The Shocking State of the Port Townsend Courthouse
A dangerous electrical grounding issue in the county building leaves water pipes charged with current.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
In Port Townsend, the electric light wires in the county courthouse have become grounded, causing no small amount of annoyance. The current, in some manner or other, has communicated with the water pipes, which results in the pipes throughout the building being perforated with small holes caused by heat. To turn on the water while the electric current is on will subject a person to a severe shock. This unusual occurrence is attracting the attention of local electricians.
“To turn on the water while the electric current is on will subject a person to a severe shock.”
While modern building codes and GFCI outlets have largely relegated such dangerous DIY wiring to the past, the story serves as a reminder of the 'Wild West' era of electrification where utility infrastructure was often experimental and hazardous to the public.
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