Tule River Hydroelectric Complex, CA Highway 190 at North Fork of Middle Fork of Tule River, Springville, Tulare County, CA

Significance: The Tule River Hydroelectric Complex is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local history: the development of hydroelectric power which made possible the successful expansion of irrigated agriculture in the southern San Joaquin Valley, and in Tulare County, in particular. It is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past: A.G. Wishon was directly and indirectly associated with the three power companies involved, through his founding efforts with Mt. Whitney Power Company and his later retributive efforts against that company, through his development of San Joaquin Light and Power Company, and through his attempted use of ties to Tulare County Power Company against Mt. Whitney Power Company. The plants and their attendant structures and facilities are all typical of construction methods of the first decade of the 20th century. The Tule River Hydroelectric Complex was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places on January 22, 1982, under Criteria A, B, and C.

Survey number: HAER CA-48

Building/structure dates: 1902- 1914 Initial Construction

hydroelectric power plants concrete buildings agriculture water power powerhouses dams canals pumps machinery flumes california tule tule river complex highway fork north fork middle middle fork springville tulare tulare county energy generation john j doyle historic american engineering record mount whitney power company rolf r newman san joaquin light and power company john w snyder albert g wishon photo tule river hydroelectric complex ultra high resolution high resolution power plants industrial history power generator library of congress national register of historic places

1969 - 1980

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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