Thomas Edison Turned On Lower Manhattan Power Plant Funded by J.P. Morgan in 1882
Paul Israel explains that Thomas Edison's historic lower Manhattan power plant, financed by J.P. Morgan and other investors, began providing electricity to a square mile of the district on September 4, 1882.
“So at 3 p.m. on September 4th, Edison flicked on the switch here at J.P. Morgan's office.”
David Kestenbaum
“About a square mile of Lower Manhattan suddenly was lit by electricity.”
David Kestenbaum
Heard on Planet Money — “The history of light (classic)”, published Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.