Public Services Building

Built in 1914, the building has always been owned by the local electric company, though not always occupied. It is currently owned by Duke Energy.

Huntington Light & Fuel Co. was founded by George J Bippus in 1890. J. Fred Bippus (yes, of Hotel LaFontaine fame) had the administrative building of the then named Huntington Light & Fuel Co. built in 1916. It became the Northern Indiana Power Co. in 1923. In 1941, it became Public Service Indiana. It underwent extensive restoration in 1987/1988. The building has always been owned by the electric company, however it has not always been occupied.

In 1880 Wabash introduced electric street lights to the country. At the time, Huntington had gas arc lamps. Electric street lights were first installed in 1886. Huntington Lighting and Fuel appears to have obtained the contract to supply the city electricity in late 1904.

The Huntington County Interim Report, 2^nd Edition, labels the architecture style as Neo-Classical. This style was popular from 1885 to 1940 in Indiana. “The Neo-Classical Revival style is similar to the much earlier Greek Revival style; however, it differs by its use of elaborate classical detail, usually more permanent materials (brick, stone) and more massive scale.” Neo-Classical features in this building are the use of symmetry in the building, the illusion of columns, the entablature (white fireplace mantle-esque above the name) and the elaborate brick ornamentation towards the top of the building.  The Public Service building is location number 74 on the National Register of Historic Places registration form for the Huntington Courthouse Square Historic District which was approved in 1992.

1. “Neo-Classical Revival Style,”, IN.gov, accessed July 9, 2021, https://www.in.gov/dnr/historic-preservation/learn-about-topics/buildings-and-bridges/architectural-styles/neo-classical-revival-style/
2. Huntington County Interim Report 2^nd Edition, Indiana 1982. This book can be located at the Huntington City-Township Public Library. hctpl.info.
3. Klepper, Cindy, “The Old will be new at PSI,” Huntington Herald-Press [Huntington, IN], 29 November 1987.
4. “The Huntington Light & Fuel Company founded by George J Bippus 1890,” Pamphlet located at the Huntington City-Township Public Library. hctpl.info.
5. National Register Digital Places. National Registry of Historic Places. Accessed July 22, 2021. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/85461645-f775-4cf8-a822-d8525b7cf0ba
6. Huntington County, Indiana: History & Families. 1993. Huntington County Historical Society. Paducah, Ky: Turner Pub. p176
7. "New Light Company Offices are Models of Efficiency." Huntington Herald [Huntington, IN], 1 May 1916, p3.
8. "New Power Plant: Huntington Light & Fuel Co. Improvement Completed: Beginning Next Monday, Electricity Will Be Furnished Patrons from the Fine New Plant." Huntington Herald [Huntington, IN], 17 Sep 1904, p5.