[av_section min_height=” min_height_px=’500px’ padding=’default’ shadow=’no-shadow’ bottom_border=’no-border-styling’ bottom_border_diagonal_color=’#333333′ bottom_border_diagonal_direction=” bottom_border_style=” id=” color=’main_color’ custom_bg=” src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/LLP-slider1-1.jpg’ attachment=’12’ attachment_size=’full’ attach=’parallax’ position=’center center’ repeat=’stretch’ video=” video_ratio=’16:9′ overlay_enable=’aviaTBoverlay_enable’ overlay_opacity=’0.9′ overlay_color=’#333333′ overlay_pattern=” overlay_custom_pattern=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=’custom’ color=’#ffffff’]

Company History

[/av_textblock]
[/av_section]

[av_layout_row border=” min_height_percent=” min_height=’0′ color=’main_color’ mobile=’av-flex-cells’ id=’side-margins’]

[av_cell_one_full vertical_align=’top’ padding=’30px’ padding_sync=’true’ background_color=’#ffffff’ src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_attachment=’scroll’ background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ mobile_display=”]

[av_three_fifth first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]

Time to Look Back

[/av_textblock]

[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
When you reach your 100th birthday, it’s natural to pause and take a look back at the ups and downs of your long journey.

Thanks are due to many people for their support through the decades: due not only to our employees, but to the entire town, as customers, advisors and friends. As Frank McMahon put it in 1945:

“The reason for this plant’s success is that we have always had the help of the best businessmen in town without any cost whatever to the plant. A private corporation would have had to pay huge salaries for that guidance.”
[/av_textblock]

[av_hr class=’custom’ height=’50’ shadow=’no-shadow’ position=’center’ custom_border=’av-border-none’ custom_width=’50px’ custom_border_color=” custom_margin_top=’0px’ custom_margin_bottom=’10px’ icon_select=’no’ custom_icon_color=” icon=’ue808′ font=’entypo-fontello’]

[av_iconlist position=’left’ iconlist_styling=” custom_title_size=” custom_content_size=” font_color=” custom_title=” custom_content=” color=’custom’ custom_bg=’#cacaca’ custom_font=’#cacaca’ custom_border=” admin_preview_bg=”]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1895′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
More than 200 Lowell citizens petition the Common Council for more economical electric lighting of our village. The Council buys land and water rights on the Flat River; $23,000 of bonds are sold to finance a power plant.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1896′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Detroit engineer H.H. Humphrey plans and supervises our first light plant; the dam is finished on June 26; the plant is dedicated September 16. Carl English is our first superintendent, at a salary of $900 a year.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1901′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
J.Scott Fox, a lineman, is killed instantly while trimming an arc light at Main and Hudson.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1902′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Waldo Francisco becomes second superintendent, leaving four months later. Frank McMahon succeeds him.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1904′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Lowell outgrows the plant’s capacity. $10,000 spent on new waterwheel and generator.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1905′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Belding-Hall Refrigerator Co. employees raise riverbanks and save our dam from record-breaking June floods.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1916′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Farmers turn out to douse the flames as the plant burns to the ground. Cliff Hatch builds a new fireproof plant for $2,000.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1917′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
On New Year’s Eve the new plant, undermined by quicksand, falls in the river. Owen-Ames-Kimball builds a new plant for $55,000.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1924′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
We add a new office building and new diesel engine. Cost: $40,000.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1929′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Lowell purchases flowage rights to raise the head to 17.5 feet; a new dam is built for $68,939, with space for another wheel.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1930′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Another addition, generator and waterwheel installed.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1934′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
In two years we sell 27 refrigerators, 35 ranges and 9 water heaters out of our office.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1942′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Another engine installed; Lowell changes from two-phase to three-phase electricity for $100,000.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1946′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Our 50th birthday! More growing: a new $41,000 building and another diesel engine and other equipment for $117,617.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1952′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Frank J. McMahon retires after 50 years. Thomas Moore named superintendent. Fire around the stack of No. 2 diesel melts the wiring on the fire siren. $60,000 damage.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1953′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Foreman Leo A. Hoover dies after contacting a 6,900-volt line.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1955′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Two more diesels, originally built for submarines, are installed.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1958′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Roger Westenbrook named superintendent.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1961′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Jake Callier named superintendent.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1967′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Jake Callier dies at age 41; John Jones named superintendent.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1970′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
The old dam and powerhouse in Keene Township are sold.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1979′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
We join the Michigan Public Power Agency, a cooperative of 18 companies which purchase power from Consumers Power coal-fired plants; no nuclear power is used.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1982′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Herb Haines named superintendent.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1982′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Lowell Cable is started.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1992′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Paul Christman named superintendent.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1996′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Our 100th birthday!
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’1998′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Ron Holcomb named General Manager.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’2000′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Tom Richards named General Manager.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’2007′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Lowell Cable is sold to Comcast.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[av_iconlist_item title=’2008′ link=” linktarget=” linkelement=” icon=’ue89a’ font=’entypo-fontello’]
Greg Pierce named General Manager.
[/av_iconlist_item]
[/av_iconlist]

[av_codeblock wrapper_element=’style’ wrapper_element_attributes=”]
h4.iconlist_title {
font-size: 30px;
line-height: 50px;
}
.iconlist_content {
margin-top: -10px;
}
[/av_codeblock]

[/av_three_fifth][av_two_fifth min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=”]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20150622_190800-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’549′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’https://lowell-light.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IMG_3277-480×400.jpg’ attachment=’841′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’no-animation’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DSCN0934-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’565′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DSCN1790-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’566′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/8-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’590′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/10-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’579′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’586′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20150715_142208-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’553′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20151116_145332-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’554′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20150622_202541-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’552′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[av_image src=’http://lowell-light.cqlcorp.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DSCF4850-495×400.jpg’ attachment=’564′ attachment_size=’portfolio’ align=’center’ styling=” hover=” link=” target=” caption=” font_size=” appearance=” overlay_opacity=’0.4′ overlay_color=’#000000′ overlay_text_color=’#ffffff’ animation=’right-to-left’ admin_preview_bg=”][/av_image]

[/av_two_fifth][/av_cell_one_full][/av_layout_row]