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What was the price of electricity 99 years ago?

With the Christmas season fast approaching, lights and holiday decorations are appearing all around the village.

Big Valley Bulletin

With the Christmas season fast approaching, lights and holiday decorations are appearing all around the village. 99 years ago, here in Big Valley, the excitement involved electric lights being installed for the entire village. Comments at the time included “Should the street lights be on all night?”, “Should they be on when the moon is out?” “Street lights will make our streets safer” and “People won’t move here if we don’t have electric lights”. The idea at the time was to put up street lights and install electricity to all households. A public vote was taken on this matter and property owners could vote. 150 names were on the voter’s list at the time and 129 turned out to vote. 113 voted ‘for’ the installation and 15 voted ‘against’ with one ballot spoiled. The monthly fees for a household were to be 25 cents a month for meter rental and then 18 cents per kilowatt for the first 200 kilowatts, 16 cents a kilowatt for the next 100 kilowatts, and 15 cents a kilowatt over the 300 kilowatt usage. At those prices, just imagine how many lights might go up throughout the village.

At the Elks’ November meeting, D.D. Bill Smillie was welcomed in his official capacity. He has been busy doing his rounds of other lodges and he thanked Brothers Meyer and Jacobsen for travelling with him. At the Hanna meeting, Inter-lodge golf was discussed and it was decided that wives and the Royal Purple would be included this coming year to get a better attendance. Also Hanna will be hosting provincial curling in March and may request help. Tuesday, Dec. 9 will be the Elks’ pin night and Christmas meeting. Pins will be given out at supper and members receiving pins will be notified by Brother Jake.

The Elks received a thank you letter from the High School Rodeo committee, while other business saw donations going to the Rumsey and Big Valley Children’s Christmas parties. Brothers Boswell and Berresford will be delivering cakes to the Stettler seniors’ residences and Brother Anderson will be contacted to do the same in Drumheller.

The turkey bingos are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3 in Rumsey and Wednesday, Dec. 10 in Big Valley, both starting at 7:30 p.m. The Elks’ turkey supplier advised them at the last moment that he couldn’t supply, so they will be giving out gift certificates instead. These will enable winners to use the certificates at any President’s Choice store. Winners can upgrade to a Butterball or ham, etc. Certificates would also keep the costs down and the outcome for participants would be the same. The Elks plan to solicit the participants at the Bingos for their opinions for next year.

The club draw was won by Brother Boswell who donated his share to the Fund for Children. Club 200 winners were: Shirley Vols, Mike Fahey, Roy Jamieson and Marg Kiemle.

Eleven people turned out for crib at the Big Valley Inn on Sunday, Nov. 30. Lawrence Wilkie placed first, Mary Wilkie placed second and Teresa Greig placed third. Len Shaw took home the booby and Margaret Levesque won the draw. Vicky Shaw won the 50/50. A good time was had by all. The next crib tournament is on Sunday, Dec. 7 beginning at 1 p.m.

Please note that Dec. 21 will be the last Big Valley Inn crib tournament before Christmas and they will start back on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015.