Hill Field, Steam Plant, 5841 Engine Lane, Layton

Source document Quoted word for word from HAER UTAH,6-LAY.V,2P-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

This Boiler House provides particularly vivid insight into the processes involved in heating buildings that were used to repair and maintain aircraft at Hill Field during and after World War II. In addition, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the early development of the U.S. Army Air Corps, a branch of the Army which eventually became the U.S. Air Force. History: The primary mission of Hill Field during and after World War II was to repair, maintain, and store aircraft as well as receive, store and supply air material.

The many buildings used in this operation required heat, which was provided by Building The building is centrally located near the Aircraft Repair Hangars (Building it provided heat to many of the 200 series buildings, including the Engine Repair Building the Engine Test Cells & the Armament Repair Building and the Post School & Training Facility Buildings that were not heated by the Central Steam Plant contained independent heating systems like electric unit heaters or gas-fired steam boilers. This building contained four separate steam boilers in a single room. These boilers were designed to be powered by gas, but could also run on oil if neccessary. In a gallon standby oil storage container was placed outside, on the north side of the building.

Each boiler was connected to separate 18" diameter roof vents. HILL FIELD, STEAM PLANT HAER No. UT-85-P Page 2 General Description: Building 260 x is a one-story, L-shaped brick industrial structure with steel sash windows and tubular steel doors. The original portion of the steam plant is three bays wide. A continuous concrete base and entablature with beveled edges wrap this part of the building. The words "STEAM PLANT" are inscribed in the concrete entablature on the northeast side. A metal frame transformer vault protrudes from the building on the north side. A large, two-story concrete addition to the south of the building altered the shape of the plan from a rectangle to an "L" configuration. A one-story administrative building was added along the southwestern wall.