I would like to dedicate this book to my dad, Tucker Miller. He spent many years as a lineman helping our community keep the lights on. I want to thank all the linemen who work in a dangerous profession and are sometimes away from their families at night and during bad weather to help others. Thank you to my Pa, Wayne Miller, for giving me the information I needed for my book. I also want to thank my mom, Brandi Miller, for her help with this book and for being my teacher.

After a long Monday of studying electricity in science and World War I in history, I finally finished school for the day. This had me thinking about my town of Edgefield, South Carolina and what it was like many years ago before there was electricity. About that time, my dad, Tucker, walked in the door from work at Aiken Electric Cooperative.

“Dad, were you alive during World War I? Maybe you could teach me some history facts,” I said jokingly. 

Laughing, my dad said, “My gray hair may make me look old, but I am not THAT old!” 

Dad continued, “However, I can give you a little history lesson if you want. I AM a history buff.”

“You aren’t a history buff. You are a lineman!” I said. 

“You’re right. I am a lineman at Aiken Electric Co-op, and I know all about what they do and a little history about it too,” replied Dad. 

“I have been wondering about your job and how we get electricity. What exactly is an electric co-op?” I questioned curiously.

“Co-op means cooperative. Electric cooperatives are non-profit organizations that provide electricity at the lowest prices. Co-ops are owned by members and managed by an elected board of directors. Aiken Electric Co-op has been delivering electricity to rural areas since it began in 1938. The lineman who work for electric cooperatives build power lines to people’s homes, so they can have electricity. We keep the lines humming for our Aiken Electric Cooperative members day and night and in dangerous weather conditions. Without us, people would still be using gas lanterns for light,” stated Dad proudly.

“GAS LANTERNS? We just flip a switch. Wait! That means no Xbox either without electricity,” I cried.

"Nope. Not without our electric cooperatives! You can thank President Franklin D. Roosevelt for getting electricity out to the country so you can play your Xbox today. He signed an order as part of his New Deal to create the Rural Electrification Administration, otherwise known as the REA. This is what brought non-profit cooperatives to rural South Carolina for people to help people get power and how co-ops began,” Dad proclaimed.

“By the way, guess what? I got a new line truck today. So, enough of all this history. Let’s go and take a look at it, and maybe I can even take you for a little ride,’’ Dad said. 

As Dad and I climbed into the truck, all of a sudden there was a flash of light. Then everything went black. SCREECH! CLANG! BOOM! 

“What just happened?” I asked. 

“I think it was the line truck,” Dad replied. 

“Look at the GPS! We’re in Colliers Community in the year 1948. Your new line truck is magic and has taken us back in time,” I exclaimed.

“You’re right! This is where my dad grew up. Let’s check it out,” Dad said. 

About that time, a boy walked out the door and across the yard. 

“That’s Pa when he was my age! What is he doing? I wondered.

Pa was holding a gas lantern and a chunk of ice. He walked down to the outdoor well, placed the ice inside, and pulled out a jug of milk.

"Pa didn't get power until 1949 when he was nine years old. Before rural electrification, his family had to use gas lanterns and candles for light. Since there was no electricity, there was no refrigeration or running water. They had to get water from the well with a bucket and even cool their milk in it. He walked to the store each day for ice and stored it in the well. That's how life was before electricity,” he explained. 

"Wow! Life was really different in Edgefield back then! We better get going because it is going to get VERY DARK," I gasped. 

As soon as we stepped back into the line truck, there was a flash of light. Then everything went black. SCREECH! CLANG! BOOM! I peered down at the GPS which showed the words Edgefield, South Carolina, 2006. Looking around, we saw a bucket truck and a line truck for Aiken Electric Co-op.

"What are those linemen doing? Why are we in 2006?" I asked. 

"This magic line truck is giving you a real history lesson. This is the year I started work at Aiken Electric Co-op as a lineman. They are installing new services to new houses in Edgefield. Now, everyone in rural areas has access to electricity," he explained.