With the new hydroelectric powered cotton mills in Columbia, SC (1893), Anderson, SC (1894), and Pelzer, SC (1895), many mill companies in South Carolina wanted electrical power in their mills and communities. Before hydroelectric power, cotton mills machinery ran on hydraulic systems powered by large waterwheels. Due to this, mills would be constructed near rivers and dams were needed for the waterwheels. Inside cotton mills the working conditions were terrible. It was usually extremely hot, dark and dirty making work very uncomfortable. With electric lighting, air conditioning, and electric machinery, working conditions in cotton mills would change and be better work places.

In the late 1890s, the Tucapau Mills in Tucapau, SC wanted their mill run by hydroelectric power. With the help of famous textile mill engineer Stuart W. Cramer, a power station was to be constructed on the Tyger River at Berry Shoals. The dam and hydroelectric plant opened in 1900 supplying electricity to the Tucapau Mills by a 2 1/2 mile transmission line. The powerhouse had 2 McCormick turbines and 1200 KW GE generator producing 10,000 volts each at max. The plant also had another slot for a third generator, but was never installed. From what I know, original insulators used were brown triple-petticoat Imperial. In the late 1910s or early 1920s, most of the Imperial insulators and hardware was replaced by Victor insulators (M-3060). A third generator and turbine set was never installed due to cost and the mills didn't need the extra power. In 1959, the Berry Shoals power plant was too out of date and not worth operating any longer. The plant was abandoned and the generators and equipment stripped of copper and other valuable metals. Today, the powerhouse is still cared for by the local water district. It has a new roof and is cleaned up.

[id=330451672]

The Hydroelectric Power Plants of South Carolina Collection:

High Shoals 1894 [id=332186800]

Pelzer Lower Dam 1895 [id=360186922]

Portman Shoals 1897 [id=340212432]

Berry Shoals 1903 [you are here]

Holiday Shoals 1905 [id=332438399]

Ware Shoals 1906 [id=347219612]

Saluda Dam 1907 [id=268330246]

Gaston Shoals 1908 [id=346266588]

Rocky Creek 1908 [id=429285050]

Boyd's Mill Pond 1909 [id=429197935]

Ninety-Nine Islands 1909 [id=358895213]

Fork Shoals -1910 [id=366408583]

Tumblin' Shoals 1912 [id=366398406]

Coneross 1912 [id=361466115]