From: Jerry L. Wallace
To: Bill Bottorff
Cc: Bruce Hedrick
Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 4:41 PM
Subject: Central Hotel, located on the NE corner of 8th and Main St. Also
shown, Amican
Bill, This photo is dated 1877. I think a better date would be 1879 or thereabouts. The Feb. 27, 1879, Courier contains an article about the installation of a street light in front of the hotel. Based on the article, this light was probably the first or second Winfield street light. Jerry
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1879.
Ashton’s tin shop has just turned out a couple of fine street lamps. One will be put up in front of the Central Hotel and the other on the corner just south, occupied by Rogers & Santford’s billiard hall. These lamps add greatly to the appearance of our streets, and it would be a paying investment if the merchants on all the principal street corners would follow the example of these gentlemen and "let their light shine."
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1879. [STREET LAMPS]
Herman Jochems [hardware man] has put up a fine street lamp in front of his business house.