{"nrhp_refnum":"77001514","name":"Cuero Hydroelectric Plant","other_names":[],"category":"structure","location":{"address":"2 mi. N of Cuero on Guadalupe Plant","address_restricted":false,"city":"Cuero","county":"DeWitt County","state":"TX","lat":29.129814389000074,"lon":-97.31155997425569,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1977-09-19","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Engineering"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A historic hydroelectric plant and masonry dam on the Guadalupe River about two miles north of Cuero, De Witt County, Texas. The dam was begun in 1896 by the Buchel Power and Irrigation Company, and the plant was rebuilt after a 1908 fire.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the plant helped pioneer hydroelectric power in Texas, together with the Austin Dam plant on the Colorado River. After the Austin Dam collapsed in 1900, it was for several years the largest plant of its type in the state. It is also described as one of the best preserved turn-of-the-century hydroelectric plants in Texas.","narrative":"A hydroelectric plant and masonry dam on the Guadalupe River, two miles north of Cuero, supplied electric power to the town for nearly seventy years. Otto and C. August Buchel began construction in 1896 under the Buchel Power and Irrigation Company, hauling limestone blocks by wagon and building largely by hand and mule. The company competed with the steam-powered Cuero Light and Power Company, then bought it. A fire destroyed the powerhouse in 1908, and new owners rebuilt it that December. The dam was raised and repaired several times, and Allis-Chalmers generators were added in 1922. Central Power and Light operated the plant from 1926 until it closed in 1965 because of its small output. For several years after the Austin Dam collapsed in 1900, it was the largest plant of its type in Texas. It is considered one of the best preserved turn-of-the-century hydroelectric plants in the state, though it needs care.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899, 1900- (specific dates 1896, 1908)","architect_builder":"Buchel Power & Irrigation Company","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"Plant shut down in 1965 and now vacant, with generation equipment intact; the dam is intact but the penstocks and wheels are clogged with driftwood and debris.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:19.146833-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/91/9717/40971791/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/77001514.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40971791","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109999788"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/texas/dewitt-county/cuero-hydroelectric-plant-77001514/"}