Photo Catalog Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Turning on the power at Beaver Falls hydroelectric plant, October 30, 1954 |
Image # |
2003.2.63.1205 |
Object Name |
Negative, Film |
Date |
1954, October 30 |
Photographer |
Saari, Paulu T. |
Location |
Ketchikan, Alaska |
Description |
Turning on the power at Beaver Falls hydroelectric plant, October 30, 1954 Mayor George H. Beck (left) throws a switch to bring a generator on line for the first time at the new power plant. Henry Erwick, KPU Manager John Weir, Maurice Oaksmith, and plant manager C.I. Patterson observe. Ketchikan Daily News photo caption, 11/1/1954 (photo 2003.2.63.1205) "Mayor George H. Beck (left) is pictured above cutting in the No.2 generator at the Beaver Falls power plant Saturday as part of the dedicated program. The new plant is capable of furnishing 5000 kva for Ketchikan. Watching the cut-in were (left to right) Henery Erwick, one of the first utilities board of control members; John Weir, KPU manager; Maurice Oaksmith, KPU board members; and C. I. Patterson, in charge of the power plant operation." Ketchikan Daily News article, 11/1/1954 "City Marks Completion Of Beaver Fall Work Completion of Ketchikan's three million dollar Beaver Falls power plant was officially recognized Saturday afternoon when Mayor George H. Beck threw the switch which put power from the second generating unit on the transmission lines which brings it to Ketchikan. A large party of KPU and city officials and their guests made the trip to Beaver Falls, 11 miles east of Ketchikan in George inlet, a board the coast guard cutter Kimball, to inspect the power plant and attend the opening ceremonies. In spite of heavy rain, a number of the party hiked about two miles up the mountainside to see the dam at the outlet of lower Silvis lake, which provides storage of over 500 million gallons of water. The rock-filled, concrete-faced dam is approximately 30 feet high and 120 feet long. The elevation of the spillway is 827 feet. Two members of Ketchikan first utilities board of control W. K. Spaulding and Henry Erwick, were present at the opening of the new plant. ELECTED IN 1935 The first board of control was elected when the City of Ketchikan purchased the utilities system from the Foshay interests, in 1935. A number of members of former utilities boards and city councils also visited the latest addition to the city's power system, which is expected to provide adequate power for foreseeable expansion of Ketchikan for the next five years. Hosts to the visitors were Beaver Fails' four operators, headed by C. I. Patterson, chief operator, and including Guy Burch, Charles Kinney and Larry Bird Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Kinney and Mrs. Bird provided coffee, cakes and hors d'ouerves to augment the box lunches brought by the guests. Radio listeners yesterday afternoon heard a broadcast of the Beaver Falls opening ceremony, -which included a preliminary review of the statistics concerning the plant by Mr. Patterson and brief talks by Mayor Beck, J. M Weir, utilities manager, Mr. Erwick, former councilman, Dr. C. M. Carlson, and Maurice Oaksmith. The broadcast was recorded on the spot and rebroadcast by station KABI. At the moment of the recording, 2800 kilowatts ere going - forth from the power house, to the increased to about 6300 at the evening peak load, Patterson said. He also showed the guests a "picture of a cycle" by means of an electronic test device which shows a double-curve streak of green made on a viewer some-what like a radar screen, and detects whether the current cycles are property timed. The power house operators are housed in comfortable cottages grouped around the power house, connected with wooden walks on piling, and with an airplane landing float and small boat moorage in the "front yard." A few hundred feet away and connected by roadway is a dock used for larger boats and for landing of heavy equipment. Idle now but to be maintained as standby units are the two 50-year-old generating units of the original Beaver Falls power plant - completed in 1947, the two generators, rated at 1250 kva, were purchased from the city of Seattle and originally a were in its Cedar Falls power plant. MODERN PLANT The new portion of the plant, designed by William D. Shannon and Associates and constructed by Manson Construction and Engineering company and Osbert Construction company, was completed last month. Preliminary for surveys and engineering work was started in the summer of 1950, and the contract for construction signed by Mayor Beck on May 7, 1953. Included in the equipment are two 3600 -hp., single jet horizontal impulse turbines, 360 rpm., supplied by S. Morgan Smith company, York Pa.; two 2500 kva, 8 p.f., 360 rpm., 2400-volt, the 3-phase, 60 cycle generators, supplied by General Electric company, two 2500 kva., 60-cycle, 3-phase, 34,500-2400 volt transformers, manufactured by the Allis-Chalmers MIg. Co., switch gear for the two generators, from General Electric, and an oil circuit-breaker, 600 amp, 34,500 volts, supplied by Pacific Electric Mfg. Company." |
Provenance |
Donated to the Museum by the Photographer |
Film Size |
4" x 5" |
People |
Saari, Paulu Toivo Brink, George Beck, George H. Oaksmith, Maurice Weir, John Patterson, C. I. Erwick, Henry |
Search Terms |
Ketchikan Daily News Newspaper Business Construction KPU Power Plant Electric Beaver Falls George Inlet Silvis Lake Utilities Upper Silvis Lake Lower Silvis Lake |
Credit line |
Ketchikan Museums: Paulu T. Saari Collection, KM 2003.2.63.1205 |