A SHOCKING INNOVATION

When the Ponce de Leon Hotel in St Augustine, Florida, opened its doors in January 1888, the hotel had to employ people to turn the lights on and off because guests were afraid of being electrocuted by this newfangled device called electricity. The luxury hotel, which was built by railroad baron Henry Flagler, also had steam heating, something which the rich northeastern clientele would have been acquainted with but which was hardly necessary in Florida’s balmy winters. The hotel is now part of Flagler College.