Talk:Thomas Ahearn

Um...how did he set up lights in 1942 when he died in 1938? --Charlene.fic 16:24, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

Ahearn did not electrify Ottawa with 165 lights, and he was not part of the company which did: Ottawa Electric Light Company

It's hard to believe, because so many authors attribute Ahearn with being involved in the 165 lights that were installed in 1885. However, after seeing that Woods 1980 ambiguously implied that Ahearn was not the one doing it (while at the same time claiming that it was his efforts that made it happen).

Here are some very clear facts:

1. There was a company called "Ottawa Electric Company" which came about because of Ahearn. It is almost certain that this company formed as an amalgamation of companies.
2. Ahearn (and Soper) had very many companies, we know for sure one of them was Chaudière Electric Light and Power Company
3. We know for sure that 165 lights (almost certainly arc) were installed in 1885.
4. There was a second company of similar name, but NOT THE SAME NAME: Ottawa Electric Light Company
5. There was at least 2 electrical providers in Ottawa in 1890: Ottawa Electric Light Company, and Chaudière Electric Light and Power Company.
6. We know that a list of names of directors and executive of Ottawa Electric Light Company did not include Ahearn at all, but it did include Thomas Clemow.
7. Many (but probably not all) authors state the 165 lights contract was awarded to "Ottawa Electric Light Company".

Based on sources listed herein, I believe that Ottawa Electric Light Company, a company created by Thomas Clemow and others, was awarded a contract in 1885 to light the streets of Ottawa. A few years later, Thomas Ahearn (helped to?) created Chaudière Electric Light and Power Company. And in 1895, Ahearn (helped to?) created the company "Ottawa Electric Company", which was a merger of the previously mentioned companies and one other company (Standard Light Company). When Ottawa Electric Company was formed, it very likely eliminated all competition.

Of the many authors, Haig(p 144), Knowles(p77-81) and Taylor (p100-104) all state that Ahearn was with the "Ottawa Electric Light Company". Increasing evidence shows this to be false. Here's a link that shows the directors in 1886: http://books.google.ca/books?id=2Y1KAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA366&lpg=PA366&dq=%22francis+clemow%22+%22ottawa+electric%22&source=bl&ots=w4MaEtilx9&sig=MnbdTPG0OEJXGFiAkdV3c8osgWQ&hl=en&ei=d0aPTt2HHsff0QHAg-Aa&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&sqi=2&ved=0CD4Q6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=%22francis%20clemow%22%20%22ottawa%20electric%22&f=false Here is a Citizen article that doesn't mention anything about Ahearn being involved in the installation of those lights (One would think that if a man as respected as Ahearn for his ingeniuity and works was involved, it would have been made clear): http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19280313&id=zzk0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=kvUIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1298,202640 The confusion may be due to what seems to be another company "Ottawa Electric Company" (note the name is not the same), which certainly was Ahearn's company, but in reality only existed in 1895 (some sources say 1894), but was some sort of combination of existing companies. It seems that part of the companies which it amalgamated were the orginal company who lit up the city. Since the american directory of electrical suppliers in 1886 doesn't even include Ahearn's name at all, it seems Ahearn only had companies specializing in Electricity starting in 1887, 2 years after the city was lit up (where his Chaudière Electric Light and Power Company was formed in 1887). I still don't know where the original company got their generator without a genius to help them, but there were several lights on the Chaudiere area before there were lights in the city, and it's very confusing to find out who really did that. Obviously the power for those came from a generator run from the Chaudiere Falls.

Here's another article about the companies that made up Ottawa Electric Company and what they were known for:http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/american-institute-of-electrical-engineers/the-montreal-electrical-hand-book-being-a-guide-for-visitors-from-abroad-attend-ala/page-10-the-montreal-electrical-hand-book-being-a-guide-for-visitors-from-abroad-attend-ala.shtml

Ahearn didn't bring telephones to parliament hill

It's unlikely that ahearn had anything to do with bringing phones to parliament hill. This is based on the book "100 years Ottawa and the valley" oclc 21880469 by "Harry J. Walker", 1967 which does not mention his name in this accomplishment, though it does mention the people who actually did it. And as for 'first long-distance call' .... who really cares anymore? It was relevant in 1967 and 1980 when 'long-distance' meant something but not today anymore.

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