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The plant was originally founded in 1890 as the Peru Glass and Carbon Co. In 1892, Peru Electric Mfg. Co. was organized by J. O. Cole (president) and R. H. Bouslog (secretary, treasurer and manager). In 1893, the company moved across the Lake Erie and Western R.R. tracks to the vacant buildings of the former plant of B. F. Dow and Co., which was in business from November 1883 until the company closed its doors on January 1, 1887. Peru manufactured dry process porcelain switches, sockets, rosettes, cut outs, insulators, carbons, carbon batteries and electrical supplies. Only known pin-type is U-928B. In 1908 Peru Electric Mfg. Co. went into receivership. The business was purchased by C. H. Brownell, President of the Peru First National Bank. Brownell, the largest creditor, bought the business for $25,000, which was about $15,000 less than the indebtedness. In 1911, Brownell organized the Peru Electric Co., which manufactured similar porcelain goods as Peru Electric Mfg. Co. In 1918, Brownell leased the plant to E. F. Moeck who operated it at a loss. It was sold to Square D on April 9, 1920.