I was in downtown Herndon this morning on an errand when I took notice of the holiday street lights.
Decorated Holiday Street Lights
Each street light wears a green wreath with a bright red bow on the slides.
Running down each street light post is a red ribbon made to somewhat mimic a candy cane.
Online I’ve seen photographs of street lights decorated with bells, stars, ribbons, snowflakes, candles, etc.
Sometimes decorations are hung on street lights which cross over the street from pole to pole.
Brief History of Street Lights
Street lights help with public security, they add charm, and keep pedestrians/drivers safe by providing more light.
Although I was unable to get a close up photograph of the green wreaths on the tall street lights, I loved the fact they are all decorated for the season.
Herndon initially used gas street lights in the early 1900’s. The gas was provided by a acetylene gas generating station. The acetylene gas generation shed is still present in downtown Herndon.
Electricity eventually replaced the generator in approximately in 1917.
Electric Holiday Lights
In my online research, I found that decorated street lights go back to 1907, when shopkeepers on the 16th Street Mall in Denver, Colorado replaced the street lights with red and green bulbs.
Then in 1914, D. D. Sturgeon, also of Denver, wanted to cheer up his son. David Jonathan Sturgeon was ill in bed not able to participate in the holiday merriment.
David asked his father to light up the evergreen tree outside of his bedroom’s window.
So D. D. Sturgeon, founder of Sturgeon Electric Company, decided to dip some plain light bulbs in red and green paint. He hung them on an evergreen tree and plugged it in.
The beaming red and green lights was an awesome sight. People drove by the home to view the colored lights on the tree.
Ending Holiday Notes
This was probably the first example of an illuminated outdoor Christmas tree.
The new idea spread from home to home and soon became a holiday tradition for many.
It nice when people take the time to decorate for the season whether it be street light poles or outside holiday trees.
Resource Sites: ourcommunitynow.com and Sturgeon Electric Company’s facebook.com page.