Central Powerhouse
Also known as: Town of Moriah Water Department Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 in the hamlet of Witherbee, this brick powerhouse once supplied electricity to the iron mining works of Witherbee, Sherman and Company. The gable-roofed building has corrugated metal roofing, brick pilasters, corbelled brickwork and segmental-arched openings, with a hint of Romanesque influence. A concrete cast stone addition from 1904-05 housed transformers and an ash hopper. Inside, the engine room and boiler room survive, along with exposed steel trusses and an original wood ash conveyor. Steam generation and power transformed from nearby water plants allowed the company to electrify mining, ore handling and concentrating operations. Most other industrial buildings from the Mineville-Witherbee mining era were later destroyed, leaving this as the only surviving structure in the town built to house electric generators. The Town of Moriah received it in 1962, and it now serves as the town water department building, with the original pumps still operating. It was listed for its industrial history and its rare architecture.
Significance in brief: Architecturally, it is a largely intact and rare surviving example of an early-20th-century utilitarian building type in the region. Historically, it was the main powerhouse for the Witherbee, Sherman and Company iron operations and helped bring electric power to the local iron mining industry. It is the only surviving structure in the town built to house electric generators, and one of only two industrial buildings left from the Mineville-Witherbee mining operations.
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 95000591, listed June 1, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Tracy Rd. and New Bed Rd., SE corner, Town of Moriah, Witherbee |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | June 1, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000591 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-05 |
| Architectural style | Industrial; Late Victorian/Romanesque |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as the Town of Moriah Water Department building; the original water pumps are still in use. The building retains a substantial amount of its historic integrity. |
| Acreage | 3.1 |
| Coordinates | 44.08966, -73.53658 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 95000591.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5061692
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.