Together, We Have Come A Long Way

Electricity reached these farms because the farmers went and got it. In 1938 a Uinta Basin man named Shirley Daniels wrote a letter to the federal Rural Electrification Administration, and by fall he and his neighbors had signed up members, collected deposits, and voted a cooperative into being at the Altamont high school. Two years later they had a hydro plant running on the Yellowstone River. What it changed was ordinary and enormous — light to read by after dark, and a motor to do the work of several hands. The co-op is still theirs.

What the plaque says

Moon Lake Electric Association "Together, We have come a long way." This plaque is dedicated to those early pioneers of Moon Lake Electric Association, whose persistence and foresight enabled the residents of this area to enjoy the benefits of central station electricity. Their efforts rescued the housewife from a world of drudgery. A hundred household tasks were revolutionized for the housewife, and the farmer quickly learned that a single electric motor could do more work than several steady workers. No longer would children have to do their homework from the light of a kerosene lamp. Moon Lake Electric Association began with a single hand-written letter from Shirley K. Daniels to the Rural Electrification Administration. Working with Mr. Daniels were Ed Conklin, Chester Hartman, Ed Holder, Henry A. Wathen, John Thorsen, F.C. Watterson, Delbert Shiner, George E. Stewart, Jr., and Zella Rust. Together with friends and neighbors, these pioneers forged ahead collecting deposits and holding community informational meetings. After many difficult obstacles were overcome, Moon Lake Electric Association became incorporated at a public meeting held at the Altamont High School on October 6, 1938. Through the hard work and dedication of many people, Moon Lake Electric is more than just a supplier of electricity. It is a heritage of service, a standard of independence. Your Cooperative, operated by you and for you, exists for your benefit. October 6, 1988

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Settlement of Neola — 14 mi
• Roosevelt — 16 mi
• Fort Robidoux — 21 mi
• Northern Ute Veterans Memorial — 22 mi