A project suggested by the El Paso Post No. 59, The American Legion, was adopted by the El Paso Businessmen’s Association, and during the fall of 1928 funds were raised through the contributions of store owners, based on the frontage, which provided ornamental lights in the business district. The project was authorized by the city Council August 8, 1928, and the lights were installed in November by John Maple of Fairbury.
When a new fifty-year franchise was granted the Illinois Power Company on July 9, 1951, the company agreed to install a modern lighting system in the business area. Because of material shortage, the lights were not installed until the fall of 1952. Twenty- seven lights were located on the four blocks of Front Street between Sycamore and Chestnut, two each at the intersections of Route 24 with the state aid road on Oak Street and the Fayette Street intersection with Route 51. John Maple also made this new installation. The old ornamental lights and posts were sold by the city at $10 each and have been installed near the various churches to provide better lighted areas.
The brick sub-station south of the T. P. & W. on Chestnut Street, with 300 kilowatt power and 2,300 volt capacity was erected in late 1912. In 1945 an all-steel outdoor plant was erected two blocks south of Route 24 on Oak Street. It is a 450 kilowatt station carrying 6,900 volts; the transformers can be changed to increase its capacity materially when necessary.
The Rural Electrification Association extended service into the El Paso rural areas through the Corn Belt Electric Cooperative lines built in 1937-1938, the first power being available in 1938. Ivan Snow and Edward Kearney are directors in this cooperative from our district, the main offices being in Bloomington. It purchases its power from the Illinois Power Company through a sub-station carrying high voltage which was built on the Michael Crowe corner three miles south of El Paso. Today there are few rural homes in the area which do not have all the electrical conveniences of the city dwellers.
EL PASO SOUGHT COUNTY SEAT. In 1867 El Paso asked the board of supervisors to move the county seat from Metamora, presenting the argument that with two railroads El Paso offered the better transportation facilities of that day. Robert G. Ingersoll served as spokesman for El Paso, offering the Board $30,000 if the transfer was made. His offer was later red-lined on the official records.
The question came up for vote June 3, 1867, the county rejecting the El Paso bid by the narrow margin of 1911 to 1901 votes. Spoiled ballots had been considered "NO" votes, so the matter was taken up for court review but the decision was against the move, though a bill was presented in the state legislature March 10, 1869, authorizing the "Township of El Paso to issue bonds and levy taxes for the purpose of building a Court House and Jail in said town." El Paso's project
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