Editor’s note: This story appeared in The County’s Business Tribute in the print edition on Feb. 5, 2025.
HOULTON, Maine — It was a raging 1879 fire that destroyed 21 buildings in downtown Houlton, from French’s Drug Store to Court Street, that led to the formation of the Houlton Water Co. 145 years ago.
At the time of the fire, a handpump brought water to the flames, pushing residents to take the legislative steps necessary to develop a more secure source of water for the town. And the Houlton Water Co. was chartered as a water works company by the state Legislature in 1880.
The pumping station was built by 1885. By 1902, the town of Houlton purchased the company, and in 1908 electricity and sewer were added to the town’s utility.
“For me, it’s the steadfast vision of the founders of the Houlton Water Co. 145 years ago and being passed along to each of the boards thereafter of keeping things local, watching their costs in keeping the mission of the company which essentially is the customers,” said board President Josh McLaughlin.
Today, there are currently 27 employees, said General Manager Greg Sherman who started with the company in 1998 as an accountant. Among those employees are several who have been with the company for decades such as lineman Chris Holmes, who began his career with the water company in 1980.
According to Sherman, the Houlton Water Co. is a nonprofit, municipally owned utility providing electricity, water, and wastewater services to Houlton and portions of the surrounding towns. The utility serves approximately 5,200 electric, 1,700 water, and 1,800 wastewater customers, according to company reports.
It is governed by a six-member Board of Directors elected by the town’s citizens.
“We’re not-for-profit, kind of like a cooperative utility where at the end of the day we’re providing a reliable cost-effective service to our customers,” McLaughlin said. “That commitment and vision has stayed throughout that 145 years, and that is a true testament to the management, the board and the people working for the water company.”
Since its founding the Houlton Water Co. has had rates among the lowest in the state and that remains the case with the electric utility at 12 cents a kilowatt, compared to some that are nearly double that figure.
“I do think that vision the water company was founded all those years ago remains,” McLaughlin said. “The team that makes up the water company is pretty impressive. We should be proud in our community to be celebrating 145 years for a locally owned utility because there are not a lot left.”
