rom around 1936 to 1956, Emerson obtained its power across the US / Canada border from a long 2400V distribution circuit originating from Pembina, ND (and which line passed through St. Vincent, MN and Noyes, MN on the way). This line was initially operated by the Interstate Power Company and was sold to the Otter Tail Power Company in 1944. In 1956, the Town of Emerson made arrangements to obtain its electrical needs from Manitoba Hydro and the cross-border distribution line was removed.
Source:
Wikipedia
Further to the west, Interstate Power Company, a Delaware corporation, was authorized in 1936 to export power near St. Vincent, Minnesota, to Emerson, Manitoba.
From: "Foreign trade in gas and electricity in North America: A legal and historical study", by John Thomas Miller
I remember the situation very well. The Otter Tail Power Company distrubution substation was located at the end of Main Street and Highway 75. Not only was the Town of Emerson supplied with power but also homes along what then was Highway 14. This line ran almost five miles north.Th Emerson Journal always ran ads for the Otter Tail Power company as well. By the early 1950's Manitoba Power Corporation had brouhgt electrical power to all the rural area. The Town of Emerson however held out until 1956. Aurguing that the US power rate was far cheaper than the Canadian rate! In another interesting twist for many years some homes and businesses in Noyes, Minn. were connected to the Manitoba Telephone System.Great cross border memories.
ReplyDeleteJames McClelland
Speaking of 'border' assists, many people on the Minnesota side of the Red River of the North used to be (maybe some still are?) on North Dakota exchanges for their telephone service. I know my parents were in St. Vincent, and even I was in the late 1990's in Moorhead. Your official number had a 218 area code (Minnesota), but technically you were on a 701 exchange, and you had to know that when calling for service or they couldn't even 'find' you in their records...!
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