Blackstone Steam Plant
Address46, Blackstone Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02139
Previous Address24, Blackstone Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02139
Site Number01701
Building Root Number
01701
Architect (Original)
Sheaff & Jaastad, engineers
Constructed
1903
Land Acquired 2003
Building Acquired 2003
Land Acquired 2003
Building Acquired 2003
StatusActive
Materials for this building in our collection are not fully processed at this time.
Site Name HistoryThe site is named after its function.Historical NotesThe Blackstone utility plant at the intersection of Western Avenue and Memorial Drive was completed in 1903 to a design by the engineering firm Sheaff and Jaastad of Boston. It generates steam and electricity for the Harvard campus.There was a major renovation in 1930 to modernize that replaced boilers and added steam turbines. This renovation initiated the steam supply to Harvard, as well as expanded the building. In 1962, two boilers were added.
Harvard acquired the Blackstone complex in 2002 from NStar utility company.
Additional Information
“New Power House Has No Equal in Country“ The Cambridge Chronicle, July 19, 1902, p. 13.
"Power Plant of the Cambridge Electric Light Company” Engineering Record, Building Record And Sanitary Engineer. (New York: McGraw Pub. Co, 1902), v 46, pp 410-412.
Dorgan, Lauren R. “Harvard Acquires Local Steam Plant” The Harvard Crimson, August 9, 2002.
Haglund, Karl. Inventing the Charles River, (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2003), pp. 140-142
“Cambridge Electric Light Co.’s New Plant,” The Cambridge Chronicle, May 4, 1901, p. 5
Howe, Peter J. “Harvard to Buy Power Plant.” Boston Globe, Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC, 3 Aug. 2002, p. E.1.
“A $250,000 Plant.” Cambridge Tribune, 16 Mar. 1901, p. 1.
This building has been designated by the University Planning Office as having a Notable Interior.