When you sign up to belong to an electric cooperative, know that members matter most. It’s a philosophy deeply held in the hearts and minds of both the directors who represent you and the employees who serve you.
From Pearl Street to the Pierson farm. From New York to near York.
On Sept. 4, 1882, Pearl Street station, Thomas Edison’s complete direct-current electric system, was publicly unveiled in Lower Manhattan. Edison’s electric idea eventually reached North Dakota farm country, where the Ray and Evangeline Pierson farm, 3.5 miles south of York, was energized by Baker Electric Cooperative on Thanksgiving Day 1937. It was the state’s first farm to receive electricity.
In the heart of downtown Fargo stands Barry Hall, a 1920s-era building with square façades and a clean stone finish. Behind its doors is one of North Dakota’s best-kept secrets – one that has proven invaluable to many North Dakota cooperatives and the communities they serve.
by Pete Erickson
