Back when this house was built in 1971, the rural electric cooperative was very frugal. They strung the lines through our hayfield and woods using just three posts - that's close to 1/4 of a mile.
Things have gotten better these days, and our rural electric cooperative is upgrading the electrical infrastructure. A couple of months ago, they actually put in new utility poles along the road to our house to replace those poles in the middle of the hayfield and at the corner of the woods. Instead of just 3 poles, there are now 6!
Yesterday, they actually hooked us up to the new, stronger, better in all ways wires. We have a new electrical meter that is out on the closest pole instead of on the house. We were without power for a couple of hours as they made the change over.
The only remaining chore is to take down the old poles. Well, I got to thinking, those old poles would make some fine corner fence posts, and I need to run more fencing. So, I asked the foreman if I could have them - and yes! They are going to give me all the old poles. So next spring, John and I can cut the poles into 8 foot sections, get out the post hole digger and attach it to the tractor, and we can sink some good posts -- and they will cost us not a thing!
The foreman told me that I'd need to cover the tops of the posts so they won't rot in the weather. A neighbor has used tin pie plates, nailed down on the top of his posts, so I guess I'll be looking for some tin pie plates at garage sales.
