CITY GOVERNMENT


In January of 1889 Hobart became incorporated. A board of trustees then managed the town with the help of a clerk-treasurer and marshal. Two years later the volunteer fire department was organized. Seward Lighter was the first fire chief, and Fred Rose, SR. (Fred Rose Park) was his assistant.
By 1898, the Hobart Water Works and Electrical Plant was built. By 1900, there were many good gravel roads, and Hobart was chosen by the United States Post Office Department for its first experiment with rural free delivery of mail in the Midwest. The American Telephone and Telegraph Company was given the right to place poles in Hobart, and by 1899 telephones were in use.


The first city government was organized on November 22, 1921. An election was held, and Sherman Henderson became the first mayor. There were three ward councilmen and two councilmen-at-large. As the town grew bigger, a city attorney, a street commissioner, a city engineer, a city judge, a park board, and a
city planning were added.


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