Florence Gas Light and Fuel Company/Florence Gas Works

Florence Gas Light and Fuel Company/Florence Gas Works

Industry

This company was the leader in fuel production for the people of Florence. The old Florence Gas Light and Fuel Company/Florence Gas Works operated on Old Huntsville Road, west of the Florence Steam Laundry in Sweetwater. The main office of the company that ran the Florence Gas Works had its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Production at the facility began in 1903, a year after the company was established in east Florence in 1902. The gas plant produced about 75,000 cubic feet of gas that was used for lighting of street lamps and homes, heating within homes, and cooking as well. The people of Florence had to pay two dollars a thousand cubic feet for lighting in their homes and four dollars and fifty cents per thousand cubic feet for heating and cooking in 1903. The company also sold Welsbach incandescent light appliances and gas stoves for heating and cooking.

Matthew C. Fesmire, University of North Alabama

Text Sources:

McDonald, William Lindsey. "A Walk Through the Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2003.

McDonald, William Lindsey. "Remembering Sweetwater: The Mansions, The Mills, The People." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2002.

Picture Source:

UNA Archives & Special Collection. William L. McDonald Collection. “Florence Gas Light and Fuel Company/Florence Gas Works.” Florence, Alabama. Box 12: Florence Industry, 12-02.

Alabama Cultural Resource Survey

Early Twentieth Century

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