The power house at the Generating Station was designed by E.J. Lennox in 1906. This power plant has an outlet tunnel which is 33 feet (10m) in diameter and 2,000 feet (610m) long. It was the largest of its kind in the world at that time. The station operated eleven turbines producing 11,000 horsepower each. Total power output was equal to 98,000 kilowatts. Upgrades improved horsepower of each generator to 12,500 with a total output of 137,000 horsepower. The power station was retired from service December 31st 1973.

 

There were plans to turn the historic generating station into a tourist attraction in 1997. A 2005 press released announced a transfer of ownership of the building, with guarantees of structural stabilization and certain environmental remediation work, in order to consider tourism development alternatives. Work began on the site in late spring 2006, in conjunction with the construction of a new hydro tunnel.

 

 

 

12-30-05