Historic landmark may be saved

By BRUCE ROWLAND
Contributing Writer

September 14, 2008 04:00 am

— William H. Miner built things to last.
He just didn't figure on all those pigeons.
But fortunately, from a preservation standpoint, two feet of pigeon guano on the floors is one of the relatively few things standing in the way of restoring the old McGregor Powerhouse, one of the few surviving features of the elaborate network of hydroelectric projects built the millionaire-philanthropist in northern Clinton County in the early part of the century.
"The powerhouse building was well constructed and, generally, is in very good condition," states an engineering study compiled for the Town of Altona and wind-turbine developer Noble Environmental Power. "There is no significant deterioration of a structural nature."
The study, an evaluation of the four-story, Spanish-mission-style building located at Feinberg Park off Devil's Den Road in Altona, was completed last October by Argus Architecture and Preservation P.C. of Troy, Clark Engineering and Surveying P.C. of New Lebanon, N.Y., and Lewis Engineering of Albany.
MANY OBSTACLES
The report paves the way for a restoration plan that will begin with a $180,000 historic-preservation grant from Noble that was secured as part of the permitting process for the company locating 65 wind turbines in the Altona Wind Park along Rand Hill near the Military Turnpike.
The study sees a substantial payoff for restoring the brown, stucco-coated building, which is accented with dormers and three tall chimneys on a seemingly precarious perch on a concrete bridge-like foundation in the middle of the swiftly flowing South Branch of the Great Chazy River.
"The McGregor Powerhouse complex is an architecturally and historically significant facility, which is built like a tank and has a stunning setting. It has great potential," the report concludes. "This facility may have potential to become a star attraction, not only for the town but also for the North Country."
This isn't to say there aren't other obstacles in addition to the pigeon infestation. There are materials suspected of containing asbestos in the building, including roofing mastic, some of the remaining heating equipment, plaster, window-glazing compound and possibly flooring on the second floor.
"Lead-containing paint is almost a certainty," the report states. "An asbestos and lead-paint survey is needed for the powerhouse."
The concrete foundations that have been subject to scouring by the river need to be repaired, and there are also leaks in the roof and walls that present an increasingly serious threat.
"This type of deterioration will continue and likely speed up over time, eventually undermining the structural integrity of the walls," the report states, adding that leaks also threaten the wood roof structure and floors on the upper stories. "Although deterioration of the concrete structures is progressing, there is no structural failure at this time, due to their substantial construction."
BALL GETS ROLLING
At an estimated $1.5 to $2.1 million, the cost of total restoration is a high one. But the Noble grant finally gets the ball rolling after decades of uncertainty as to whether the historic landmark could be saved, and if so, what could be done with it.
"It's going to get us in line to get other grants," Altona Town Supervisor Larry Ross said. "If we make this more of an educational thing, the grants are out there."
He envisions the best use of the renovated powerhouse to be as an interpretive center for the town with links to the educational community. It could tell the story of Altona with its unique flat-rock environment, filled with fossils, jack pines and blueberries.
Ross hopes the initial Noble grant could at least get the windows replaced to keep the pigeons out and take care of the cleanup work.
"Now, it's pretty rough," he said.
The roof is all copper, and he hopes it can be restored to its original form, but that will depend on the amount of grant money that can be secured.
Altona Town Historian Loyola Coolidge said that when the building was turned over to the town in 1961, it was still operating, but the town didn't want it.
"From the time I started as historian, it was sad," she said. "The town had this building, and it's gone to waste."
LONG NEGLECT
Not only was the building neglected during that time period, the metal penstock (a huge water pipe) set on concrete pillars that brought water to the powerhouse from the McGregor Dam, located upriver on state land occupied by the Mohawk Indians' Ganienkeh community, was sold for scrap. The electrical-generation equipment was removed, and other components were demolished.
The copper was taken off the roof of the LaSell Powerhouse, a sister structure that was fed by the LaSell dam. This dam is situated about 1,000 feet downriver from the McGregor Powerhouse.
The LaSell Dam and the McGregor Powerhouse form the historic configuration that can be seen crossing the bridge on Devil's Den Road.
The LaSell Powerhouse on Joe Wood Road, located about two miles downstream from the LaSell Dam and originally connected to it by another penstock, is on private property, out of public view, and is now described as a roofless ruin.
The McGregor and LaSell dams along with 84.97 acres were conveyed to the town in 1961 by Miner Institute. According to the deed, the purpose was to "make possible the establishment of recreational facilities in the town and to make available to the town an area for promotion and development, or for such other use as may prove beneficial to the economy and welfare of the town and its people."
Feinberg Park, a town-run campground and recreation area with ball fields and playground, was carved out of that land. But, due to disinterest, much of it reverted to the state. The McGregor Dam and a substantial chunk of the acreage was subsequently made available for use by the Mohawks to resolve a downstate crisis that pitted the Native Americans against the state. This is a fact that still doesn't sit well with town officials today, who contend it ran contrary to the intended use when Miner divested itself of the property.
MINER LEGACY
Coolidge agrees that a historical-education and visitor's center at the old powerhouse would be a great asset.
"We have so much to offer in Altona," she said. "We have so many things people don't know about."
She envisions the powerhouse as a destination for field trips for students right in their own backyard.
"It wouldn't be like going to a teddy bear factory over in Vermont," she said. "I think it would be great for our surrounding school districts."
The inventor of a revolutionary railroad-car coupling device, Miner (1862-1930) was one of the wealthiest men in the United States at the time of his death, and the McGregor Powerhouse was typical of his handiwork.
Although he left elaborate projects sprinkled throughout the North Country landscape, most noted among his accomplishments were Chazy Central Rural School, possibly the first centralized rural school in the nation at the time, built in 1916 at a cost of $2 million, and the 212-room Physician's Hospital in Plattsburgh (later expanded to form CVPH Medical Center) at a cost of $4 million.
The McGregor Powerhouse is only part of a massive system of dams and powerhouses Miner built to supply power to the school, the town and to his elaborate home, Heart's Delight farm, which is now the site of Miner Institute on the Miner Farm Road in Chazy. The McGregor Powerhouse is among the last major relics of his legacy that is still restorable.
Refurbishing the powerhouse "will bring some of the history back," Coolidge said.
Experienced technicians such as plumbers and electricians are needed to come in and help, she noted.
She hopes grants can be secured from educational institutions, foundations and businesses.
"This is going to take time," she said, adding that the effort will be worth the wait. "It's just gorgeous."
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
A 124-foot-tall surge tank, visible in historic photos, has disappeared from the McGregor Powerhouse site, but a transformer house, located on the south side of the river, is still in excellent shape despite the fact the copper roof has been stolen.
This is something that impressed the engineering-report authors. The "ethereal, evocative" quality of light in the transformer house brings to mind a "hydro temple" and could be used for interpretive programs and presentations, art exhibits, small musical or theatrical performances and as a camping shelter for kids groups, the study says.
The roof of an attached vault structure, with the addition of a railing, is also seen as an ideal picnic and outdoor program space, with a view. The cost of renovating the transformer house is estimated at $100,000.
Three turbines located on the first floor of the powerhouse and fed by the penstock once generated electricity there. The second, third and fourth floors contain apartments, complete with kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, fireplaces, pantries and even a dumbwaiter. The apartments are restorable and could possibly be used as housing for vacation rentals based on the attractions at the site or by program staff, park staff, students or interns, but they need to be made handicapped accessible, which may involve the installation of an elevator.
"The interior of the building has been barely altered since its construction, so that the spatial configuration and interior features remain virtually original," the engineering report states.
It envisions up to five apartments upstairs, each with a view either upriver or downriver, and agrees with public use of the first floor for interpretive, educational, tourism or recreational purposes.
It recommends that educational programs could be linked to SUNY Plattsburgh, Clinton Community College or Miner Institute, and the educational-recreational program could be tied to local K-12 schools and a children's summer-camp program.
"It is also envisioned that a historic turbine and generator could be displayed in the former machine room of the powerhouse, alongside a new mini-hydro installation, both for educational and interpretive purposes."
Coolidge hopes the transition from hydro to wind generation in the town can also be shown.
The report urges that hydro generation be resumed.
"This facility was, literally, built for hydropower, and its potential would not be fully realized if the rehabilitated powerhouse complex did not make use of some of the available capacity for hydroelectric power. At minimum, consideration should be given to providing an approximately 10 kw micro-hydroelectric plant."
A larger generator, maybe in conjunction with a hydro developer, is also seen as feasible.
"Inclusion of a working hydroelectric system (as well as interpretation/education related to hydro) would make it especially relevant for young people, who increasingly indicate climate change and energy use as their top socio-political concern today," the study finds.
It states that, while the cost to rehabilitation will be substantial, it should be undertaken with the long-term benefits and return in mind.
"The powerhouse will become a unique tourist attraction, an educational and recreational resource to the town and, in time, a source of revenue if tourist accommodations are part of the rehabilitation project," it concludes.

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