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Today was Electric, Kind of (2/15/23)

Today, Bob and I visited an obscure international museum. For anyone, who appreciates having the lights on, staying warm (or cool), or answering a land line, you may also appreciate this small, free museum in Shelby, North Carolina. It is the International Lineman Museum.

Bob and I both have a bit of work history in the utilities. I spent about 3 years doing administrative planning work for the municipal utility in Austin, Texas, and Bob worked for about 20 years for 3 different utilities, also doing white collar work. We were both safely removed from doing the important work (as Austin has once again learned the hard way) of keeping the lights and heat on. It was pretty eye-opening to learn more about the lineman role and how it has evolved.

The museum provided a fun overview of various parts of the lineman’s role, electricity in general, and (who knew?) the cultural celebration of linemen. I guess I’m sticking with the male terminology in accordance with the museum, although I’m sure there must be a few women doing this important work by now.

The signage for the museum
One side of the monument to those inducted into the Lineman Hall of Fame.
Additional plaques and memorials outside of the museum
The evolution of equipment and safety techniques.
Yikes! Can’t believe anyone took this job at the turn of the century
with a 50% death rate. Another poster showed that it cost $105
to outfit a lineman in 1961 and over $1600 today.
Here’s looking at you — safely.
A selection of meters
Different styles and sizes of insulators
Just a reminder that electricity was once a novel thing.
Field manuals for linemen
These are hot sticks, insulated poles that allow linemen
to work on live wires without getting shocked.
We had to find an Iowa and Wisconsin connection.
Here’s the entry for my home state of Wisconsin.
Nikola Tesla, Mr. AC.
Thomas Edison, Mr. DC.
Remember this? Clark Kent has slim pickings these days.
A tad more modern version

We were surprised to find the following cultural celebrations of lineman.

My dad had this album, so I knew the song,
and yet never thought about the lyrics.
The museum provided information and materials to “The Lone Ranger” movie, which starred perhaps two of Hollywood’s most notorious bad boys.
Here’s the Iowa find, in case you’ve read either “Slim” or “High Tension,”
or seen the movie version of “Slim.”

A surprisingly fun find of a free museum.

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