Cape Elizabeth in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
Central Powerhouse
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021
1. Central Powerhouse Marker
Inscription.
Central Powerhouse. . This building was completed in 1905 as the central powerhouse for Fort Williams by the Quartermaster Corps. The structure was built of reinforced concrete and sited in this sheltered spot to protect it from the fire of hostile vessels. Inside, coal-fired boilers produced steam to turn generators to meet the electrical needs of the fort. Later, electricity was purchased from the local public utility and the powerhouse was maintained as an emergency power plant. The equipment was maintained and periodically tested so that this plant would immediately be able to provide electricity for the fort. The small brick building adjacent to the powerhouse was built to house electrical transformers, each of the large gun batteries had its own small power plant to provide electricity during battle action.
This building was completed in 1905 as the central powerhouse for Fort Williams by the Quartermaster Corps. The structure was built of reinforced concrete and sited in this sheltered spot to protect it from the fire of hostile vessels. Inside, coal-fired boilers produced steam to turn generators to meet the electrical needs of the fort. Later, electricity was purchased from the local public utility and the powerhouse was maintained as an emergency power plant. The equipment was maintained and periodically tested so that this plant would immediately be able to provide electricity for the fort. The small brick building adjacent to the powerhouse was built to house electrical transformers, each of the large gun batteries had its own small power plant to provide electricity during battle action.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.
Location. 43° 37.457′ N, 70° 12.903′ W. Marker is in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, in Cumberland County. It can be reached from the intersection of Shore Road and Littlejohn Road, on the right when traveling north.
Regionally, this marker is on Southern Maine Coast. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 11, 2021
3. Central Powerhouse Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 628 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on November 18, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2. submitted on June 9, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on November 18, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
