POWERGRAMS

5 F or generations, and especially in the South, stories are passed down from family to family. These stories instill moral values, preserve memories, entertain and connect us to one another. If you're lucky, a good story encompasses all of these things. One such story is about Gorgas Steam Plant and how, even after a century, it continues to power Alabama and serve the surrounding community. This fall, Gorgas celebrates its 100th anniversary. For many, this is a celebration of achievements and a time to reflect on the impression Gorgas has made on Alabama Power and the state of Alabama. "For 100 years, Gorgas has successfully provided generations of Alabamians with clean, reliable, affordable electricity for their businesses and homes," said Plant Manager Valerie Wade. "In the process, it has left a legacy of community pride and loyalty that you can't find anywhere else." It's hard to imagine what Alabama was like when Gorgas was just getting started. For the majority of Alabamians, electricity was a luxury and reserved only for the wealthiest individuals who could afford to power their homes. At the time, most of Alabama Power's customers were businesses and industries, but the company had bigger plans. In 1916, as the United States inched closer to joining World War I, Alabama Power President James Mitchell anticipated an increased need for power. To meet wartime demands, he commissioned the construction of Gorgas, then known as the Warrior Reserve Steam Plant. The plant would be renamed in 1944 after the renowned Dr. William Crawford Gorgas. The dedication of the plant to Gorgas was to thank him for his efforts in sparing Alabama Power millions of dollars in lawsuits when residents near Lay Dam claimed that disease-carrying mosquitoes were breeding in the company's water supply. Gorgas testified on behalf of the company to prove these accusations were false. At about 9 p.m. on Sept. 19, 1917, Unit One at Gorgas began generating electricity for the first time. While it was a milestone for Alabama Power, no one could imagine the impact the plant would have on the surrounding community in the years to come. From the beginning, Gorgas was a way of life. The family atmosphere at the plant went beyond working hours, and that quality continues today. Because of the isolated location outside Jasper, Alabama Power constructed a community of homes in the 1920s alongside the plant. Known as the Gorgas Village, employees and their families had everything they needed: a GENERATION G O R G A S P LA NT R E AC H E S C O MMU NIT Y MILE S TO NE b y A N N A C AT H E R I N E R O B E R S O N Plant Gorgas in 1918. Gorgas Village is visible behind the plant to the left.

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