Glencoe Village near Burlington in Alamance County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Power, Wheel House and Turbine
Glencoe
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, May 22, 2010
1. Glencoe - Power, Wheel House and Turbine Marker
Inscription.
Power, Wheel House and Turbine. Glencoe. To power the turbine that ran the mill, the water that ran through the mill race flowed into the wheelhouse at the back of the mill. It dropped down through the 48-inch, 152-horsepower turbine located below ground level. A metal shaft connected the turbine with a big pulley on the first floor of the mill. That pulley turned the overhead belts and smaller pulleys that powered machinery in the Picker House. Sometimes, eels from the river clogged the turbine, shutting down the mill until workers cleared them out. , In 1894, the Holts installed a smaller turbine to generate electric power and made Glencoe one of the first mills in the county with electric lights. In 1903 they installed a steam engine to power the Dye House, Finishing Room, and Napper Room. In the 1930s, they converted to electric machinery, using water power to generate the electricity.
To power the turbine that ran the mill, the water that ran through the mill race flowed into the wheelhouse at the back of the mill. It dropped down through the 48-inch, 152-horsepower turbine located below ground level. A metal shaft connected the turbine with a big pulley on the first floor of the mill. That pulley turned the overhead belts and smaller pulleys that powered machinery in the Picker House. Sometimes, eels from the river clogged the turbine, shutting down the mill until workers cleared them out.
In 1894, the Holts installed a smaller turbine to generate electric power and made Glencoe one of the first mills in the county with electric lights. In 1903 they installed a steam engine to power the Dye House, Finishing Room, and Napper Room. In the 1930s, they converted to electric machinery, using water power to generate the electricity.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1894.
Location. 36° 8.341′ N, 79° 25.685′ W. Marker is near Burlington, North Carolina, in Alamance County. It is in Glencoe Village. Marker is on Glencoe Street, on the left when traveling west. Glencoe Village is 3 miles north of Burlington, NC from NC Highway 62. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2406 Glencoe St, Burlington NC 27217, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Glencoe - Power, Wheel House and Turbine Marker
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, June 27, 2010
3. Glencoe - Power, Wheel House and Turbine Marker
Photographed By Patrick G. Jordan, June 27, 2010
4. A Large Gear From Glencoe Mill
Credits. This page was last revised on May 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 777 times since then and 11 times this year. Last updated on May 9, 2023, by Michael Buckner of Durham, North Carolina. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 29, 2010, by Patrick G. Jordan of Graham, North Carolina. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
