Trace Home
Springfield Journal Register, date of paper which originally published the following is unknown.
The old Frank W. Tracy homestead at Sixth and Allen Sts. was the first Springfield
residence to have electric lights. the late E. A. Hall recalled at a dinner party given by
Mr. Tracy in celebration of the event, the entire dining room ceiling was studded with
electric bulbs and guests sat in fear and trembling expecting to see the ceiling burst into a mass
of flames. The above picture shows the setting for that party. Since the walls of the Tracy home were of brick
and eight inches thick throughout the house, the entire electric installation was "external", and lights
had to be pulled on by cords that hung from the ceiling.
Submitted by: Jeanie Lowe.
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