This paper was written Spring Semester, 1999, under Michael Gagnon, in the History Department, at the University of Georgia, as a requirement for completion of History 4000, "Social History of Antebellum America." The views expressed in this paper are strictly the author's own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the instructor, the department, nor the university.

Gas in Athens: An Antebellum Advancement

By Louis Rolfes

In March of 1856, Athens, Georgia and its residents experienced a technological revolution that forever changed the way people behaved after the sun set. The opening of a gas factory in Athens marked a change in how people illuminated their homes and how streets were lit at night. Gas lamps swept through much of the country during the mid 19th-century for both aesthetic and practical reasons. Many cities, including Athens, wanted to ornament their streets and roadways as well as make them safer. The gas lamps also improved life within the home as well, but mostly for the very wealthy. Homes fortunate enough to be equipped with gas lamps were able to have light for reading as well as entertaining guests during the evenings. Store owners also added gas lamps inside their businesses to accommodate evening customers. The change was slow at first but gas soon became the popular method for lighting, until it was eclipsed by the cheaper and more efficient electric lightbulb.

On March 4, 1856 the Athens Gas Light Company was granted a charter by the Georgia General Assembly.1 Some authors considered this one of the most exciting developments of the era because it incorporated the private interests of homeowners with the public desire to light the streets.2 The company's founders chose a site along Thomas Street between Broad and Clayton Streets for the factory to be constructed.3 The gas was produced from pine wood and was delivered through a limited network of pipes to the downtown area.4

While many residents were excited by the advent of gas for lighting purposes, some early customers were dissatisfied with the quality and consistency of the gas supply. Augustus Hull said gas only provided the residents of Athens with "a slight improvement over candles." Early customers of the company tolerated a less powerful light for the sake of convenience. Lard oil lamps by comparison provided a brighter light, but required residents to accumulate a large amount of the expensive fuel.5 Gas on the other hand required no storage tanks of any kind and the subscriber only paid for the amount of gas that was used.6 At times the supply of gas was imperfect because the supply of pine wood wasn't steady. The gas often ran out in homes and business throughout the town, leaving some residents in total darkness. During a Methodist convention Rev. Harwell Park invited residents to hear Dr. W.P. Harrison preach and assured them "there would be plenty of gas." Several members of the congregation were amused by this proclamation because they considered Dr. Harrison to be somewhat long-winded.7

The inconsistency in the gas supply often plagued residents at some of the most inopportune times. Some area churches, which had installed gas lights, offered evening services to its congregation. The lights would often flicker and sometimes leave the crowd in total darkness. This inconvenience did not help to bolster the faith of many young men in the community. Coulter writes: "The danger of being plunged into darkness at the evening church services gave additional excuses to some of the townsmen to remain away."8

Athens resident Jefferson Lamar also experienced some of the early shortcomings of the gas company. During his wedding reception the gas supply failed leaving Lamar and his wedding party in total darkness. Lamar was later killed in battle and according to legend his home was forever haunted by the ghost of a dead servant. Whenever the gas lights flickered in the home, people claimed the ghost would appear.9

Despite some of the consistency problems, by 1859 gas lights were reaching their climax in the Athens community. Many residents were undisturbed by the flaws in the gas supply and continued to use the service.10 In August of 1859 the Southern Banner, a local newspaper, claimed that candles would soon become obsolete and be replaced by the increasingly popular gas light.11

By 1859 many considered the supply of gas to be reliable and began calling for lampposts to be constructed across the city.12 At one point the Southern Banner tried to encourage the city to install lights along downtown's streets: "Would not our citizens second the Town Council in purchasing one or two of these gasometers for the purpose of lighting Broad Street and College Avenue. It would give our town quite a city appearance."13

Another local newspaper, the Southern Watchman, notified Athens residents in 1859 that lights would be constructed along the streets and "be rendered passable the darkest nights."14 Later that year, the City of Athens put eight lamps into place along College Avenue and Broad street at a cost of $25 a piece. The city also employed a custodian to light the street lamps every evening.15

By this time some of the more affluent Athenians had begun to incorporate gas lamps into their homes. Asbury Hull was one of the first residents to light his home entirely by gas lights. Hull's home had approximately 18 lamps installed along with a meter for measuring consumption. The Southern Banner described the event by saying "his house was beautifully lighted up a few evenings since, with as brilliant lights as we ever witnessed."16 Pipes were being run through much of the downtown area as many people requested the service for their homes and businesses.17

The glory gas lamps, however was not enjoyed by everyone in Athens. Many residents weren't able to afford the lamps and therefore didn't follow the new lighting trend. In 1861 the town hall was still without gas and for many the economic strain of the Civil War was beginning to take its toll. For that reason many Athenians waited until the economy improved before obtaining the lamps.18

Nationally the growth in gas light popularity was similar to that of Athens. While the gas lamps were perfected first in London, Baltimore was the first city in the United States to light its streets with gas. Rembrandt Peale, an artist and inventor, first used the lamps in his Museum in 1816. Peale, encouraged by a warm response from patrons, immediately founded a gas company to light the entire city of Baltimore. Following an approval from the city council Peale was credited with opening the first gas company in the U.S.19

The use of natural gas, the form used in most contemporary lamps, first began in Freedonia, New York in 1820. There a 27 foot deep gas well was drilled and eventually supplied much of the city for lighting purposes and some even used it for cooking. Freedonia dazzled French nobleman and revolutionary war hero the Marquis de Lafayette when he visited the city. Lafayette was served a dinner cooked with natural gas and was amazed that all the streets were light entirely by gas lamps.20

Like Athens much of the country soon adopted gas lights after the displays in Freedonia and Baltimore. The industry grew tremendously through the next few decades. Better lamps were developed and cooking was also improved. Gas lights began popping up in streets across America and the lamplighter, the citizen assigned the duties of igniting the lamps, became a well known public figure. Streets once dark and treacherous had taken on a amicable character.21

A common reason for constructing gas lights in cities was for security and safety. Many cities wanted to satisfy the need to improve safety for night work and travel along streets. Lights also provided security and cut down on crime - a pleasant idea among law enforcement officers at the time. Many 19th-century authors associated darkness with crime and thereby felt lights would encourage respect.22

In considering gas lights, the City of Atlanta was mindful of safety and security concerns. Leaving the home at night could be highly dangerous for most Atlantans. Falling into a hole or being mugged by hoodlums was a likely possibility. In 1852 the Atlanta Intelligencer warned tourists "don't think of walking[at night]...unless the moon shines particularly bright." However, Atlanta was by no means a bustling metropolis. In the 1850s it was still a relatively small frontier town of about 3,000 people.23

Many cities in the South soon followed after Freedonia and Baltimore, but primarily only the urban areas were equipped with gaslights by the 1850s. During his journey to the south, historian James D. Davidson discovered the city of New Orleans to be using gas streetlights in 1836. "They are now lighting this city with gas," Davidson writes in his diary. "Some of the streets are already lighted and all the public houses." Davidson marveled at how the lamps were ignited and closely observed "when it takes fires and burns brilliantly during the night." He noted however, one drawback of the lighting system in that the smell "was at first unagreeable to me."24

The use of gaslights was short-lived however and quickly faded when competing with the newest lighting tool the electric light bulb. Thomas Edison's invention of the light bulb threatened the existence of gas lamps as well as the gas manufacturers across the country. By 1885 many cities including Atlanta had already begun testing electric streetlights. Soon the gas lamps would be replaced in many cities almost as quickly as they had come into fashion. Fortunately for Atlanta the electric company merged with the gas manufacturer.25

By many accounts the City of Athens was both fortunate and progressive in their efforts to light its streets. During the mid-1800s cities across the country were beginning to realize gas made a gracious addition to their streets and homes and Athens was part of this larger enthusiasm. Public opinion favored the installation of gas lights as a means to improve the city's reputation as well as make it a safer place to live. Like other cities Athens was growing during the 1850s and its residents wanted participate in the latest trends sweeping the nation. Gas lights was a way in which Athens residents could be proud of their advancement while still retaining their identity as a small academic community. The academic backgrounds of Athens shows that it was almost inevitable for these people to come up with a way to light their streets at night. Unfortunately gas was forced to take on a new role after the light bulb was perfected. Gas lights were phased out and gas became stylish for cooking and heating within the home. While gas lighting may not have endured the onslaught of electric lighting it still serves as a central theme in 19th century urban life.

Endnotes

1 C.D. Flanigen Papers, Hargett Rare Books and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Library, special collections, manuscript 3, box 6. Folder 6:11 Undated-Misc.

Gas in Athens: An Antebellum Advancement

By Louis Rolfes

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