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What does the Southern Power Company have
to do with Pelzer, SC?
The Southern Power Company (S.P.Co.),
organized in 1905, electrified the Piedmont Carolinas by hydroelectric power. Pelzer's early
hydroelectric power became an outstanding example to the Southern Power Company
and others alike. The S.P.Co. created the worlds first broad power grid and is still
around today as Duke Energy
(formerly the Duke Power Company).
Surviving Southern Power
Company Transformer Houses
Six original Southern Power
Company transformer houses remain today. Five of the Six known to still exist
are endangered and in poor condition.
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Spartanburg, SC - Saxon Mills
An abandoned brick transformer house
and outdoor substation sit abandoned behind Saxon Mill in Spartanburg,
SC. The transformer house looks to be built in the 1920s and is in very
bad condition. An abandoned late 1910s to 1920s 'ladder' tower line
starts from this sub and ends in Woodruff, SC. |
Spartanburg, SC
- Spartan Mills
Behind the
Breaker's Gas Station on Howard St. is an old 20s-30s transformer house
with outdoor substation. I am unsure what power company built this
substation but it is now abandoned and will most likely see the wrecking
ball.
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Gaffney, SC
This transformer
house and outdoor substation on the corner of Carlisle and Cherokee once
had connections with the Gaston Shoals Power Plant and 99 Islands Power
Plant. Today the building is privately owned and used for storage. |
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Mt. Holly, NC
Next to an old
cotton mill on Woodlawn Ave. is an original Southern Power company
transformer house built around 1907. The building is now storage and is
hollow. |
Dallas, NC
Next to an old
cotton mill off E Main St. is an altered Southern Power Company
transformer house similar to the one in Mt. Holly. This building has
been painted white and is attached as an extension to the mill. |
Davidson, NC -
Davidson Cotton Mills
An Original
Southern Power Company transformer house built in 1907 has been
recognized by the Davidson Historical Society and is now a landmark.
This square brick building is the last of its style still standing and
in no danger of demolition. |
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Hydroelectric
Power Plants of South Carolina |
|
Complete list of South Carolina
hydroelectric power plants 1893-1913 |
|
Power plants with an 'S' after the name are related
to the Southern Power Company (Includes S.P.Co. steam power plants). The
Date of Completion is the first year of service. |
|
Name of Power Plant |
Date of Completion |
Location |
River or Waterway |
Still in Operation? |
| Columbia Mills Dam |
1893 |
Columbia, SC |
Columbia Canal, Congaree River |
Yes, SCE&G |
| High Shoals |
1895 |
6 Miles East of Anderson, SC |
Rocky River |
No |
| Pelzer Lower Dam |
1895 |
2.5 Miles South of Pelzer, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes,
ENEL North America |
| Portman Shoals |
1897 |
10 Miles West of Anderson, SC |
Savannah River (Lake Hartwell) |
No |
| Woodside II |
-1901 |
Cateechee, SC |
Six-Mile River |
No |
| Berry Shoals |
1903 |
2.5 Miles South of Startex, SC (Tucapau) |
South Tyger River |
No |
| Catawba (S) |
1904 |
Indian Hook, SC |
Catawba River (Wylie Dam) |
No |
| Holiday Shoals |
1905 |
6.5 Miles East of Belton, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Neal Shoals |
1905 |
10 Miles East of Union, SC |
Broad River |
Yes, SCE&G |
| Apalache Mill Dam |
-1906 |
Apalache, SC (Arlington) |
South Tyger River |
|
| Ware Shoals |
1906 |
Ware Shoals, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes,
ENEL North America |
| Great Falls (S) |
1906 |
Great Falls, SC |
Catawba River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Gregg Shoals |
1906 |
5 Miles West of Lowndesville, SC |
Savannah River (Lake Russell) |
No |
| Saluda Dam |
1907 |
5 Miles West of Greenville, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes,
Northbrook Energy, LLC |
| Gaston Shoals |
1908 |
3 Miles Northwest of Blacksburg, SC |
Broad River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Van Patton Shoals |
1908 |
Van Patton Shoals, SC |
Enoree River |
No |
| Rocky Creek (S) |
1908 |
Great Falls, SC |
Rocky Creek |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Ninety-Nine Islands (S) |
1909 |
6 Miles South of Blacksburg, SC |
Broad River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Boyd's Millpond |
1909 |
11 Miles Southwest of Laurens, SC |
Reedy River |
Yes,
Northbrook Energy, LLC |
| Fork Shoals |
1910 |
Fork Shoals, SC |
Reedy River |
No |
| Greenville Steam Station (S) |
1911 |
Greenville, SC |
Reedy River |
No |
| Tumblin' Shoals |
1912 |
12 Miles West of Laurens, SC |
Reedy River |
No |
| Coneross |
1912 |
3.5 Miles South of Seneca, SC |
Coneross Creek |
Yes,
ENEL North America |
| Lockhart |
1912 |
Lockhart, SC |
Broad River |
Yes, Lockhart
Power Company |
| Stevens Creek |
1913 |
8 Miles North of Augusta, GA |
Savannah River |
Yes, SCE&G |
| Parr Shoals |
1913 |
Parr Shoals, SC |
Broad River |
Yes, SCE&G |
| Tallulah Falls (S) |
1913 |
Tallulah Falls, GA |
Tallulah River |
Yes, Georgia
Power |
| Piedmont |
|
Piedmont, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes,
ENEL North America |
|
Complete list of South Carolina
hydroelectric plants post-1913 |
|
This list is not yet completed. Power plants with an 'S' after the name are related
to the Southern Power Company. The Date of Completion is the first year
of service. |
|
Name of Power Plant |
Date of Completion |
Location |
River or Waterway |
Still in Operation? |
| Fishing Creek (S) |
1916 |
Great Falls, SC |
Catawba River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Wateree (S) |
1919 |
8 Miles Northwest of Camden, SC |
Wateree River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Pelzer Upper Dam |
1920 |
Pelzer, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes,
ENEL North America |
| Dearborn (S) |
1923 |
Great Falls, SC |
Catawba River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Wylie (S) |
1925 |
Indian Hook, SC (Replaced Catawba) |
Catawba River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Cedar Creek |
1926 |
Great Falls, SC |
Catawba River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Dreher Shoals (Saluda) |
1930 |
5 Miles North of Lexington, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes |
| Buzzard's Roast |
1940 |
2 Miles Southwest of Chappells, SC |
Saluda River |
Yes |
| J. Strom Thurmond |
1954 |
Clarks Hill, SC |
Savannah River |
Yes |
| Hartwell |
1962 |
6 Miles East of Hartwell, GA |
Savannah River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Keowee |
1973 |
4 Miles West of Six Mile, SC |
Savannah River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Jocassee |
1973 |
6 Miles Northeast of Salem, SC |
Savannah River |
Yes, Duke Energy |
| Richard B. Russell |
1985 |
5 Miles South of Calhoun Falls, SC |
Savannah River |
Yes |
| Bad Creek |
1991 |
8 Miles North of Salem, SC |
Bad Creek |
Yes, Duke Energy |
|
Southern Power Company Hydroelectric
& Steam Power Plants of North Carolina 1915-1923 |
|
The Date of Completion is the first year of
service. |
|
Name of Power Plant |
Date of Completion |
Location |
River or Waterway |
Still in Operation? |
| Lookout Shoals |
1915 |
8 Miles Northeast of Conover, NC |
Catawba River |
Yes |
| Bridgewater |
1919 |
Bridgewater, NC |
Catawba River |
Yes |
| Mountain Island |
1923 |
3 Miles North of Mt. Holly, NC |
Catawba River |
Yes |
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