Operation SkyGlow

Photo Credit: The Museum of Culpeper History

Prepared by: Gloria Cooper & Karen Quaintance

The Culpeper Light and Ice company, the first power plant in Culpeper, was established in 1903 by George Major and Dr. Orville Nalle. The Town of Culpeper still owns and operates its own electric company.

The Skyglow event was held on Friday November 13, 1953 to celebrated the 50th anniversary of electricity in Culpeper and the fact that Culpeper, Virginia was the first town south of the Mason-Dixon Line to have fluorescent lighting. The largest lamp was 50,000 watts.

The event program started at 5:45pm on Friday, November 13, 1953. Stores stayed open late for shoppers to take advantage of the Skyglow bargains that were offered. Free tickets were given out by the merchants for prizes which would be awarded during the Skyglow program. George Washington Carver High School band was in attendance along with eight couples who danced the Virginia Reel with a quartet of fiddlers. The evening was planned so that everyone could enjoy the music, dancing, celebration and Brunswick stew but also arrive on time to the Culpeper – Madison football game at 8:30pm.

Tom Jeffries was the master chef. It took four hours to cook the stew and was emptied into 200 gallon kettles. 1000 pounds of beef, chicken, and vegetables were used. The supper table ran from Main Street all the way down to the depot, at that time breaking the world record for the longest dinner table.

Mrs. T.L. Martin and Mrs. George Green were in charge of the serving. They were assisted by the fire auxiliary.Ida Sparks Smith was crowned the Skyglow queen along with six princesses from different counties throughout the region. T.I. Martin and E. Jackson Eggborn had the honors in crowning the queen.

The crowning of the queen was at the Culpeper Baptist Church on the corner of Davis and East Streets. The new florescent lights were switched on by the Skyglow queen as a highlight of the celebration. This made for a very dramatic moment when the old lights went off and the new lights came on.

The Culpeper Light and Ice company, the first power plant in Culpeper, was established in 1903 by George Major and Dr. Orville Nalle. The Town of Culpeper still owns and operates its own electric company.

The Skyglow event was held on Friday November 13, 1953 to celebrated the 50th anniversary of electricity in Culpeper and the fact that Culpeper, Virginia was the first town south of the Mason-Dixon Line to have fluorescent lighting. The largest lamp was 50,000 watts.

The event program started at 5:45pm on Friday, November 13, 1953. Stores stayed open late for shoppers to take advantage of the Skyglow bargains that were offered. Free tickets were given out by the merchants for prizes which would be awarded during the Skyglow program. George Washington Carver High School band was in attendance along with eight couples who danced the Virginia Reel with a quartet of fiddlers. The evening was planned so that everyone could enjoy the music, dancing, celebration and Brunswick stew but also arrive on time to the Culpeper – Madison football game at 8:30pm.

Tom Jeffries was the master chef. It took four hours to cook the stew and was emptied into 200 gallon kettles. 1000 pounds of beef, chicken, and vegetables were used. The supper table ran from Main Street all the way down to the depot, at that time breaking the world record for the longest dinner table.

Mrs. T.L. Martin and Mrs. George Green were in charge of the serving. They were assisted by the fire auxiliary.Ida Sparks Smith was crowned the Skyglow queen along with six princesses from different counties throughout the region. T.I. Martin and E. Jackson Eggborn had the honors in crowning the queen.

The crowning of the queen was at the Culpeper Baptist Church on the corner of Davis and East Streets. The new florescent lights were switched on by the Skyglow queen as a highlight of the celebration. This made for a very dramatic moment when the old lights went off and the new lights came on.