Beginnings

The first formal step towards the creation of electric and water facilities for Two Rivers was taken early in 1901 when a group of spirited citizens organized the Two Rivers Water Works, Electric Light and Power Company. The corporation was certified by the State of Wisconsin on February 13, 1901.

The Articles of Incorporation were signed by H.P. Hamilton and Walter Mann, both prominent Two Rivers industrialists and civic leaders. The company was capitalized in the amount of $5,000 with 500 shares of stock; 497 shares were issued to J.P. Miller of Chicago and one share each was issued to H.P. Hamilton, Walter Mann, and E.R. Mueller.

The purpose of the company was to construct, maintain, and operate a water works, an electric generating plant and an electrical distribution system in accordance with an ordinance adopted by the City's Common Council on January 15, 1901. The company contracted with John P. Mueller and his Chicago associates to construct the plant and system which, when completed and found satisfactory, would be sold by the company to the City of Two Rivers. The transfer to City ownership was completed on March 1, 1902.

Even before the plant was completed, on July 1, 1901 the City created a Water and Light commission to direct the administration of the utilities. The commission's first President was J.E. Hamilton, the founder of Hamilton Manufacturing Company. Charles E. Mueller, an early Two Rivers brewer, was Vice-President, and City Clerk Joseph L. Klein was the Commission Secretary. Other commissioners were Charles Krause and Peter Schroeder. The commission selected Alva A. Hudson, who had been Chief Engineer at the old Two Rivers chair factory, to become the first Superintendent of the water and electric utility.

The initial plant facilities for the water and electric utility operations were housed in the cream colored brick building at the intersection of Washington and Lake Streets which was constructed in 1901 (this building is still in use as our high lift pump station). The first permit for a water service connection was issued to Charles Berger on Jefferson Street near the 16th Street intersection. The first electric service was installed at the Congregational Church on Washington Street between 15th and 16th Streets. When the city began operation of the utility plant in March of 1902, there were 44 water meters and 52 electric meters in service. There were also 53 fire hydrants serving the city and 37 carbon street lights illuminating the southern section of Two Rivers. The first year of operation of the water and electric utility was reported to earn a profit of $176.97 from gross revenues of $10,130.30.

It was not until 1909 that the first application to use electric energy for power (rather than lighting service) was made. In that year, W.S. Bremer began using electric energy to operate the Zulu Knitting Mills.

The Water System

The city's initial public water supply came from shallow wells located on the lake shore in the vicinity of what is now Lakeshore Park. From old records, it appears that those well sites are now covered by Memorial Drive.

The wells remained in service until a 24" intake was constructed extending 6,126 feet into Lake Michigan in 1924. While the lake water was initially meant to be pumped directly into the system without treatment, it was found that there was a considerable amount of "impurity" in the water and chlorination was eventually employed to destroy the bacteria. It was also found that the water would become cloudy and dirty (particularly in the winter months) when storms rolled the lake water. Summer months also brought complaints of a fishy taste in the water.

To address the complaints about water quality, a filtration plant capable of producing 2 million gallons of water a day was constructed and placed into service in 1935. The plant was expanded to a capacity of 4 million gallons a day in 1954, and remains in service to the City of Two Rivers today.

The Electric System

The original plant (now used as our high lift pump station) included steam boilers which were used to power the electric generators and high lift water pumps. Eventually, electric power was purchased at wholesale from what became Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, and the steam boilers were phased out of service when the high lift pumps were electrified in about 1923. About 1931, the boilers and steam turbines were removed and replaced with a Kahlenberg diesel engine driven generator which served as the emergency generator for the high lift pumps up until 1993. Although its function was taken over by modern natural gas fired units, the Kahlenberg remains in the high lift pump station (about two blocks from the plant in which it was built) as a reminder of days gone by.

The original plant remained the hub of the city's electric distribution system from its inception in 1902 until the system began converting from 4,160 volt distribution circuits to 13,200 volt distribution circuits in 1964. At that time, the focus shifted to the then newly constructed Columbus Street Substation located at the intersection of Columbus Street with what is now State Highway 310.

In 1976, after a rapid succession of substantial increases in wholesale power rates, Two Rivers joined with a number of other Wisconsin municipalities which operate electric utilities to form Wisconsin Public Power Incorporated (WPPI). The purpose was to explore ways to take control of our bulk power supply and reduce costs to our customers. After careful study and planning, WPPI took over bulk power supply to 30 of its member owners on November 2, 1981, resulting in not only stabilized, but reduced electric power costs for the City of Two Rivers. For more information about WPPI please visit their web site at www.wppisys.org.

We are proud to note that although the City of Manitowoc's electric utility had traditionally had a significant cost advantage over Two Rivers because of its locally owned generation plant, WPPI's aggressive bulk power cost control focus has reversed that situation. Now, Two Rivers has the lowest rates in the area!

A Tradition of Dedicated Service

Since its inception, over 100 years ago, the Two Rivers Water & Light Department has been led by just six managers:

• 1901 to 1910 - Alva A. Hudson
• 1910 to 1923 - George Wehausen
• 1923 to 1952 - Paul E. Caparo
• 1952 to 1974 - Donald F. Laubenstein
• 1974 to 2004 - William Pappathopoulos
• 2004 to Present - Thomas Bushman, Electric Utility Director; Scott Thoresen, Water Utility Director

Celebrating 100 Years

The celebration began with a band concert featuring the Two Rivers Municipal Band. The Two Rivers Senior Center provided pie and ice cream as well as Two Rivers Water & Light providing bottled water, lemonade and popcorn for the crowd on this very hot and humid afternoon, Sunday July 21, 2002.

The Two Rivers Historical Society had many memebers throughout the park looking as though they were direct from 1902. At the conclusion of the Municipal Band Concert the Historical Society and employees & retirees of Two Rivers Water & Light challenged one another to several rounds of croquet. Seems the historical people were much more familiar with croquet than the employees, as they took a clean sweep of the matches.

While the croquet matches were being played we were entertained by the "Skunk Hollow and Carp Town Saxophone Conspiracy". All in all the day was beautiful and was truly an "Old Fashioned Sunday Afternoon Picnic in the Park".