Open house at Hyrum City’s hydro-electric power plant scheduled May 10 (with audio)

HYRUM — On Wednesday, May 10, Hyrum City will host a tour of its hydro-electric power plant, located about six miles east of the mouth of Blacksmith Fork Canyon. The open house is part of the Hyrum City Museum’s “Tradition and Innovation: Working Together in Hyrum” and “Work Worth Doing” exhibits, which complement the <a href=”http://hyrumcitymuseum.org/smithsonian-exhibit-the-way-we-worked-at-hyrum-city-museum/” target=”_blank”>traveling Smithsonian Exhibition</a>, “The Way We Worked,” on display in the museum March 25—May 13.

“I am excited for this event because electricity is an intrinsic Hyrum work-story,” said Jami Van Huss, the Hyrum City Museum’s director.  “While not the first, this hydro plant is an interesting historic structure with current relevance since it still operates just like it did when the city constructed it years ago. Opening the plant gives the community a unique opportunity to both experience a piece of history and understand more about Hyrum’s current electricity production.”

The open house next week will begin at 6 p.m. with a short presentation by Hyrum City Power Superintendent Matt Draper. Following his remarks, the plant will be open for public touring until 8 p.m. The event is free of charge and family-friendly. Draper invites anyone with interest to attend.

“I think it would be a good opportunity for them to learn where their power comes from and how it used to work, as well as how it works nowadays, to get a good understanding of the complexity of the power industry and the grid,” he said, “and not only generation, but how cities work together to make better prices for their customers and better reliability.”

Draper said Hyrum’s hydro-electric plant was built in 1928 and is currently undergoing maintenance. He said the timing for a public open house is perfect.

“A lot of people don’t really know how it all works, and it’s a good learning experience,” he said. “I’m going to show them and explain to them how the water pushes the turbine and how the windings on the generator work and convert it into more power. They’ll be able to look inside to see the turbine and how it works, and I’ll be able to explain how the power gets out on the line<span>—</span>how that all works now and the way it used to be as well, back in the day before our power load grew to the size it is now. It’s just pretty interesting.”

Highlighting the activity on a promotional flier, Van Huss described Hyrum City as “one of Cache Valley’s first electrified cities.”

“Come and see how water is turned into electricity and the work involved in keeping the lights on,” she said.

As visitors approach the Hyrum Hydro-Electric Power Plant next Wednesday, signs will direct them where to park. More information about ongoing programming at the Hyrum City Museum is available at <a href=”http://www.hyrumcitymuseum.org/”>www.hyrumcitymuseum.org</a>. 

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