bear his name. He built a race track that was known as the "Flower House". While in Cassville he headed a group that purchased the Exeter - Cassville Railroad and electrified the four mile route. Mitchell was often remembered as the man who owned one of the first automobiles in town but the power plant was probably one of his most important accomplishments for the community. S. M. Mitchell did a lot of things for Cassville. The Cassville Republican reported this: "Cassville will spend $10,000.00 this spring and summer on a waterworks system. It is being put in to protect county property as well as city property and the citizens of the city are paying the bills." March 16, 1905, Thursday, Cassville Republican In May of 1905 the people approved the waterworks bond issue and in July 1905 Cassville City Council met and awarded contracts for the material for the city waterworks. By the first of September, that same year, the Cassville Mill and Power Company was advertising for electric light poles. On Christmas evening, December 25, 1905, the electric lights went on. "Cassville stores, for the first time in the city's history were lighted Monday night by electricity. The dynamo arrived last week and was soon put in running order. The wires had already be stretched and nothing remained to be done but turn on the current. The stores looked like brand new establishments. The improvement is a good one and the mill company is to be congratulated on such a prefect test of the lights. From now on remember Cassville has water works and electric lights. We are in the procession with both feet and indications are we will remain there." Dec 28, 1905, Thursday, Cassville Republican I bought this postcard on an Internet auction. Submitted in 2008 by Donna Cooper |