Another dip into the Adeje archives by the people in the heritage department has come up with the news surrounding the eventual arrival of electric lighting, public street lighting, to the town of Adeje.
According to the Gaceta de Tenerife newspaper, on May 24th 1931, “the current will be turned on in this picturesque town with the inauguration of public lighting, following the constant efforts and despite multiple difficulties”. There were huge celebrations in the in the town, “with a music band” confirmed the Gaceta.
The switch on was the end of a years-long struggle, with petitions from mayor José Hernández Alayón in 1927 following a council meeting, to bring electric lighting to the town. The La Prensa newspaper reported that the council petition pointed out that Adeje now had over 3.000 residents, adding that lighting would be exempt from local taxes too.
There was a change of mayor in 1931, with Rafael Melo Alayón, and reports of two council meetings in May of that year, with the councillors hearing details, on May 4th of the lighting to be installed, with the town to be lit every day of the week, and on May 12th another meeting heard confirmation that the main street would have electric light.
