Detroit Edison Company Willis Avenue Station
Encyclopedia
The Willis Avenue Station is a steam heat production plant used in Detroit's district steam heating
system. The plant is located at 50 W. Willis, near Woodward, in the center of the city's Midtown Detroit
neighborhood. Built and owned by the Detroit Edison
Company, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1997.
When the plant first went on line in 1904, there were 3000 feet (914.4 m) of mains in place, serving only 12 customers. During the summer of that year, an additional 10000 feet (3,048 m) of mains were constructed, and the infrastructure was increased as the years went by. By the mid 1940s, there were 42 miles (67.6 km) of underground mains and serving approximately 1,650 customers. During that time, the Willis Avenue Plant was updated and altered numerous times to serve the heating needs of the community, especially between 1916-1927. The station continues to serve the Cass Farm Survey Area.
District heating
District heating is a system for distributing heat generated in a centralized location for residential and commercial heating requirements such as space heating and water heating...
system. The plant is located at 50 W. Willis, near Woodward, in the center of the city's Midtown Detroit
Midtown
-In cities:Nepal*Midtown, Kathmandu, NepalUnited States*Midtown, Agoura Hills, California*Midtown Atlanta, Georgia**Midtown , passenger rail station near this area*Midtown Columbus, Georgia*Midtown, Detroit, Michigan...
neighborhood. Built and owned by the Detroit Edison
Detroit Edison
The Detroit Edison Company, founded in 1903, is an investor-owned electric utility which serves most of Southeast Michigan. Its parent company, DTE Energy , provides energy services to a variety of clients beyond Detroit Edison's service area.- History :...
Company, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1997.
History
Detroit Edison was organized in 1903 to build and operate electric plants in Detroit. The Willis Avenue station was the first steam power substation used by Detroit Edison for the production of steam heat. Three other plants serve the central heating district of Detroit.When the plant first went on line in 1904, there were 3000 feet (914.4 m) of mains in place, serving only 12 customers. During the summer of that year, an additional 10000 feet (3,048 m) of mains were constructed, and the infrastructure was increased as the years went by. By the mid 1940s, there were 42 miles (67.6 km) of underground mains and serving approximately 1,650 customers. During that time, the Willis Avenue Plant was updated and altered numerous times to serve the heating needs of the community, especially between 1916-1927. The station continues to serve the Cass Farm Survey Area.