Devil's Gate-Weber Hydroelectric Power Plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Devil's Gate-Weber Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District
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 Location in Utah
Location in the United States
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| Location | I‑84 East of junction with US‑89, power plant in Weber County; dam in Morgan County, Utah United States |
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| Area | 3.3 acres (1.3 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements |
| MPS | Electric Power Plants of Utah MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000276 |
| Added to NRHP | April 20, 1989 |
The Devil's Gate-Weber Hydroelectric Power Plant was built between 1909 and 1910. It is located on the Weber River in northeastern Utah, United States. This plant is about 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Ogden. It was built by the Utah Light and Railway Company. This company was led by E. H. Harriman, a director of the Union Pacific Railroad. This power plant was one of the first in Utah designed to send electricity to a large area, not just one place.
Contents
How the Power Plant Was Built
Work on the power plant began in the early 1900s. An engineer named C.K. Bannister started building an intake structure in Weber Canyon. His plan for a hydroelectric station was not liked by the Union Pacific Railroad. Their train tracks ran through the same canyon.
Changes in Ownership
Bannister passed away shortly after. His business partners then sold the property rights. The Utah Light and Railway Company bought them. Work continued on a large pipe called a penstock. This pipe would feed water to the power plant.
Later, E.H. Harriman bought 60% of the Utah Light and Railway Company. With Harriman in charge, the Union Pacific Railroad stopped opposing the plant. They only asked for a strong wall to protect their train tracks.
Building the Powerhouse
The main powerhouse was built in 1909 and 1910. Three homes for the plant operators were also built. Harriman died in 1914. The company then became the Utah Light and Traction Company. This local company leased the station to the Utah Power and Light Company.
Upgrades and Changes
The dam was rebuilt in 1916 and 1917. This made it better able to handle floods. Another operator's house was built in 1922. More utility buildings were added in the years that followed.
The plant was upgraded in 1948. Its power output increased from 2.5 MW to 3.5 MW. In the 1960s, machines took over some jobs. This meant fewer staff were needed. Two of the operator homes were torn down. The remaining two were damaged by a flood in 1982. A fire in 1983 led to more repairs and changes at the powerhouse.
What the Power Plant Looks Like
Water for the power plant comes from a low dam. This dam is about 1.75 miles (2.8 km) upstream. Two special gates, called tainter gates, control water overflow. These gates are between concrete walls.
The Dam and Water Flow
A 3-foot (0.9 m) wide fish ladder helps fish swim up the north side of the dam. On the south side, a large gate called a sluice gate can drain the small reservoir. The intake structure takes water into the plant. It is housed in a small wooden building. A watchman's house is nearby.
The main pipe, or conduit, is 74 inches (1.9 m) wide. It starts as a concrete pipe for 125 feet (38 m). Then it changes to a steel pipe. This new pipe replaced older concrete and wood pipes in 1949. The conduit is mostly buried underground. It crosses the river on a 99-foot (30 m) steel bridge. This bridge was made by the American Bridge Company. The water drops about 120 to 140 feet (37 to 43 m) to reach the plant.
The Powerhouse Building
The powerhouse is a rectangular building made of brick. It has a concrete roof shaped like a gable. The roof is held up by steel trusses. The front and back walls have five sections. The side walls have three sections. Old window openings have been filled with bricks. The building sits on a concrete base. This base also includes the water outflow system.
Inside the main room, there is a Pelton wheel turbine. This turbine spins a 2300-volt generator made by Western Electric. There is also a smaller generator. The main generator was updated in the 1940s. A large 20-ton crane helps move heavy equipment in the turbine room. Other rooms hold batteries, a workshop, and old electrical switches.
Other Buildings and Recognition
The operator's camp once had four houses. Two houses still remain today. One is a brick house, and the other is a wooden cottage built in 1922. Both houses still have their gardens and outdoor fireplaces. There are also several smaller buildings on the property.
The Devil's Gate-Weber Power Plant and its buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 20, 1989. This means they are important historical sites. You can see the plant from Interstate 84 in Weber Canyon. It sits between the highway lanes.
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