The Ipswich Historical Society is sharing articles written by IHS students. The students visited the museum, researched and wrote about events, people and businesses in the community.
FEM Electric
by Chesney Olivier
Could you imagine not having electricity today? I chose FEM Electric as my topic because I was interested in the history of how Ipswich became a bright and modern town. To do my research, I went to the official website of FEM. Just like the rest of the world, the three counties of Faulk, Edmunds, and McPherson wanted electricity in their homes and farms. County agents, Douglas Barrows, Oscar Prestegard, and Walter Lassen began organizing meetings to see if there was enough interest within the towns.
The website stated that the first official meeting was held on January 5, 1946 with the nine original incorporators, Mathew Bachman, Edwin E. Hubbard, Victor Holsing, Michael P. Bowar, Wendell Miller, Theodore T. Martel, Paul Hausauer, Albert C. Hauffe, and Robert Schurr. The Electric Cooperative Act of 1947 was passed by the state of South Dakota to allow rural electric organizations to convert to cooperative, non-profit, member- ship corporations. On June 7, 1948, the original incorporators of FEM voted and passed the Articles of Conversion that converted FEM to its current membership status. It was surprising to me that a number of farmers and directors volunteered to visit area farms, to sell $5 memberships. On August 9, 1948, directors voted to join Dakotas Electric Cooperative Inc. of Beulah, North Dakota, to purchase energy to sell to its members upon the completion of substations and distribution lines.
Finally, on November 30, 1948, the Hillsview Substation was energized and on December 12, 1948, the Ipswich Substation was energized, bringing electricity to many small towns. This, as you could imagine, was a huge deal for business owners, farmers, and everyday people. By Christmas Eve of 1948 electricity was available to over 200 members and on June 5, 1949, FEM held its first annual membership meeting. Here people could register in the electrical exhibit booths. The Tolstoy Substation was energized on December 19, 1949, providing electricity to western Faulk county and southwestern Edmunds. By December 23, 1950, FEM had over 1,027 miles of new lines to provide electricity to the rural people of Faulk, Edmunds, and McPherson counties. FEM, according to their website, was the first utility in South Dakota to receive power from the Missouri River. Today, FEM Electric serves more than 2,100 homes, farms, and businesses.
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