History of District Heating in the United States

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District Heating in Chester, Pennsylvania

The Chester Steam Heating and Power Company was organized in September 1889 and built a steam system that began operating in December of that year. The company distributed exhaust steam from the plant of the Chester Electric Light and Power Company. The steam company decided to abandon service in September 1899, but agreed to continue service for another year.

References
1889 "Chester Steam Heating Company," Chester Times, May 31, 1889, Page 3.
The Chester Steam Heating Company is preparing to get underway; and an organization has been effected.

1889 "Charter Notice," Chester Times, August 30, 1889, Page 2.
The Chester Steam Heating and Power Company

1889 The Chester Steam Heating and Power Company, Capital, $25,000, September 9, 1889. Laws of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1891
The manufacture, generation and distribution of steam for the purpose of supplying light, heat and power or any of them to the city of Chester and to such persons, partnerships and corporations residing therein or adjacent thereto as may desire the same, and to have possess and enjoy all the rights, powers, franchises and privileges granted and conferred by the said act of assembly and the several supplements thereto and any and all laws made or to be made relating thereto.

1889 "Will Soon Get Up Steam," Chester Times, October 4, 1889, Page 4.
The Chester Steam Heating and Power Company have everything ready to begin operations, and they expect to be able to break ground for the laying of pipes on Monday next.

1889 "Laying the Pipe," Chester Times, October 17, 1889, Page 3.
The Chester Steam Power Company have begun the work of laying pipes on the streets.

1889 "First on Deck," Chester Times, December 13, 1889, Page 1.
The Times was the first subscriber of the Steam Heating Company.

1891 "Distribution of Steam From Central Stations," Proceedings of the National Electric Light Association 9:59-78 (February 1891)
Page 73: There is another [exhaust steam heating] plant in Chester, Pa.

1891 "Electric Light Station," Chester Times, December 19, 1891, Page 13.
In addition to the service herein enumerated, this company also furnish steam from their plant for the Chester Steam Heating and Power Company, whose pipes are laid through all the principal streets of the city.

1899 "Steam Heat a Failure," The Philadelphia Times, September 5, 1899, Page 3.
The Chester Steam Heating Company has notified Its consumers that it will not furnish steam this winter to consumers. This plan adopted by the heating company will make trouble for many of the stores, residences and churches, for they have expensive meters and other steam fittings they have paid for, and now they will have to purchase boilers. The officers of the company say the business of furnishing public heat has not been a success, and as they have been losing money they concluded to stop.

1899 "To Continue Service," Chester Times, September 16, 1899, Page 1.
Chester Steam Heating Company Will Not Go Out of Business and will furnish steam to subscribers for the season of 1899-1900, as usual.

1901 "Plumbing and Heating Notes," The Metal Worker: A Weekly Journal of the Stove, Roofing, Cornice, Tin, Plumbing and Heating Trades 54(16):53 (October 20, 1900)
One of the beneficent results of the exit of the Chester Steam Heating Company is a rush of work for the plumbers of Chester, Pa. Many new steam plants have been put in, while the hot air men are also busy furnishing heating appliances.

1939 "Electric Power Here in 1886," Delaware County Daily Times, April 15, 1939, Page 5.
Control of the Chester Steam Heating and Power Company was obtained through stock ownership in 1894, a resolution of sell stock being passed by the directors at a meeting held March 12, 1894.