Toledo Edison Steam Plant (Toledo, Ohio) | place with historical importance, industrial area, production

 place with historical importance, industrial area, production

The Water Street Station was the first generating plant in Toledo to utilize Thomas Edison's three wire system of distrubution. Designed by Chicago architect Daniel H Burnham, in the Italian Renaissance style reminiscient of a provincial Roman basilica, for the Consolidated Street Railway Company, the plant was constructed in 1895 - 1897, on a site formerly occupied by two grain elevators.

The plant provided light and power in addition to powering Consolidated's street railway system. The original power plant consumed up to 100 tons of coal a day. Through consolidation, the company became Toledo Traction Company and in 1900 Toledo Railway & Light Company and subsequently Toledo Edison.

The plant was expanded until 1916 when Toledo Edison built the Acme plant on the south shore of the Maumee River to meet the electricity demands of the rapidly expanding industrial community. The street car business was sold in 1921 and in 1930 the plant was converted to steam to heat office buildings throughout the downtown area.

The Water Street Power House remained in operation until 1985. Since then it has been vacant and was acquired by the City of Toledo. The property has been turned over to a developer who has proposed converting it into condominiums.