On February 17, 1914, Parkland Light & Water was officially established. A group of folks from Pacific Lutheran University and forward thinking homemakers devised the idea of a mutual utility. This project was based on the way they ran cooperatives in Scandinavia. PL&W is the nation’s oldest mutual utility. It is a non-profit organization.

E. B. Eillingson was the first manager and local homeowner volunteers actually set the poles and strung the wire for the utility. They also dug ditches and installed flumes to bring water to area homes.

A celebration of the 100th anniversary is planned for the utility’s Annual Meeting, March 25. It will be held at the Washington High School cafeteria. A dinner will be held at 6 p.m. and the business meeting at 7:30 p.m. There will be gifts and special guests attending the event.