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