It was Frederick’s pride. The city had started using electricity for incandescent lights in 1888. Up until this time, city buildings had used gas lighting installed in 1850. The gas had been supplied from the Gas Works on East Church Street Extended.

The Frederick electric plant was built during the early rush of American cities for electricity. Thomas Edison opened the first commercial power plant in 1882 in New York City, providing electricity mainly to wealthy customers and businesses.

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