Arcadia in 1915 and 1916

In 1915, The City bought baseball suits for the city team in the amount of $65.00. Trustees reminded the players that the suits belonged to the city. The Board of Trustees bought out the three water companies serving the city, and formed its own Water Department. Wells and reservoirs were dug and constructed. In 1916, a home was built for the Water Department foreman and a Model T car was purchased for him. The car cost $449.56: the first city-owned vehicle! Three dozen street signs were ordered in the amount of $45.00.

At this time, the Board of Trustees (City Council) had many decisions to make: width of streets, size of curbs and gutters, thickness of the macadam, size of fire hydrants, etc. Everyone in the city had an opinion and expressed it at meetings. Complaints included loose dogs, unlicensed kennels, weeds, permission to prune trees and the need for a city- wide sewer system, which residents rejected.

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Carol Libby and Karen Hou

Carol Libby & Karen Hou

Arcadia Historical Society