“Several years before our [Haubstadt’s] local citizens enjoyed the coming of electricity into their homes, the Ziliak and Schafer Milling Company was generating power for their machinery with the expertise of two of their employees, namely, Ben Oing and Ben Meny. The boiler room of this Milling Company was the source for the new utility that would soon enter every home in the community. As property owners subscribed to this new luxury, a bonus of one light bulb was given to each.
“When the town was incorporated in 1915, power from the Milling Company was already being generated. Service to the entire community was to come several years later. As the demand increased, soon a supplier was needed and the Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company became that supplier, and has continued to keep up with the demand through the years.
“Street lights were added later, and this greatly increased the usage of electricity, as a light was installed on every street corner in town in 1927. Mr. Ben Oing is the one, who for years, could be seen replacing burned out bulbs, using a v-e-r-y long pole, appropriately geared to the need.”
