Electrocuted at The Watsontown Light Plant, 1909

 

The Watsontown Original Electric Light Company was chartered on September 1 1886.  The plant was located at the foot of third street.  A new plant was erected by the borough in 1898, beginning operations with a grand public demonstration on April 24th of that year.

Walter Blair, an electrician employed in the power house of the Watsontown Electric Light Company was instantly killed February 11th 1909, when 4,000 volts of electricity passed through is body.  

It's believed that Blair was in the act of turning off the arc light switch and accidentally overreached, his hand coming in contact with a portion of the switch that was charged.

Walter Samuel Blair was born December 1 1867, the son of Isaiah & Maria [McNinch] Blair.  In 1899 he married, and at the time of his death he and his wife had one child.