Jenkins Central Power Plant, North side of U.S. Highway 23, south of Little Elkhorn Creek, Jenkins

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-287. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Northside of U.S. Highway 23/south of Little Elkhorn Creek in Jenkins, Letcher County, Kentucky. Present Owners: City of Jenkins owns southern portion where the Water Treatment Plant was formerly located. The Kiwanis Gym Commission owns the remain 2/3 of the building. City of Jenkins, City Hall, Jenkins, KY Kiwanis Gym Commission, c/o Kiwanis Club, Jenkins, KY

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-287. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This building is important to the historical development of mining activities near Jenkins, Kentucky because of its role in supplying electrical power to the surrounding mines operated by the Consolidated Coal Company, builders of the power plant. Additionally, it is significant for its association with the development of the City of Jenkins because the building was subsequently adaptively reused to house the community water treatment facility from to It is architecturally significant as an example of industrial architecture, a style not found on any other buildings. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Dates of Erection: Originally constructed in 2.

Architects and Contractors: The specific architect is unknown, however it is probable that the architect was a staff employee of the Consolidated Coal Company. This company had the building built. This was an important company that developed substantial mining operations and employed an extensive construction and engineering department to facilitate its new construction needs. 3. Original and Subsequent Owners: References to the chain of title to the land upon which the building stands are recorded in the County Clerks Office for Letcher County, Whitesburg, Kentucky. JENKINS CENTRAL POWER PLANT HABS No. (page 2) Deed, March 3, recorded in Deed Book 27, page John W. Wright to Northern Coal and Coke Company. Deed, November 13, recorded in Deed Book page 72.

Pittsburgh Consolidated Coal Company to D. B. Query. Deed, November 13, recorded in Deed Book page 72. Pittsburgh Consolidated Coal Company to Kentucky Water Company. Deed, March 15, recorded in Deed Book page Lincoln Investment Corporation to Kentucky Water Company. Deed, December 30, recorded in Deed Book page Query Enterprises Inc., to Kiwanis Gym Commission Inc. Deed, March 17, recorded in Deed Book page Kentucky Water Company to the City of Jenkins. Deed, April 20, recorded in Deed Book page City of Jenkins to Kiwanis Gym Commission Inc. 4. Original Plans: A copy of the original plans showing elevations and floor plans are included as part of this documentation. B.

Historical Context The original Jenkins Central Power Plant was constructed by the Consolidated Coal Company in with the expressed purpose of generating electrical power supplied by steam generators for use within their near by mines to run various types of mining equipment and as a source of light. As part of their mining operation, it was not unusual for this company to construct its own electrical power generating facilities. In addition to the building itself, a gallon lake located south of the building was also constructed to store the required water that was transformed into steam to drive the electric producing generators. This facility was in operation from until ca.

In a water treatment facility was constructed within the southern 1/3 of the building to meet the needs of the City of Jenkins. The Consolidated Coal Company leased this portion of the building to the City. By this time the Coal Company had ceased using this as a power generating station. All equipment, original to the operation, had been removed. The water treatment JENKINS CENTRAL POWER PLANT HABS No. (page 3) facility served the community needs from until when a new modern facility was constructed on a site immediately adjacent to the building. The remaining portion of the building has been used for various community-related purposes. Beginning in the Kiwanis Gym Commission purchased this part for use in youth sports activities.

School graduations and other diverse community activities including plays, meetings and scout organizations have used this part. PART II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. Description of Exterior: This is a large 7 bay by 6 bay, x rectangular in plan, industrial in style building. The stretcher bond brick walls are accentuated by columns that define each bay and rise to terminate at multi-course corbels. These corbels define a cornice band above, which exists rectangular panels also accentuated by corbel courses. The larger 7 bay, symmetrical, facades exhibit recessed window bays capped with segmental ashlar stone lintels with central keystones and terminating with plain stone lug sills. A very short belt course projects either side of the lintel.

The windows are multi-panes set in a steel casement frame. The asymmetrical east and west 6 bay facades have similar details to the walls of the other facades. The main difference being the window fenestration on the west facade. Here several bays do not exhibit any window openings and several small windows with similar detail for lintels and sills are also found. Additionally, the mixed gable end treatment at the wall dormer and small parapet add to the asymmetrical nature of these two facades. The lower level of the south and east facades also exhibit additional windows that are smaller in size than the windows above. The roof is composed of decorative tile highlighting the two gables that terminate at a large 2 bay wall dormer with closed pediment and a smaller closed pediment.

The entire building rests atop a low ashlar stone foundation. An additional distinctive feature is found offset from the east fa9ade. This is a tall buff brick smokestack that rests atop a corbeled brick octagon base. Various alterations have been made to the original fenestration and detail of the building throughout the years. Several original window and the door bays have been bricked up. The majority of the window glass an all but the south fa9ade have been painted. A large wooden ramp has been placed in front of a window bay that has been enlarged on the south side to accommodate a door. The building is experiencing structural deterioration to the exterior primarily due to water damage that occurred over a number of years. The result is severe mortar and brick deterioration.

Many broken windowpanes have not been replaced. JENKINS CENTRAL POWER PLANT HABS No. (page 4) B. Description of the interior: The interior is functional in design and lacks any significant architectural details. The most distinctive feature is the metal trusses supporting the roof. With the adaptive reuse of the building, several interior walls have had doors openings enlarged and several new walls have been added. Specifically, with reference to the location of the water treatment facility, new clarifying tanks were added at the lower level along with a laboratory for quality control purposes. Four circular settling tanks were added at the main level.

The area that was used for various community and gym facilities is essentially a large open space approximately 80' x The east side exhibits several rooms with a balcony above that runs the width of this space. Two small storage rooms have been partitioned off at the west side. It is important to note that these partitions and the area below the balcony in an area that once housed electrical generating equipment. The original electrical generating equipment has been removed at an unknown date. The heating, electrical and plumbing equipment does not meet code and is substandard. C. Site Description: The building is located in close proximity to the central business district. It is a major visual landmark as seen from the main highway.

To the east and south is found several streets of low scale residential housing exhibiting no significant architectural detail. The city, with this building and adjacent reservoir, is found in a valley that has historically confined its location and restricted its growth and development. PART III. SOURCE OF INFORMATION A. Original Architectural Drawings: The original architectural drawings are on file with the Consolidated Coal Company and its successors. A copy of these drawings has been enclosed as part of this documentation. B. Early Views: Photocopies of early views showing the building during construction and just after completion are enclosed. JENKINS CENTRAL POWER PLANT HABS No. (page 5) C.

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS KY-287. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This documentation is presented as part of the required stipulations of a Memorandum of Agreement executed in connection with a Community Development Block Grant funded under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of as amended (PL and relevant implementing regulations. The grant is to the City of Jenkins, Kentucky and administered by the Kentucky Department of Local Government. The purpose of the grant is to construct a new water treatment plant and to demolish the existing building housing the old water treatment facility. JENKINS CENTRAL POWER PLANT HABS No. (page 6) G> ::J ;lit" - c.. ::J G> . ;lit" c "Tl r- r- G> ::J CD 0 -() CD )( 0 0 ::r ID < ID JJ 'tJ 0 ~ r- o~ CD c. > z 0 : D>- - G> ::J ::J - c () . . CJ; ;lit" '< ID -.

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