Marquette in Madison in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Madison Gas & Electric Company Powerhouse

Claude & Starck; Mead & Seastone, Architects

— 1902; 1915 Addition —

Madison Gas & Electric Company Powerhouse Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, December 1, 2011

1. Madison Gas & Electric Company Powerhouse Marker

Inscription. The Madison Gas & Electric Powerhouse has been in continuous operation providing electrical power since its construction in 1902. The building is significant for its association with the development of Madison's utility industry and as the location of the city's largest gas and electrical utility company, which was principally responsible for the development of the city's electrical distribution framework. The Classical Revival style facade is of brick and displays classical ornament including pilasters with Ionic capitals, and projecting cornice with dentils.

Designated October 15, 2002

Erected 2011 by the Madison Landmarks Commission. (Marker Number 147.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin, Madison Landmarks Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 15, 1789.

Location. 43° 4.711′ N, 89° 22.508′ W. Marker is in Madison, Wisconsin, in Dane County. It is in Marquette. It is at the intersection of South Blount Street and Railroad Street, on the left when traveling south on South Blount Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 South Blount Street, Madison WI 53703, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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walking distance of this marker: Wisconsin Wagon Company Factory (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Johann and Elsbeth Reiner Tree (about 800 feet away); Madison Candy Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Machinery Row (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mattermore - Malaney House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Nelson House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Emily Thompson House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Klose Cottage (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Ceramic Arts Studio of Madison (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding Madison Gas & Electric Company Powerhouse. According to the Madison Landmarks Commission, "The MG&E Powerhouse is a sprawling complex built in several phases from 1902 until 1988. Only the earliest sections, built in 1902 and 1915, exhibit Neo-Classical styling. Later additions are astylistic. The site where the powerhouse stands today was the site of the first gas company in the city, and the second in the state, organized in 1855. The MG&E powerhouse continues to function, in an excellent state of preservation and working condition, into the twenty-first century."

Photographed by William J. Toman, December 1, 2011

2. Madison Gas & Electric Company Powerhouse Marker

The marker is on the front of the building, under the window to the left of the door on the right. The pilasters mentioned in the marker are the columns built into the face of the building, and the Ionic capitals are the curled tops of those columns. The projecting cornice mentioned in the marker are the shelf-like projections above the columns, and the dentils are the small blocks lining the cornice.

Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, February 12, 2011

3. Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse

Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse and Powerplant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, February 15, 2011

4. Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse and Powerplant

This is a view of the building (on the right) from the corner of South Blount Street and East Main Street, showing the MG&E powerplant in the background.

Related Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, February 12, 2011

5. Related Marker

100 S. Blount Street
Madison Wisconsin
This property has been placed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on December 6, 2002.

Photographed by William J. Toman, February 12, 2011

6. Related Marker

The related marker is on the lower left corner of the front of the building. Note the metal sheaths on the corner of the building and the trees to keep squirrels from entering and shorting out the power station.

Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerplant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, February 15, 2011

7. Madison Gas and Electric Company Powerplant

Closeup of the Blount Station sign on the corner of South Blount Street and East Main Street.

Madison Gas and Electric Company Service Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William J. Toman, February 15, 2011

8. Madison Gas and Electric Company Service Building

Ornate factory door of a bygone era on a service building near the powerhouse building.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 13, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,610 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 3, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on February 13, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on February 26, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 5, 6. submitted on February 13, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. 7, 8. submitted on February 26, 2011, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin.