Old City Powerplant

455 NE Irvine Street  |  Established 1924

McMinnville’s first power plant stood on the banks of the South Yamhill River and generated
electricity with a wood-fired steam boiler. On December 11, 1889, at dusk, electric lights
brightened downtown for the first time, thrilling residents and merchants. In early 1910, the
utility opened a second plant, located on Baker Creek, which used a waterwheel for
hydroelectric power and a wood-fired boiler as backup during low water levels.

In 1924, McMinnville Water and Light built its third and final power plant at the corner of 1st
and I streets (later Fifth and Irvine). The rectangular brick building, known today as the Old
City Power Plant, features a flat roof, plain common-bond brickwork, and windows on all
sides. Power generation began on July 5, 1924 with two 600-HP diesel engines. To meet
growing demand, workers installed a third 600-HP diesel engine in 1926 and a fourth in 1930. In
1937, the utility added a massive 1800 BHP Busch-Sulzer engine and a Marley Cooling Tower.
They constructed a south-end addition to house the new equipment, completing it in 1938.

The southeast corner boasts three distinctive one-and-a-half-story arched brick windows with
fanlights above double-hung doors. Three equally placed wood doors with entablature above
them line the north side. When the expanded plant opened, it ranked among the largest diesel
power plants in the United States and dramatically increased output while cutting fuel costs.

The city dedicated the facility on October 22, 1938. It supplied primary power until 1948, when
McMinnville Water and Light began purchasing electricity from the Bonneville Power
Administration. The plant then served as standby power for peak loads and emergencies until
operations fully ceased in 1978. After a major interior renovation in the early 2000s, the historic
building became a popular event venue that continues to welcome visitors today.

For images of the the property, and further details, check out the link below:

Historic Resources Inventory Documentation