Quincy, MA, 1920. Electric Distribution Circuits Along Street from Nearby Power House

By Joe Maurath, Jr.; posted October 7, 2020

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A lot of these were primary voltage circuits which fanned out into city neighborhoods, probably at 2,400 volts. The utility's power house was right around the corner (behind the photographer) and was owned by the Quincy Electric Light and Power Company (which became Massachusetts Electric in 1960). Owing to increasing demand, primary distribution was upgraded to 4,160 volts during the 1920s. This enabled the utility to meet growing needs. During that decade the company replaced many poles and the equipment on them, including wire, crossarms and insulators. Steel pins and porcelain insulators became standard along with creosoted crossarms. Formerly pine or fir crossarms were employed with wooden pins and glass insulators; none of these materials were reused during upgrading. Quincy is a city a few miles south of Boston. This image was taken right outside of Quincy Center at the intersection of Hancock Street and Revere Road, looking east along the start of Revere.

Fire alarm wires are seen strung along the tops of these poles. Commencing in the 1920s these circuits were eventually relocated beneath the electric service lines in most communities here in the northeast U.S.

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