Name/Title
Histories, History of WaupunDescription
History of Waupun: Unknown author, unknown date (after 1971). Page 5.
Cement sidewalks began then too, the first to be laid on Main Street. The number of cement sidewalks grew slowly after this until May 14, 1904, when the city council passed an ordinance setting the standards for sidewalk construction, encouraging the sidewalk introduction by the promise of 3 cents per foot from the city.
It was in May of 1897 that complaints were heard that Waupun should have more light. Several years before that it had been tried but flopped. Towns all around Waupun were switching to lights and the prison had been generating electric power for its own use for some time. Yet Waupun had not agreed to electric power. On July 13, 1899, a vote was taken on the matter, showing 316 for lights and only 130 against.
Yet a problem existed. More money was needed. The Business Men's Association, headed by L. D. Hinkley, pledged to loan the city up to $5,000 to install a lighting plant. From then on work progressed swiftly--December 8, 1899 a test run was made. This proved satisfactory and on the following night, lights came on in Waupun.