This Week in Odessa History

Odessa was a late bloomer when it came to electric power. It was not until August 22, 1910 that the lights went on.

Other towns, including Harrington had been illuminated by electricity earlier, when the Washington Water Power’s line reached there. But Odessa had to wait until the line was extended farther to the west.

The happy occasion was reported in The Odessa Record in its issue of August 26, 1910:

The long-felt want has at last been filled in Odessa.

Up to this time, the town has been without an adequate lighting system, and at night the town has been dark and gloomy, and strangers were...