Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative
Encyclopedia
Bowie-Cass Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a rural utility cooperative
headquartered in Douglassville, Texas
.
The cooperative was formed in 1937.
The cooperative currently serves 35,152 meters with 6073 miles (9,773.5 km) of line.
The cooperative's territory includes portions of Bowie
, Cass
, Franklin
, Morris
, Red River and Titus
counties, all located in Northeast Texas
.
Administrator Archer Nelson a check in the amount of $175,000. The check paid off in full the cooperative's first two loans, and made advance payments on the others.
For Ms. Morriss, it was a measure of personal triumph. For it was Ms. Morriss who almost single-handedly begged, pleased, and pestered the REA into funding the co-operative in the first place.
Her first attempt in October 1935 came back with a reply that Bowie and Cass Counties should join forces with Panola County
in establishing a cooperative – notwithstanding that the two counties are not only noncontiguous, but are separated by Harrison
and Marion
counties. Further attempts in 1936 were also rejected; even the county agent was not in favor of the idea.
Finally, REA sent a representative to the area, who told Morriss that she hadn't done anything, and if she didn't provide the necessary information (financial information showing that the residents could pay for electricity) within one week, her plans would be dead.
Now knowing what she needed to do, within the week she obtained statements from every banker in the area, stating that the residents had bank accounts and a reliable source of income, and signed up the required three people per mile.
In August 1937, REA finally approved the project, commenting "I know this thing will never pay out, but this is the only way to get that woman off our necks!"
In addition to Ms. Morriss' persistence in establishing the co-op, she would later donate 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of her property to establish a permanent office in Douglassville, which today remains the co-op headquarters.
Utility cooperative
A utility cooperative is a type of cooperative that is tasked with the delivery of a public utility such as electricity, water or telecommunications to its members...
headquartered in Douglassville, Texas
Douglassville, Texas
Douglassville is a town in Cass County, Texas, United States. The population was 175 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Douglassville is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
.
The cooperative was formed in 1937.
The cooperative currently serves 35,152 meters with 6073 miles (9,773.5 km) of line.
The cooperative's territory includes portions of Bowie
Bowie County, Texas
Bowie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Texarkana, Texas - Texarkana, Arkansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population was 89,306. Its legal county seat is Boston, though its courthouse is located in New Boston...
, Cass
Cass County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,438 people, 12,190 households, and 8,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 13,890 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, Franklin
Franklin County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,458 people, 3,754 households, and 2,732 families residing in the county. The population density was 33 people per square mile . There were 5,132 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...
, Morris
Morris County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,048 people, 5,215 households, and 3,749 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 6,017 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, Red River and Titus
Titus County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,118 people, 9,552 households, and 7,154 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 10,675 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
counties, all located in Northeast Texas
Northeast Texas
Northeast Texas is a region in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Texas. It is geographically centered around two metropolitan areas strung along Interstate 20: Tyler in the west and Longview/Marshall to the east...
.
History
On April 10, 1956. Ms. Mabel Bryan Morriss, secretary-treasurer of the cooperative, traveled to Washington, DC, to present REARural Utilities Service
is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture , one of the federal executive departments of the United States government charged with providing public utilities to rural areas in the United States via public-private partnerships...
Administrator Archer Nelson a check in the amount of $175,000. The check paid off in full the cooperative's first two loans, and made advance payments on the others.
For Ms. Morriss, it was a measure of personal triumph. For it was Ms. Morriss who almost single-handedly begged, pleased, and pestered the REA into funding the co-operative in the first place.
Her first attempt in October 1935 came back with a reply that Bowie and Cass Counties should join forces with Panola County
Panola County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 22,756 people, 8,821 households, and 6,395 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 10,524 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
in establishing a cooperative – notwithstanding that the two counties are not only noncontiguous, but are separated by Harrison
Harrison County, Texas
Harrison County is a county of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 62,110. It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region...
and Marion
Marion County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,941 people, 4,610 households, and 3,120 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 6,384 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
counties. Further attempts in 1936 were also rejected; even the county agent was not in favor of the idea.
Finally, REA sent a representative to the area, who told Morriss that she hadn't done anything, and if she didn't provide the necessary information (financial information showing that the residents could pay for electricity) within one week, her plans would be dead.
Now knowing what she needed to do, within the week she obtained statements from every banker in the area, stating that the residents had bank accounts and a reliable source of income, and signed up the required three people per mile.
In August 1937, REA finally approved the project, commenting "I know this thing will never pay out, but this is the only way to get that woman off our necks!"
In addition to Ms. Morriss' persistence in establishing the co-op, she would later donate 2 acres (8,093.7 m²) of her property to establish a permanent office in Douglassville, which today remains the co-op headquarters.