BY MADISON ALERT
The history of electric cooperatives is woven into the fabric of rural America, where a shared sense of purpose has always united individuals in pursuit of a brighter future. Before electrification, rural life was defined by darkness, isolation and relentless challenges. Yet, even in the most trying times, these communities possessed a determined spirit – a vision that would forever change the course of American history. Fueled by grit and willpower, that spirit laid the foundation for one of the most profound and transformative movements in our nation’s past: rural electrification.
On May 11, 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order No. 7037, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). This pivotal moment in history created the Rural Electrification Act, a federal loan program that sought to bring the power of electricity to rural America. While investor-owned utilities resisted, farmers of rural America saw an opportunity and flooded the newly formed program with applications, signaling the dawn of the electric cooperative movement.
Embracing the call for rural electrification
Northern Iowa embraced the call for electrification. Newspapers like the Hampton Chronicle served as champions for electrification, urging community support with articles like the March 12, 1936, piece, “Are You Interested in Rural Electrification?” It was a call for unity to bring light to the countryside. And so, Iowa farmers gathered, forming cooperatives that would forever change the landscape of rural life.
The cost of this dream was shared among farmers committing to pay a monthly fee, roughly $5, for 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
It was a leap of faith for many as skepticism and doubt lingered. However, the cooperative spirit ran deep, and farmers’ collective perseverance soon proved naysayers wrong.
On Feb. 10, 1937, northern Iowa farmers joined together to incorporate the generation cooperative Federated REA. Days later, REA Deputy Administrator John Carmody announced the decision to fund Federated REA to serve Franklin, Hardin, Wright, Butler, Grundy and Hancock counties in Iowa. The $222,000 loan laid the groundwork for Iowa’s Reeve Power Plant south of Hampton.
A dream becomes reality
The Reeve Power Plant is situated on six acres next to the Rock Island Railroad, which helped ensure that construction materials and fuel could be easily transported to the site. The winning construction bid of $51,875 by a local contractor allowed work to begin on Sept. 1, 1937, signifying construction of the power plant was full steam ahead. Concrete was mixed and poured by hand; innovative methods of steam and tarps helped overcome the freezing temperatures of Iowa’s winter.
By January 1938, the Reeve Power Plant was fully enclosed, and in mid-March, the first two engines – massive Nordberg powerhouses – were tested and successfully fired up. Then, on March 23, 1938, at 8:30 a.m., the dream became a reality. The Reeve Power Plant began operations, delivering 24-hour electric service to its six rural counties. With that, Federated REA became the first cooperative west of the Mississippi River to generate and distribute farmer-owned electricity, marking the beginning of a new era. In less than seven months, rural electrification had arrived. In the years that followed, two additional engines were added, and crews braved challenging weather and the struggles that came with expanding.
In 1947, Federated REA merged with the Central Electric Federated Cooperative Association in Pocahontas to form Corn Belt Power Cooperative (Corn Belt Power). This new cooperative structure responded to the soaring demand for electricity, utilizing the Reeve Power Plant to manage overflow from its primary generation facility. During this period of peak demand, energy brownouts became a common occurrence, with sections of the service territory experiencing reduced electricity usage to balance the grid. Concurrently, rural electrification had reached over 90% of U.S. farms, a remarkable achievement that underscored the success of the cooperative business model.
In 1950, Corn Belt Power transitioned the Reeve Power Plant to standby mode after a new generation source was commissioned to meet the grid’s growing needs. Despite this change, the site continued to house a substation, providing vital support to the cooperative’s members in the region and maintaining its role in the legacy of rural electrification. After serving its membership for decades, the generation plant was finally taken out of commission in 1974.
Maintaining historical significance
In 1988, the plant was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society, and through the efforts of countless volunteers, the REA Power Plant Museum was born. The museum, which opened to the public in 1990 as a Historic Place on the National Register, stands as a powerful reminder of the hard work, sacrifice and unity that made rural electrification possible. In 2002, the museum earned recognition as a point of interest within the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area.
In December 2024, the Reeve Power Plant was designated as a National Historic Landmark, honoring its legacy as the last remaining original plant built following the 1936 Rural Electrification Act. This recognition commemorates the plant’s physical structure and celebrates the remarkable spirit of innovation and perseverance it represents.
With many thanks to the Franklin County Historical Society and volunteers like Rick Whalen of Hampton, the historic site remains a testament to rural America’s transformation. This dedication helps to preserve the spirit of hope, resilience, and effort that made electrification possible, ensuring the story continues to inspire future generations.
Museum exhibits showcase the challenges and triumphs of a bygone era, while displays highlight life before and after electrification. Visitors can also see artifacts like the original three-cylinder engine, circuit panels, transformers and the iconic concrete blocks engraved with “REA.” The museum offers a living history of rural America’s transformation, powered by the cooperative spirit and the collective will of those who dared to dream of a brighter future.
Madison Alert is the communications specialist/key accounts representative for Franklin REC.
REA Power Plant Museum Timeline
May 11, 1935: Executive Order No. 7037 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration (REA)
March 12, 1936: The Hampton Chronicle newspaper published the first article encouraging local farmers to form an electric cooperative
Feb. 10, 1937: Eighteen farmers met in Fort Dodge to incorporate Federated REA
Early 1937: Federated REA received $222,000 in the Rural Electrification Act’s federal funding for the construction of the Reeve Power Plant
Sept. 1, 1937: Groundbreaking of the Reeve Power Plant began
Winter 1937-1938: Construction of the plant continued through harsh winter weather conditions
January 1938: The Reeve Power Plant was enclosed, and the first 3-cylinder engine was installed
February 1938: The second 4-cylinder engine was delivered and installed
March 15, 1938: The 3-cylinder engine underwent its first successful trial
March 19, 1938: The 4-cylinder engine underwent its first successful trial run
March 23, 1938: The Reeve Power Plant began supplying 24-hour electricity to rural homes in six counties
1940: The third engine was installed into the power plant
Winter 1941: The fourth, and final, engine was installed during the historic 1941 blizzard
1947: Federated REA merged with neighboring cooperative Central Electric Federated Cooperative Association to create Corn Belt Power Cooperative (Corn Belt Power) – a generation and transmission cooperative
1948-1950: The Reeve Power Plant operated as an overflow demand facility, as peak rural electrification expanded across the U.S.
1951: The Reeve Power Plant was put on standby generation, but still operated as a substation for Corn Belt Power
1974: Corn Belt Power phased out and retired Reeve Power Plant
1988: The Reeve Power Plant was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society and became the REA Power Plant Museum
1990: Renovations to the power plant began to transition to a museum and placed on the National Register of Historical Places
2002: The Reeve Power Plant was recognized as a point of interest by the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area
2017: The beginning of the process to recognize the museum as a National Historic Landmark
December 2024: The REA Power Plant Museum registered as a National Historic Landmark
