Consumers Power Company (CPC)
A short history
It all started in 1909 when an engineering apprentice of Thomas Edison's, H. M. Byllesby formed the Washington County Light & Power Company, a subsidiary of his utilities conglomerate, Consumers Power Company. Between 1912 through 1915, H. M. linked power lines around the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. enlarging his customer base from a few thousand to 48,000.
To reduce confusion with a Michigan based company with the same name, the company name was changed in 1916 to Northern States Power (NSP). While most of it's territory lies in Minnesota, it acquired some territory in North Dakota Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot. Also South Dakota. By 1995 another subsidary Northern States Power-Wisconsin extended East into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The company was a publicly traded utillity, paying a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1910. In 1996 it's annual dividend yield was 6.5%.
Between 1995 & 1998 There was a merger in the works for NSP & Wisconsin Energy Corporation (WEC). In 1997 while waiting for approval from the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice. In May 1997 both CEO's and directors voted to terminate the merger. In 1998, NSP merged with New Century Energies of Denver, and is now Xcel Energy.
1904 map, image #3 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance map from Minot, Ward Co., N.D.).
In Minot, North Dakota. Sometime before 1904 a building was constructed on the N.W. corner of what was then known as First St. and Welcome Ave. Housed in that structure was Minot Light & Telephone Company. Which was a rail served industry at the time, in this case by the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Saint Marie Railroad. otherwise known as the SOO Line, Today the Soo line name only exists on paper, and has become part of a larger railroad the Canadian Pacific Railroad (CPR).
1907 map, image #2 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance map from Minot, Ward Co., N.D.).
By 1907, Minot Light & Telephone Co. had added another boiler inside the building to meet the ever growing city demand. In the early 1900's this industry supplied steam heat to the businesses of downtown Minot. The steam lines were piped in tunnels under the city to the differnt shops in town. This also allowed for maintenance crews to maintain the lines without affecting the street surface.
1913 map, image #7 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance map from Minot, Ward Co., N.D.).
A few changes occur on this map. Streets are renamed and additional new businesses have been built or added on to. .A run around track has been added to Minot Light & Telephone, which is also now named Consumers Power Co. Plant. The street names have also been changed. 1st. St. is now E. Central Ave., and Welcome Ave. is now 2nd. St. N.E.
1918 map, image #9 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance map from Minot, Ward Co., N.D.).
On this map the Power plant name has once again changed. It's now Northern States Power (NSP) Company. The building itself also has 7, wired Glass skylights. It also appears that the telephone exchange has moved elsewhere. Also the run around track arrangement has changed as well to a siding for the International Harvester Co. (IHC was also rail served from the West side by the Great Northern Railway, and on the South side by the Soo Line).
1926 map, image #3 of the Sanborn Fire Insurance map from Minot, Ward Co., N.D.).
An addition appears to have been added to the power plant, on the N.E. end of the building on 2nd st.
This is also the last map year in the series.
Some unknowns about the structure. The original brick color is unknown, in the images found on-line the structure was painted white. The plant ceased operations sometime around 1975, and removed sometime before 1983.
The IHC building was taken down in the mid 1980's. From Google maps, dated Aug 2012 the former site of the NSP plant is a parking lot. and where the IHC building once stood, is a new steel building which is the home of Hight Construction says Google.
Also of note on the 1926 map to the West on 1st St. N. E. is the Piper-Howe Lumber Co. In 2018 it is now the home of the Minot Railroad Museum.
The First building on the right as one heads West, just past the crossing gates it what used to be the North American Creamery building, and was later a fruit Co. The 2012 image of the building, google says it's the "Magic City Webworks".
NSP (rail served), steam power plant, Minot, N.D. between IHC & the fruit Co. circa late 20's. (Looking N. E.)
Front view of NSP Steam plant, Minot, N. D. Circa 1930's. Entry door is on 2nd. St. (looking N. W.)
A few minot changes in this view compared to the previous image. Also note the banner difference on the IHC building. The IHC banner remained the same until The building was torn down. Circa 1950. (Looking N.W.)
Rear view of the NSP Steam plant Minot, N.D. (Looking S. E.) The grade crossing is Central Ave. The reefer's are spotted at the North American Creamery on the right. The main line to Harvey, N. D. is to the right of the semaphore signal.
The M. St.P. & S. Ste. M. Railroad A brief history.
29 Sep 1883, Four mill owners in Minneapolis form the Minneapolis, Sault Saint Marie & Atlantic Railroad between it's two namesake cities, to avoid going through Chicago, IL
.
11 Jun 1888, Canadian Pacific Railway acquires control of the M. St.P. & S.Ste. M & A RR. Combining it with the Minneapolis & Pacific, Minneapolis & St. Croix Railway & Aberdeen, Bismarck & North Western Railway to form the Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Saint Marie Railway. "The Soo Line".
1904 Soo Line acquires the Bismarck, Washburn and Great Falls Railway.
31 Dec 1937 M. St. P. & S. Ste. M. files for Bankruptcy.
1 Sep 1944 reorganization takes effect, emergeing as the Minneapolie, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad.
1 Jan 1961 Soo Line Railroad formed through a merger of the M. St. P. & S. Ste. Marie Railroad, Wisconsin Central, and the Duluth South Shore & Atlantic Railroad.
Charlie
