On Oct. 21, 1891, The Whittier Reform School was the first building in Whittier to have electric lights. The dynamos and turbines used to generate electricity were housed onsite in the powerhouse building. The Los Angeles Times reported on Oct. 22, 1891, “Last evening the machinery for the power in Trades building, the steam heating and the electric lighting at the State Reform School at Whittier was completed and the power turned on. The lights could be seen plainly from this city [Los Angeles]. Quite a number of visitors went out from the city and were entertained by the superintendent. There are now seventy-three children in the school.”