The Story of Boston’s L Street Power Station 1898-2006
Power & Energy Society
Speaker: Gilmore Cooke, PE, IEEE Boston Executive Committee and Historian
Time: Refreshments start at 6:00pm; Talk begins at 6:30pm
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology Beatty 426 (Building: Beatty Hall) 550 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (Free Parking at West Parking Lot)
Abstract:
This presentation will illustrate the history of the power plant beginning in the late 1890s, including images of the original construction taken from the late 1890s through the 1900’s. The talk will feature early vertical turbines by manufactured GE, vintage switchboards, and interior and exterior images preserved at the Harvard’s Baker Library. Why is the history of this station so important? Throughout its long history, the L Street Power Station has used and often pioneered the use of the newest and best technologies and it is where many electric power related accomplishments were made, finding application to this day. Today, this 100 ++ year old power plant in the South Boston district is being repurposed for commercial/residential use.
Biography:
Gilmore Cooke received the Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from McGill University Montreal in 1962. He has spent most of his career working on large engineering and construction projects in California, the mid-west and Massachusetts. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts, California, Rhodes Island and other states. Mr. Cooke is an active member of the IEEE Boston Section. He served as chairman and director of the IEEE Detroit Chapter and has been active with technical programs in Boston during the 80’s. He was appointed chairman of the Industry Application Society’s History Committee. He served on the 2004 committee of the IEEE Center of History. He’s written numerous papers and articles for the IEEE and the SIA – Society for Industrial Archeology, both at the regional and national levels. He was appointed chair of Boston’s History and Milestones Committee, responsible for investigating and proposing IEEE milestones for the Boston Section. Historically, his interests include the evolution electricity in New England, central power stations, large electrification projects, and Fred Stark Pearson.
Gil has authored “The Story of L Street Generating Station: 1898 to 2006”; and a comprehensive biography of Fred Stark Pearson
Free and Open to the Public; RSVP is appreciated Visit the IEEE PES Boston Chapter website for further details – https://site.ieee.org/boston-pes/
For any questions regarding this presentation or any IEEE PES Boston Technical Meetings, please contact
Risa Karanxha (risa.karanxha@nationalgrid.com