New York and New Jersey Power Co. - 1888 dated Stock Certificate

Stock printed by Homer Lee Bank Note Co., N.Y. Early! Certificate #3!

In the 1880s, the New York and New Jersey Power Company emerged during a transformative era in American utility history. This era was characterized by the rapid expansion of electric lighting. Companies like the Brush Electric Company and Thomas Edison’s Edison Illuminating Company pioneered the shift from coal-gas lamps to electrical systems. The Brush Electric Company illuminated Broadway in 1880, while Edison’s company played a significant role in the industry. Initially, these early utilities focused on specific urban districts, such as Manhattan’s financial district. They utilized direct current (DC) power stations like the landmark Pearl Street Station.

During this period, the industry underwent significant technical and corporate consolidation, leading to the formation of modern giants like Consolidated Edison (Con Edison). In the late 1880s, the industry was further defined by the “War of Currents,” a fierce rivalry between Edison’s DC systems and the alternating current (AC) proponents led by George Westinghouse. The New York and New Jersey Power Company, along with many other localized franchises, navigated these shifting technologies and the intense regulatory efforts of the Board of Electrical Control. The Board sought to move dangerous overhead wires into subterranean grids to improve public safety and enhance urban aesthetics.