History of District Heating in the United States

| Chronological List of District Heating Systems in the United States |

District Heating in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania


The Philipsburg Electric Light and Power Company was incorporated on September 4, 1882 and was reincorporated on August 19, 1883 as the Philipsburg Electric Light, Gas, Power and Heating Company.  They built a steam heating system that was serving 24 customers by the end of 1883. 

The company was sold to the Centre & Clearfield Railway Company in 1904 that dismantled the electric plant in favor of their own, larger facility. Charles H. Rowland (later a member of Congress) bought the steam system and renamed it as the New Steam Company.  He improved the plant and converted it to use exhaust steam.  The New Steam Company and the railway company were acquired by the Philipsburg & Susquehanna Valley Railroad in 1909, and this firm in turn was bought by the new Penn Public Service Company in 1912, which became part of the Pennsylvania Electric Company.

The system had 183 customers when the decision was made to shut it down.  Service was ended in 1957. 


References
1884 District steam supply : heating buildings by steam, from a central source, by James Herbert Bartlett | also here | reprinted in Scientific American Supplement  487:7772-7774 (May 2, 1885) | Tables |
Phillipsburg is included in the tables.

1909 Illustrated souvenir history of Philipsburg, Pennsylvania
1904 On July 16th, 1904, the Philipsburg Electric Light, Heat & Power Company, owned by J. Edward Horn, E. H. Ellsworth, and W. S. Montgomery, conveyed their plant which stood at the corner of Pine and Railroad streets, to the Centre & Clearfield Railway Company, and the same was dismantled and converted into a warehouse, the machinery of the old concern put up for sale, and only such things as could be used by the Trolley Company were taken to the fine power house, whence thereafter light was to be furnished by an all-day service in greater abundance to a larger and increasing list of consumers.
1904 On December 5th Charles H. Rowland purchased the New Steam Company, and began at once to improve same by the erection of a large addition to his plant, entailing considerable outlay.
1905 On June 1st, the new Steam Company erected a large stack, and made other changes, involving considerable expense, and giving work to many people.
1909 The completion of the installation of the exhaust system of Steam Heating commenced last year by Mr. C. H. Rowland, the owner of the plant, is a splendid example of individual .enterprise which makes much for a community. The employment of labor on this improvement during the dull days of the coal trade and of the general depression was of immense benefit to the town.
It can be truthfully said that no town in the country has a better or more perfect plant for Steam Heating than Philipsburg.

1909 "Recent Incorporations," Electrical World, November 11, 1909, Page 1207-1209.
Philipsburg & Susquehanna Valley Railroad, Philipsburg, Pa.- Incorporated to take over the properties of the Philipsburg Railroad, the Center & Clearfield Street Railway, the New Steam Company and the Philipsburg Electric Light, Gas, Power & Heating Company. A bond issue of $2,000,000 has been authorized. In corpora tors: Thomas F. Barrett, New York, N. Y., president; Howard M. Van Court, Philadelphia, treasurer; Char1es H. Rowland, Philipsburg, assistant an d first vice-president; George W. Zeigler, secretary; W. W. Cole, second vice-president and electrical engineer, and J. 0. Reed , general manager.

1956 "Final Arguments in Philipsburg Steam Case are Presented," The Progress, March 28, 1956, Page 1 | Part 2 |
Abandonment would affect 183 customers, including 54 commercial customers and seven churches.

1957 "Philipsburg Steam Heating Services to be Discontinued," Tyrone Daily Herald, March 8, 1957, Page 1.


© 2024 Morris A. Pierce