Library - Rogers and Electricity
Thomas Edison himself threw the switch on the first of his lighting systems in downtown New York City on September 4, 1882. Powered by steam, the system lit a couple of commercial buildings – which unfortunately are no longer standing. The second switch was thrown right here in Appleton just 26 days later to light the first home with a central Edison system.
This was because of the vision of Henry Rogers. Without ever seeing an electric light, Rogers purchased all the light fixtures (the chandeliers are actually called “electroliers”), light switches, wiring, and the dynamo to generate electricity - which he had attached to a water wheel in his first papermill. That may define the word “visionary.”
Rogers lit his new home, which he envisioned as a showcase for the new technology, as well as his papermill and another papermill (both of which we will talk more about in a bit), with the new system. Because of Henry Rogers, Appleton became a leader in electrification. In fact, for a brief time, Appleton had more buildings electrified than anywhere else in the world.
It is hard to overstate the revolutionary nature of electric lighting. Smokey, dim, flickering candles and lamps were now replaced by the ability to walk into a room and turn on the lights because the power was coming from somewhere else. Hearthstone was the first home in the world where this happened. The residence is also the last building still standing from the dawn of electricity.