Historic Place
McConnell Mansion
The residence remembered in local accounts as Shamokin's first electrically lit home.
Some details remain uncertain
Local historical accounts identify this as the first Shamokin home wired for electric light. At the time it belonged to Catherine 'Aunt Kitty' Martz and later became the residence of State Senator W. C. McConnell.
Electric Light Enters the Home
Only the kitchen was wired at first because many residents feared that electricity might cause a fire. That cautious beginning vividly records how unfamiliar the new technology felt.
A Cautious First Step
Here, electric light moved from machinery and public demonstration into daily household life.
A Cautious First Step
The surviving records do not yet establish the house’s exact address.
Why This Place Matters
The house belonged to Catherine Martz before it became associated with the McConnell family. Wiring only the kitchen shows that adoption came with excitement, uncertainty, and fear of fire. Electric light offered a controllable alternative to candles, oil lamps, and gas lighting.
Location
Sunbury Street, Shamokin, PA