Edmeston Museum Announces New Permanent Exhibition

The Edmeston Museum is excited to announce its newest permanent exhibit – the C.W. Hopkins’ DelCo Light display – with an opening reception on Thursday, August 29th, 6 – 8 p.m. The DelCo Light display is a gift from the Hoyt family. The Hoyt’s, who purchased their hardware store from Hopkins, found a treasure-trove of DelCo Light items from generators to generator parts and tools. The Hoyt’s created a map of where DelCo systems (light and water) were located in north-western Otsego County within C.W. Hopkins’ DelCo sales territory using the purchase receipts. All of this has found a new home in the Edmeston Museum thanks to the Hoyt family.

Charles Kettering, an engineer and inventor, started the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co. (Delco). Among his many creations was the DelCo-Light system that provided electricity to rural areas in the early 1900s. These systems were primarily used in and around the barns, the livelihood for many at this time. These systems were used until the Rural Electrification Act in 1936. It was in the mid- to late 1940s that rural Otsego County became electrified.

Following the exhibit opening on August 29th, the DelCo Light display will be available for viewing during the museum’s regular hours – 1st and 3rd Saturday 9 a.m. to 12n along with the 2nd and 4th Wednesday 6-8 p.m. The Edmeston Museum is located at 1 North Street, Edmeston, NY