Quincy Electric Light and Power Company Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 on Field Street beside the Town River, this brick building served as Quincy's main electric generating plant after the Quincy Electric Light and Power Company outgrew its first plant on Quincy Avenue. The company, founded in 1888 by a group of local citizens including Henry Munroe Faxon, chose the riverside site so coal could arrive by vessel at its wharf. The station generated power until November 1920, when buying electricity from Boston Edison proved cheaper, and it was converted to a substation, which remains its use. The three-story block is Colonial Revival in style, with tall arched windows, recessed brick panels, corner pilasters, a modillioned cornice and a tall cylindrical chimney. In 1925 Shephard and Stearns added a two-story section that continues the original cornice. It is the oldest surviving electric power station in Quincy and was listed for its link to the city's utility development.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest surviving electric power station in Quincy and illustrates the growth of the city's public utilities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It retains integrity of design, location, setting, materials and association, and is considered significant at the local level under Criterion A.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001332, listed September 20, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 76 Field St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | September 20, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001332 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Addition (1925) by Shephard and Stearns, Boston architects; original 1902 architect not stated |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition described as good; currently used as a power substation. |
| Acreage | 1.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.25468, -70.99148 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001332.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7272133
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.