May 17, 2012Samuel A. Carlson
Located at the Municipal Building, 200 East Third Street
Sam Carlson was an initiator and supporter of Jamestown’s public hospital, public market, parks, roads and bridges, non-partisan elections, new city charter, and champion of municipally owned utilities.
He initiated the Municipal Electric System for city street lighting and enlarged the system to sell electricity commercially. He also drilled the first water well to create the city’s public water system. Even to this day Jamestown’s electric rates are among the lowest of the nation.
He was twice president of the New York State Conference of Mayors.
There is a memorial plaque on the Samuel A. Carlson Electric Generating Station on Steele Street.
SAMUEL A. CARLSON
1868-1961 ALDERMAN 1893-1895 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS 1895-1904 MAYOR 1908-1927; 1929-1933; 1935-1937 BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES 1940-1951 A STEADFAST STEWARD OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.