05/29/2026
We are so proud to be celebrating nine decades of service to our community! Thanks for the shout out Henry County Historical Society, Inc. 🙌⚡️
On this day in Henry County history, May 29, 1936, the Henry County REMC was in its early days of operation. What a difference the electric utility has made. The REMC website says that before rural electric membership corporations:
-- 9 out of 10 rural homes were without electric service.
-- Farmers milked their cows by hand in the dim light of a kerosene lantern. The farmers wives were slaves to the wood range and washboard.
-- The unavailability of electricity in rural areas kept their economies entirely and exclusively dependent on agriculture.
-- Factories and businesses preferred to locate in cities where electric power was easily acquired.
For many years, power companies ignored the rural areas of the nation.
In 1933 when President Franklin Roosevelt took office, he recognized the need in our rural communities. In 1935 he signed Executive Order No. 7037 establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), which offered federal assistance to accomplish rural electrification. It became important for the rural communities to work together to form not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperatives and shed light on the country side.
In January of 1939 the first Henry County farm was illuminated. It was, according to internet sources, the H.H. Hurst farm. And the rest, as they say, is history.
"HCREMC continues to provide reliable, safe and cost-competitive electrical service to enhance the lives of our members and the communities we serve," the REMC website said. "We are non-profit and focused on long-term stability and value delivered to you. Our success is measured by your overall satisfaction and your satisfaction is our profit."
BASKETBALL LIVES HERE
This Day In Henry County history is brought to you by Destination Henry County Indiana. Discover slam dunk experiences at www.HoopsInHenry.com.
Visit the page at https://www.Facebook.com/VisitHenryCounty.com.
HELP US PRESERVE COMMUNITY HISTORY
Please join the Henry County Historical Society with a $25 annual membership. Visit our website at www.henrycountymuseum.org
COME SEE US!
We're open ANYTIME by appointment. Call us at 765-529-4028 or 765-524-0530.
