Historic Mills of Connecticut

Use (Historic)

• Other: Power generation

Largest Documented Workforce

n/a

Historic Narrative

Hartford Electric Light installed the world's first turbine that ran on mercury vapor, instead of steam, at the nearby Dutch Point Power Plant (demolished) in 1923, and in 1928 installed a similar unit at South Meadow. Despite the high cost of mercury and the lethal danger from mercury fumes, the equipment operated successfully until 1947. The plant now contains two General Electric steam turbines from 1942 and 1949 and two 1960 boilers. Also here is an 1883 Armington-Sims 50-horsepower steam engine that was originally used at the Hartford Electric Light Pearl St. Station. South Meadow has not operated since the mid-1960s. (Roth)

Number of Existing Buildings

n/a

Dates of Construction

c.1917, c.1949

Architect

n/a

Builder

n/a

Building Type

n/a

Architectural Description

Hartford Electric Light Co. began construction of South Meadow Power Plant in 1917; the flat-roofed brick structure gained several additions before reaching its present dimensions of 435' x 165' in 1949. (Roth)

Exterior Material(s)

• Brick

Structural System(s)

n/a

Roof Form

• Flat

Roof Material

n/a

Power Source

n/a

Condition

n/a

Condition Notes

n/a

Specific Location

along west bank of Connecticut River south of Charter Oak Bridge

Adjacent To

n/a

Exterior Visible from Public Road?

Yes

Parcel ID / Assessor Record Link

n/a

Acreage

n/a

Use (Present)

n/a

Form Completed By

n/a

Date

n/a

Bibliography

1. Roth, Matthew, et al, Connecticut: An Inventory of Historic Engineering and Industrial Sites (Washington DC: SIA, 1981).