Dorchester Illustration of the Day no. 2104
Postcard. Caption on front: Walter Baker Chocolate Mills, Power House. copyright 1905, Frederick A. Frizell. Postally unused.
For most of the early years, the Baker chocolate mills relied entirely on water power. In 1868, Henry Pierce installed the company’s first steam engine and over time each mill created and used its own steam power. It was not until 1906 that Baker’s finally built a stand-alone, 3,000 horse power, central power house to permanently serve all the mills. It contained three boilers and two generators that brought electricity to each building, allowing electric lights and motors to be installed throughout the complex. The use of coal to generate power was replaced in 1921 when the central power house switched to cleaner-burning fuel oil.
____
The Dorchester Illustration of the Day (DIOTD) is sent weekdays. If you receive this e-mail by mistake, please reply to be taken off the e-mail list. If you know others who would like to receive the daily e-mail, please encourage them to join the group by going to http://groups.google.com/group/dorchester-historical-society. You may contact Earl Taylor at ERMMWWT@aol.com
If you value receiving the DIOTD, please express your appreciation by making a donation to the Dorchester Historical Society, either by regular mail at 195 Boston Street, Dorchester, MA 02125, or through the website at www.DorchesterHistoricalSociety.org