It’s 1909 and a boy is walking home from school. It’s cool and he is glad that he’s old enough now to wear long pants instead of knickerbockers. He moves out of the way as the horse drawn water wagon drives by to settle the dust on the street. He stops as he always does to look up at the smokestacks in the distance. Only last year he watched them being built, now the smoke rises, and he waits for it to bring the electricity to his house. His friend down the street got the electricity metered to his house last week and his father sent in an application around the same time. In December 1909 there were 780 users and 650 applications to get “paid lighting”, so he has been waiting awhile.
Historic photo courtesy of: Allen County Public Library
The boy is already acquainted with electricity as it was first hooked up in the government buildings, schools, and 450 arc street lights, one of which is on the corner of his street. He has a curiosity about electricity and what makes things work. He is proficient at morse code and the workings of a telegraph. His hero is Thomas Edison and he was awed that Edison lived in Fort Wayne in 1864. Unbeknownst to his parents he plans to make his own incandescent bulb, he doesn't understand everything, but it’s ok because next year he is planning to go to Fort Wayne High and Manual School (now Anthis Career Center), as they offer chemistry and physics classes. His father says he is a wisenheimer (a know it all) but the boy knows his father is proud of him.
Historic photos courtesy of: Allen County Public Library
When he gets to his house he walks a little faster knowing he will be met with his mother’s hermit cookies and warmth as his home already has heat and lights powered through gas.
Fort Wayne Light and Gas Company began March 1, 1853. Originally, only interior lights were lit but in 1857 street lights were also making appearances if the cost was covered by the property owners. Gas was piped in from Ohio from 1857 to 1905, which provided light and heat to most homes. Fort Wayne was known as a “gas town”. In 1857 the gas from Ohio was exhausted which began the start of artificial gas. Talk of a city power plant had started in 1898 and in 1906 a referendum was passed for the city to build its own coal fueled facility. City Light and Power Company opened on August 29,1908 and the first meter was set on Christmas Eve. The power plant sent out this holiday greeting to its customers: “may all the people of Fort Wayne find happiness, health and prosperity in the new year and may we continue to fulfill the vital role in our community that your confidence has assigned us to do.”
The boy’s parents have been following the talk about this progressive innovation. There was a concern that the city has been over changing to make a profit. On Oct 29,1909 Mayor William J. Hosey put an article in the newspaper justifying the cost, saying the city system of accounting makes it “Impossible to Bamboozle light patrons!” He also listed his personal light bill, which was $4.00 for the month of November. There also became a need for an ordinance to “not mutilate trees during installation”. Nevertheless there is anticipation as his mother is hoping for the Thor washing machine which boasts it costs 2 cents a week in electricity. Electric lamps are healthier than gas due to not using oxygen in the home.
For 17 years City Light and Power Company remained relatively unchanged but there was growth in the city and modernization so a new facility was built in the same location in 1928. Improvements continued in 1932, 1933, and 1936 consisting of a new boiler plant, turbo generators, switchboard, turbine room, and bay additions. The coal storage basin held 12,000 tons of coal, and the city was proud to announce that all of these improvements were made with no taxpayer expense! Changes continued to occur and in 1973 the plant was leased to I & M and closed in 1975.
Science Central began as a vision of parents, teachers, and community leaders to bring a science discovery center to the children of Fort Wayne and programs provided throughout the community. The building was obtained in 1991 and due to its disrepair underwent a $9.2 million renovation. With the dedication of the community and volunteers, Science Central opened in 1995.
Embracing the building’s history, the iconic smokestacks became colorful and the remaining machinery and piping are color coded so one can follow the route of coal, water and steam to make electricity.
Just as the boy had a curiosity for the discovery of science, so today the wonderment remains. Science Central features many areas of discovery including biology, oceanography, meteorology, geology, physics, chemistry, and astronomy. A magically suspended Science on a Sphere teaches about our solar system and interactive programs are offered throughout the day. The newest addition, the region's only public planetarium, is opening March 25, 2026. Come explore Science Central today!
