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about two such companies in business locally at the time: Montague Electric, owned and operated by Gilbert Clements, who later became the lieutenant-governor of the Island in the 19905, and Preston D. MacLure Electric. For many weeks following the announcement, the two outfits were busy trying to complete all their customers’ wiring demands before the power was turned on.

As youngsters we would go around the house flipping the newly installed light switches in the hope that the power might have been turned on prematurely. When the big day came we could hardly wait until dark to light the home with the new, modern, electric lights.

When the power was turned on,