{"nrhp_refnum":"92000217","name":"West Texas Utilities Company Power Plant","other_names":["748"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"100 Block of N. Second St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Abilene","county":"Taylor County","state":"TX","lat":32.450876845500034,"lon":-99.72222478492566,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1992-03-23","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"An industrial power plant complex in the 100 block of North Second Street, Abilene, Taylor County, Texas, built 1920-1922 with W.C. Hedrick of Dallas as contractor. It includes a multi-story brick and concrete main structure, a tall smokestack, storage buildings and stone entry gates.","why_significant":"The plant is nominated under Criterion A in the area of Commerce for its link to Abilene's role as a wholesale and distribution center in West Texas. It supplied electricity to Abilene and seven nearby towns and has generated power since 1920. The form says it remains in good condition and retains its integrity.","narrative":"Built between 1920 and 1922 near Cedar Creek and the Wichita Valley Railroad tracks in Abilene, this power plant has produced electricity for the city and surrounding communities since 1920. The main structure combines cast-in-place concrete framing with brick infill, with one- to four-story sections, three small stacks and a large brick smokestack that was reported at 182 feet and called the highest object in West Texas. A brick addition was made to the north end in 1948. The complex also has storage buildings and stone entry gates. An out-of-town utility company, American Public Service Company, announced the project in 1919, promising a very modern plant that would also serve towns from Merkel to Cisco. W.C. Hedrick of Dallas was the contractor. The plant is listed for its connection to Abilene's growth as a distribution center in West Texas, and it remains in good condition and in use.","period_of_significance":"1920-1939","architect_builder":"Hedrick, W.C. (contractor)","architectural_style":"Other: industrial: power plant","criteria":["A"],"status_note":"Described as in good condition, retaining integrity, and still owned by West Texas Utilities and used as an energy facility.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:20.865692-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/82/9700/40970082/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_TX/92000217.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/92000217/96844f41cf-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/92000217/96844f41cf-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY 4.0","author":"Larry D. Moore","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:West_Texas_Utilities_Company_Power_Plant.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Larry D. Moore</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:West_Texas_Utilities_Company_Power_Plant.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/40970082","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107320184"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/texas/taylor-county/west-texas-utilities-company-power-plant-92000217/"}