Salida in Chaffee County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Salida Steam Plant
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2009
1. The Salida Steam Plant Marker
Electricity was introduced in Salida in 1887 when a group of local townsfolk created The Electric Illuminating Company. In 1892 the then-named Salida Light and Power Company built a 1000-kilowatt steam generating plant at this location on the banks of the Arkansas River. The east half of the building housed the generators or dynamos, the west section contained boilers, furnaces and coal storage. The enclosed yard on the west side once held the transformers for the power plant.Salida Light and Power Company joined with Public Service Co. of Colorado in 1924 and successfully operated the Salida Steam Plant until 1958. By then, cheaper power had become available through the nearby Poncha substation and the Stean Plant was shut down. The building was abandoned and for thirty years it served only as a home of flocks of pigeons. In the late 1980s a visionary group of local townfolk [sic] again banded together to purchase and save the building. Years of hard work and dedication have resulted in the transformation of this historic structure into the pide of the Arkansas Riverwalk.
Erected 2006 by
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2009
2. The Salida Steam Plant Marker
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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.
Location. 38° 32.262′ N, 105° 59.501′ W. Marker is in Salida, Colorado, in Chaffee County. Marker is on West Sackett Avenue near G Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 220 West Sacket Avenue, Salida CO 81201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Chaffee County Honor Roll Board (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Jackson Hotel (approx. 4.9 miles away); Finding Our Roots / New Faces Along the River / Pike Explores the Valley (approx. 6.3 miles away); Christmas 1806 (approx. 6.3 miles away); Lt. Zebulon Pike's Southwestern Expedition (approx. 7.1 miles away); Peaks to Pastures (approx. 13.2 miles away); Valley Ranching (approx. 13.2 miles away); Whose Water Is It? (approx. 13.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salida.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 18, 2009
3. The Salida Steam Plant
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,045 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on February 9, 2012, by Michael Kindig of Long Beach, California. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 20, 2012, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.
