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June 3, 1889: First Long-Distance Transmitted Electricity Lights Portland

June 3, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

Images from the Morning Oregonian, 27-June-1915

The first long-distance transmission of electricity occurred at 10pm on June 3, 1889.

The project was undertaken by the Willamette Falls Electric Company, the progenitor of Portland General Electric (Morning Oregonian, “Oregon Credited with Pioneering in Electrical Transmission Field” 27-June-1915).

The original station A at Willamette River falls was equipped with six 80-kilowatt 4000-volt single phase 125-cycle alternators. They were a departure from standard designs of that time in that the voltage was higher than ever before had been attempted.

Power Carried 13 Miles

The transmission line from the power plant to Portland, a distance of 13 miles, carried 4000 volts, and was made up of individual circuits running from the different generators in the power-house to the distributing system in this city.

The power lit up a string of 55 street lights at 4th and Main (where Chapman Park is today).

Filed Under: History, Oregon, Portland, This Day in History

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