Generator — Summer 2023

ATTEMPT FAILED
It has been told many times that
Phil R. Hockenberger, now president
of the Loup district, is credited with
first conceiving the idea of a federallyfinanced
power project to harness the
steady flow of the Loup river.
That was in September 1932.
Hockenberger had, of course, since
childhood, heard of repeated attempts
to build a Loup power canal, and as
often saw them fail.
HUNTED PROJECTS
In that year of fitful depression,
when the Reconstruction Finance
corporation, a federal lending agency
created to help revive business, was
looking about for sound projects
on which idle men could be put to
work, he suggested reviving the Loup
project.
His idea met with instant support
at a meeting in the Thurston hotel,
Sept. 15, 1932. A temporary committee
comprising Charles B. Fricke as
president, Dr. J. E. Meyer, vice
president, C. C. Sheldon, treasurer,
and Harold Kramer, secretary, was set
up to direct the work. A subcommittee
of A. R. Miller as chairman, and R. H.
Heynen, A. H. Backus, Dr. E. E. Koebbe,
Ott F. Water and Pete W. Lakers
was instructed to raise $10,000 for
preliminary financing.
OFFICERS
We skip next to April 18, 1933, when
Governor Charles W. Bryan placed his
signature on Senate File 310, the state
enabling act which permitted setting
up public power districts.
On May 29, 1933, State Engineer R.
L. Cochran officially created the Loup
River Public Power district.
In the application for the creation
of the district, from a meeting held
May 13, 1933, this temporary list
of officers was given: Charles B.
Fricke, president; Dr. J. E. Meyer, vice
president; C. C. Sheldon, treasurer,
and Phil R. Hockenberger, August
Ewert, Edd Kelly, Ed. F. Lusienski, D. A.
Becher, Dr. E. E. Koebbe, A. H. Backus
and A.R. Miller, other directors.
Kelly is from Monroe, Lusienski
then of Platte Center. The rest are
Columbus men. The board of directors
automatically became permanent
upon creation of the District.
FIRST DIGGING
Congress passed the emergency
public works bill June 12, 1933 and
application eventually made to the
Public Works administration for
construction funds. PWA approval
was given Nov. 15, 1933 on the Loup
application for $7,300,000 on the
basis of 70 percent loan and 30
percent grant for construction. First
$200,000 of this amount arrived June
28, 1934.
First actual dragline excavation of
earth was made Oct. 15, 1934 on the
James Donoghue farm seven miles
northwest of Columbus by the Haas,
Doughty, Jones company.
MARCH 1937
On March 1, 1937 the switch was
thrown on one of the big turbines in
the Monroe Power house and electric
current began flowing from the
harnessed water of the Loup river.
On May 29, 1937, current produced
at the Monroe plant was first put to
commercial use in lighting the interior
of the plant. Still another red letter
day in electricity was Aug. 6, 1934,
when current flowing from Monroe
to Columbus power house marked the
first transmission of Loup power.
Having ample source and supply
of electric power is one thing, voltage
lines to transmit it to large blocks of
consumers is another.
— Columbus Daily Telegram
May 14, 1941
10 | GENERATOR