Water and Power Associates Informing the Public about Critical Water and Energy Issues facing Los Angeles and California

Introduction

On March 30, 1916, a crowd gathered in Highland Park to watch something unusual — the raising of a single power pole.

Electricity was still new to many Angelenos. Watching a pole go up was enough to draw public interest. Few in that crowd could have known they were witnessing the beginning of Los Angeles’ municipal electric distribution system.

More than a century later, the exact corner where this happened is still marked and remembered.

The Day It Began (1916)

The first municipal pole was installed to begin delivering city-distributed electricity to nearby neighborhoods.

At first, Los Angeles did not yet generate its own power. Electricity was purchased from Pasadena’s municipal plant while the City developed its own facilities.

Crews quickly expanded the system, setting more poles and stringing copper wires through Highland Park and Garvanza. A small headquarters at Avenue 59 and Piedmont supported the early work.

Electric service from the new system officially began on November 13, 1916.

From Purchased Power to Local Generation

A major step forward came in 1917 when San Francisquito Power Plant No. 1 went into service. Using water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct, it generated hydroelectric power for the City.

A 110,000-volt transmission line and Receiving Station “A” also began operation. These improvements allowed Los Angeles to depend less on purchased power and more on local generation.

City reports from the period show that leaders viewed public power as an important investment for growth, industry, and street lighting.

Expansion in the 1920s

Expansion did not happen without challenges. Negotiations and legal disputes with private utilities slowed growth at times. The City debated whether to build competing lines or purchase existing systems.

In 1922, after several years of litigation, Los Angeles acquired Southern California Edison’s distribution system within City limits. This added thousands of meters, lines, and stations to the municipal system.

Engineers also studied system voltages and efficiency. Underground distribution slowly developed, reducing the need for overhead poles in some areas.

A Corner That Became a Landmark

The original pole location at Piedmont and N. Figueroa did not fade into obscurity. Instead, it became a recognized historic site.

In 1952, a plaque was installed to commemorate the 1916 installation. It reads in part:

“On this corner, March 30, 1916, was erected the first pole of the Municipal Electric Distribution System of the City of Los Angeles.”

The Library and the Changing Streetscape

The Arroyo Seco Branch Library and its surroundings changed over time. The original 1914 Classical Revival building was replaced in 1960 and again in 2003.

Streetcar tracks once ran along Piedmont Avenue but were later removed as transit patterns shifted.

Even with these changes, the corner remains recognizable.

The Site Today

The pole itself has been shortened over time, but the location remains marked. Visitors can still find the plaque and stand where the first municipal pole was raised.

It is a quiet reminder of a moment when electricity was still new and worth gathering to watch.

Then and Now

Then-and-now comparisons show how the neighborhood evolved while the historic corner stayed identifiable.

Conclusion

What began as a single pole installation in 1916 reflects a time when electricity was still a novelty and a public curiosity.

Residents gathered simply to watch new technology arrive in their neighborhood. More than a century later, the plaque and preserved location show how small steps in infrastructure can become lasting pieces of city history.

What was once a curiosity is now a small but meaningful landmark in the story of how Los Angeles grew and modernized.