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Summary
Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse
100 South Blount Street, Madison, Dane County
Architects: Claude & Starck (1902), Mead and Seastone (1915)
Dates of construction: 1902-1915
The historic portion of the Madison Gas and Electric Company, the boiler and generator house, was completed in 1902 and remodeled in 1915. Its architects chose Neoclassical designs for both portions, which symbolized the power of early twentieth century institutions and helped to market an image of this private utility as a "public" servant. The cornice displays raised metal letters reading "MG&E, Madison Gas & Electric Company, Blount Station." The 1915 remodeling remained true to the aesthetics of the 1902 design, but enlarged the building so that it could hold two steam-powered electric generators. The rest of the power company complex, built later, is utilitarian in appearance.
The rapid growth of MG & E mirrors the expansion of the city of Madison itself. However, rather than wait for natural population growth to increase demand, the Madison Gas and Electric Company pursued new customers through innovative means such as cooking classes where housewives were taught using gas appliances. MG&E also sold gas appliances on an installation payment plan of $13.00 a month, which they advertised in newspapers. These initiatives were so successful that by 1902, more than half the homes in Madison were equipped with gas appliances.
Corruption within the Madison Gas and Electric Company was discovered between 1906 and 1912. Auditors discovered their natural gas contained 20% non-light or heat-giving nitrogen. They also found the cost to citizens bore no relationship to production cost, but merely reflected what the market could bear. Despite these setbacks, the company profited enough to fund the 1915 remodeling at a cost of $150,000. In the 1920s, the company began to emphasize electric appliances over gas.
The building is privately owned. Please respect the rights of its owners.
Property Details
| Criteria | Event |
|---|---|
| Area Of Significance | Industry |
| Period of Significance | 1902-1952 |
| Architectural Style | Classical Revival |
| Architect | Claude and Starck,Mead and Seastone |
| Resource Type | Building |
| Historic Use | Energy Facility |
Resources Within The Property
| Contributing Buildings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Contributing Structures | 2 |
| Contributing Objects | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Buildings | 2 |
| Non-Contributing Sites | 0 |
| Non-Contributing Structures | 1 |
| Non-Contributing Objects | 0 |
Designations
| Historic Status | Listed in the State Register |
|---|---|
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Jul 19, 2002 |
| Historic Status | Listed in the National Register |
| National Historic Landmark Listing Date | Dec 6, 2002 |
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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100 S BLOUNT ST (717 E MAIN ST)
106078
Located in Madison, Dane County
651 West Doty Street
03000580
Located in Madison, Dane County
Woman and Child with Electric Washer
1931
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