Desert Messenger

Page 6 VOICES FROM THE PAST Excerpts from "In the Shadow of Saguaros" By Rosalee Oldham Wheeler Electricity (finally) comes to Quartzsite! (Previous story: "History of Arizona's State Flag ~ and the many flags that has flown over the state part 3") Editor's Note: In 1949 Rosalee Wheeler was a resident of Quartzsite when the first electric power lines were installed through town. Now some 62 years later, if she were with us, she would have a huge interest in the massive solar tower project currently being explored in La Paz County. Not long after we replaced our old rickety wooden windmill tower with one of metal that was topped with shiny Aero-motor blades and fan-tail, the folks of Quartzsite were visited by a man representing the R.E.A. (Rural Electrification of America.) Our windmill was new but many of the older windmills in town and those out on the desert were deteriorating so the folks in Quartzsite thought elec- trification for our town was something worth looking into. The R.E.A. agreed to come and explain how the subsidized power program was being administered in other rural areas of America. After several meetings, trying to find out what the cost would be to bring power to the businesses and 20 or so families living in Quartzsite, many of the property owners felt it might be too expensive. The R.E.A. explained that the power 425 N. Central (Hwy. 95) OPEN MON. - FRI. 9am - 1pm Auto pay RV DUMP Cash or Credit Card PROPANE OPD Valves Custom Hoses Recertification Refills Tanks WATER R/O Ozone Water RV Potable Water R/O ICE with full hookups R/O WATER 5 GAL/ $1 RV PARK 928-927-3714 lines would be strung from a hydro- electric power plant at the Parker Dam scheduled to be completed in 1938. Of all the conveniences that electric- ity would give us, on-demand water was the most important. However, we had to face the facts—could we af- ford it? Quartzsite property owners would need to borrow the money for construction from the R.E.A. and then pay it back over 20 years. World War II broke out and everything was put on hold. It was a good thing that every- one still had their windmills for water, www.DesertMessenger.com kerosene for lanterns, and the Fannin Gas Company to deliver butane for our gas stoves and refrigerators. Salome and Wenden had electricity that had been brought in by Arizona Public Service (APS) so some of the folks in Quartzsite decided to contact APS to learn how we might use their system for electric power. The APS study pro- vided a plan that was more affordable with long-term incentives. In the long run, APS elec- tricity would be more de- pendable than waiting on the wind for water and cheaper that using butane, kerosene, or hauling ice. The APS plan took into consideration Quartzsite's growth potential and fu- ture needs for electric- ity. The expansion would be paid for with revenue from the growth in power utilization. Power poles were put up from Salome to Quartz- site and, for those who wanted electric power; meter-fuse boxes were installed to be connect- ed to the power lines. It was a very exciting time, shopping for electric ap- pliances and planning how we would use elec- tricity in our homes and businesses. APS brought the power lines to each fuse box but it was up to the property owners to have their buildings wired for service. Pollay Electric over in Wickenburg was the only contractor who had ex- perience in installing wiring in older buildings. We contacted them to wire Alternative Therapies "SIZZLIN" SUMMER SPECIAL!! Refer 3 and You are FREE! * • Reiki • Hypnosis • Ear Candling with Barbara • Massage with Barbara or Lois • We do Hot Rock, Sweedish, or Deep Tissue massage • We also do massage and ear candling for dogs * MIX OR MATCH----Refer 3 people to Barbara, or 3 people to Lois, and YOUR treatment is FREE!!! 255 N. CENTRAL BLVD. PALM PLAZA #8, QUARTZSITE Barbara 928-927-5858 Lois 928-273-8348 September 7, 2011 our house and were first on the list. Then we waited, and we waited, and then we waited some more. Poor Mr. Pollay was working from sunup to sun- down six days a week to get families and businesses connected. Finally, the big day arrived. In October of 1949— we had electricity in our home. With an electric jet-pump installed over our water well, I missed seeing the blades of our wind- mill turn, with its fan-tail proudly pointing away from the wind. It looked crippled standing there with its tail held tightly to the blades, unable to begin its dutiful turn as a gentle desert breeze blew by. But then my wish was granted. As a Christmas present, my husband agreed to put our wind- mill back into service to water our little orchard. Many of the 24 windmills in Quartzsite also had their fan-tails tied down. Over the years I had come to know each windmill for its individual character- istics such the manufac- turer's name emblazoned on its fan-tail, how tall it stood, and the size and number of blades. Like a musician, each windmill had their own unique sound. Even today our metal tower is still standing, although some of its Aero- motor blades and fan-tail were dam- aged in a windstorm. With the con- stant concern for energy conservation and the possibility of a sudden energy crisis, keeping an old windmill re- paired and in good condition makes as much sense as it did before the R.E.A. or APS came to town. And, oh how I loved to see them, whirling, and turn- ing in the wind as they pumped that life giving water. Modern windmills have taken on a new purpose out on a stretch of In- terstate 10 on the California desert. These wind turbines stand in clusters of several hundred as they harvest even the lightest of desert breezes to generate electricity. Their output, de- pending upon its size and the speed of the wind, can produce from one to 2,500 kilowatts per hour (kWh). Call me old-fashioned, but I love windmills and I'll never forget the sweet memories of the windmills that dotted the desert on our first drive into Quartzsite back in 1938.

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