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The Early Electrification of Anchorage

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The Early Electrification of Anchorage The Early Electrification of Anchorage July 2002 CEMML TPS 02-8 The Early Electrification of Anchorage 1 The Early Electrification of 2 Anchorage The Early Electrification of Anchorage Anchorage Kristy Hollinger Edited by: Glenda R. Lesondak Prepared by: Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands Colorado State University Ft. Collins, CO 80523-1500 Russell H. Sackett Natural Resources Branch U.S. Army Alaska Fort Richardson, AK 99505-6500 July 2002 CEMML TPS 02-8 The Early Electrification of Anchorage 3 The Early Electrification of 4 Anchorage table of contents CHAPTERS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Acknowledgements.................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................3 3.0 ANCHORAGE AND EARLY ELECTRICITY .................................................................................... 5 3.1 Anchorage Power ...................................................................................................................... 1 4.0 ENVIRONMENT .................................................................................................................................. 9 5.0 HYDROELECTRIC POWER ............................................................................................................. 11 5.1 Technology ................................................................................................................................11 5.2 Hydroelectric Power in Alaska .................................................................................................12 6.0 EKLUTNA POWER PROJECT .........................................................................................................15 6.1 Project Development 1920 1928.............................................................................................15 6.2 Land Rights...............................................................................................................................21 6.3 Building of Transmission Line ...................................................................................................23 6.4 Transportation and Construction Crews ...................................................................................25 6.5 Project Components..................................................................................................................26 6.5.1 Tunnel ..............................................................................................................................26 6.5.2 Diversion Dam ................................................................................................................27 6.5.3 Storage Dam ...................................................................................................................28 6.5.4 Penstock ..........................................................................................................................29 6.5.5 Powerhouse.....................................................................................................................30 6.5.6 Anchorage Substation......................................................................................................31 7.0 OPERATIONS ......................................................................................................................................33 8.0 ANCHORAGE AND THE EKLUTNA POWER PLANT .................................................................41 9.0 EKLUTNA POWER PLANT IS SOLD TO THE CITY ...................................................................43 9.1 Life at the Power Plant: 19431955 .........................................................................................44 10.0 ANCHORAGE POWER NEEDS GROW .........................................................................................49 11.0 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ..........................................................................51 11.1 Physical Remains ....................................................................................................................51 11.2 Eligibility ..................................................................................................................................53 11.3 Areas for Further Study ..........................................................................................................54 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................55 The Early Electrification of Anchorage i5 LIST OF FIGURES Cover Photograph: Old Eklutna Power Plant. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. Figure 1. Frank M. Reed Sr. sitting next to Eklutna powerhouse plaque. Photo by Kristy Hollinger, 3 July, 2001. ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Figure 2. Close-up of Eklutna powerhouse plaque. Photo by Kristy Hollinger, 3 July 2001. ....................... 2 Figure 3. AEC powerhouse. Courtesy of Anchorage Museum of History and Art, BL70-2-3411. .............. 6 Figure 4. Eklutna Valley and Lake. Courtesy of Anchorage Museum History & Art, WWS 0107-R03. .... 9 Figure 5. Portrait of Frank I. Reed. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. .................................16 Figure 6. Example of standard pole. Reproduced from "AL&P Tranmission Line Details," National Archives, Pacific Alaska Region, APA Historical Files and Photos Collection, 1948 1998, Box 42. ...........................................................................................................................................23 Figure 7. Frank I. Reed standing at a pole on completed transmission lineDecember, 1928. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. .......................................................................................23 Figure 8. Photo by K. Hollinger 4 Sept. 2001. .............................................................................................24 Figure 9. Example of number plate on pole. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr.Insulator. ......24 Figure 10. View of construction camp at powerhouse site: tents center left. From personal Collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. ......................................................................................................................25 Figure 11. Diversion dam in canyon on Eklutna River. Courtesy of National Archives, Alaska Region, APA. Box 42. .................................................................................................................................27 Figure 12. Upstream face of diversion dam under construction. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. ..........................................................................................................................................27 Figure 13. Catwalk installed on diversion dam in 1933 at request of FPC. Courtesy of National Archives, AK Region, APA Box 42................................................................................................................28 Figure 14. Eklutna Lake spillway discharging 1,500 cubic feet of water per second. July 7, 1929. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. .......................................................................................29 Figure 15. Penstock construction in background, behind powerhouse. RR spur in foreground removed after construction finished. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. ..................................29 Figure 16. AL&P powerhouse as it appears with lean-to added in 1935and the relocated trasformers to left. Courtesy of National Archives, AK Region, APA Box 42. .................................................30 Figure 17. Pelton Wheel, interior of powerhouse. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. ............30 Figure 18. Trasformer station adjacent to Eklutna power plant. Courtesy of National Archives, AK Region, APA Box 42................................................................................................................31 Figure 19. Tailrace extending from rear of powerhouse. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. ..........................................................................................................................................31 Figure 20. Anchorage substation, 1929. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr. ...........................31 Figure 21. Powerhouse drawing, reproduced from National Archives, AK Region, APA, Box 42.............32 Figure 22: Anchorage Daily Times add, 14 September 1929. ......................................................................36 Figure 23. Original AL&P office on 4th and E. Office moved to Masonic Building in 1932 or 33'. From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr...............................................................................37 Figure 24: General view of Eklutna Dam, Weir, Headgates & Breakwater. Courtesy of National Archives, Pacific AK Region, APA Historical Files and Photos Collection, Box 42. .....................38 Figure 25. Frank M. and Maxine Reed getting ready to move into their cottage at Eklutna, 1937, From personal collection of Frank M. Reed Sr...............................................................................39
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