Edison Sault Electric Co. To Host Tours

Edison Sault Electric Company will host self-guided tours at its hydroelectric plant Friday, August 12, and Saturday, August 13. The tours begin at the east end of the plant near Alford Park in Sault Ste. Marie and will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

The celebration is in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the Soo Locks, operated by the Army Corps of Engineers in Sault Ste. Marie.

The Edison Sault plant is the longest horizontal shaft hydroelectric plant in existence. The structure is a quarter mile long, with the power canal providing the water to run it just over two miles long. The facility is constructed of stone and steel; much of the red sandstone that was used was excavated from the power canal during its construction.

Additional stone from the excavation was used on other landmarks in Sault. Ste. Marie.

Photographs and a video of the construction of the facility will be displayed.