Arlington Gaslight Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Arlington Gaslight Company
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Arlington Gaslight Company
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 51 Grove St., Arlington, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1914 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Arlington MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001021 |
| Added to NRHP | April 18, 1985 |
The Arlington Gaslight Company building is an old industrial site in Arlington, Massachusetts. It was built in 1914 for a local company that made fuel. This group of three buildings is one of the few large industrial buildings left in town. Today, the town's public works department uses these buildings. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it is an important historical place.
About the Gaslight Company Site
The former Arlington Gaslight Company property covers about 4.5 acres. It is located on the east side of Grove Street in central Arlington. A bike path, called the Minuteman Bikeway, runs along its northern edge. This path used to be a railroad track.
The Buildings
The biggest building on the property is a power station. It is a great example of Romanesque Revival architecture. This style uses rounded arches and strong brickwork. You can see special brick decorations on its roof edges.
Two smaller brick buildings stand closer to Grove Street. One of these was the gas company's main office. The other building was used to store gas meters.
A Look Back in Time
Before the gas company, this site was home to the Welch and Griffith saw factory. This factory was the first of its kind in the United States. Sadly, the factory burned down in 1913.
The current buildings were constructed in 1914. They were built for the Arlington Gas Company. This company made fuel for homes in the area.
The gas company site once had a very large storage tank. On top of this tank, the word "ARLINGTON" was painted. There was also an arrow pointing north. This sign was one of the first known aids for airplanes to find their way. It helped pilots know where they were flying. This important landmark was taken down in 1975.
Today, the complex is used by the town's public works department. They help keep the town running smoothly.
