Oneida Street Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Oneida Street Station
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Oneida Street Station
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 108 E. Wells St. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1900 |
| Architect | Herman Esser |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000701 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1984 |
The Oneida Street Station, also known as the East Wells Power Plant, was a very important building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a power plant that made electricity for streetcars and homes. Built between 1898 and 1900, it was designed by architect Herman Esser. The building has a neoclassical revival style, which means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings.
This power plant was located in downtown Milwaukee, right by the Milwaukee River. It was built by a company called The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company. This company started running electric streetcars in 1890. As their network of streetcar and interurban railway lines grew, they needed more power. The Oneida Street Station helped provide that power.
The plant was special because it was the first central power station in the United States to successfully use a new way of burning coal called "pulverized coal." This new method made electricity production much more efficient.
Building the Power Plant
The Oneida Street Station complex grew over many years. The oldest part of the complex is a machine shop and boiler room #2. This part was built in 1890 for another company, the Edison Illuminating Company.
In 1896, the Edison company and its building joined with The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company. Then, in 1900, TMER&L built the main Oneida Street Plant right next to the older Edison building.
More sections were added later to make even more power. Boiler room #3 was built north of the Edison building in 1923 and 1925. Boiler room #4 was added in 1938.
Pioneering Coal Experiments
From 1918 to 1920, the Oneida Street Station became a place for important experiments. Engineers at the plant tried out a new way to burn coal. They wanted to see if using "pulverized coal" could save fuel and lower the cost of making electricity.
Pulverized coal means the coal is ground into a fine powder, almost like flour. This makes it burn more completely and efficiently. At first, many engineers thought this idea was too risky. But the experiments at Oneida Street Station proved them wrong. Pulverized coal was much better at making power than the old way of burning coal.
The engineers also developed a "water screen" to help manage the ash left over from burning the coal. This invention stopped the ash from melting and sticking to the boiler floor. Because of these successful experiments, power plants all over the country started using pulverized coal.
In 1980, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers recognized the Oneida Street Station as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. This honor shows how important the plant's work was for engineering and power production.
From Power Plant to Theater
The Oneida Street Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
However, the power plant stopped making electricity in 1987. The building was then renovated and given a new purpose. Today, the old Oneida Street Station is home to the Patty and Jay Baker Theater Complex and the Milwaukee Repertory Theater. It's now a place where people can enjoy plays and performances.
