Modern Electric celebrates 100 years

Modern Electric Water Co. is celebrating its 100-year anniversary with a free community festival that also kicks off Spokane Valley Community Center’s school supply drive.

Wednesday’s celebration pays tribute to a journey that began a century ago when Albert Kelly dug an irrigation well in Spokane Valley. He installed a centrifugal pump and erected a mile of poles and lines to carry electric service to his pump motor.

His ingenuity changed the landscape from weeds to farmland, and attracted investment dollars from three entrepreneurs, who formed Modern Electric Water Co.

The celebration begins at 3 p.m. and includes a barbecue, celebrity dunk tank, bucket truck rides, a basketball toss, safety demonstrations and booths.

The event also starts Spokane Valley Community Center’s school supply drive.

Guests and passers-by are asked to bring school supplies and backpacks to help low-income children get off to a good start this school year.

This year a supporter has donated the use of two big yellow school buses. The buses will be parked in the area, serving as collection sites for the program. Last year, the program distributed school supplies to 1,700 low-income students.