About this property
The New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex is a historic district at 180 MacArthur Drive in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It consists of two buildings: a power generation facility that served the New Bedford area for most of the 20th century, and a historic 19th century iron foundry building. Both are on a property once owned by NSTAR, the local electric utility, on the New Bedford waterfront. The foundry building is a utilitarian three story structure built out of granite, which was built in 1856 for the Taber & Grinnell Iron Foundry. The Cannon Power Station, in contrast, is a looming presence on the waterfront, about 390 feet (120 m) long and more than 80 feet (24 m) in height. Its initial construction was in 1916, and it was repeatedly enlarged until 1950. It was built by the New Bedford Gas & Electric Light District, and generated power for the city until 1992. In 2002, it was under consideration for use as an aquarium; and at one time a casino but these plans failed. The complex was vacant in 2012. The power generation building was demolished in early 2023, to make way for a launch point for off-shore wind turbines. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex
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Questions about this property
When was New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex listed on the National Register?
New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 2002.
What type of historic resource is New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex?
New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex?
The period of significance for New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1856.
Can I research the history near New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Complex will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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