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The Power House is an electrical supply building on the northwest coast of Alcatraz Island, off the coast of San Francisco, USA. It was constructed in 1939 for $186,000 as part of a $1.1 million modernization scheme which also included the water tower, New Industries Building, officers quarters and remodeling of the D-block.[1] The white powerhouse smokestack and lighthouse were said to give an "appearance of a ship's mast on either side of the island".[2] "A Warning. Keep Off. Only Government permitted within 200 yards" sign lay in front of the powerhouse to deter people landing on the island at the point.
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Between 1939 and 1963 it supplied power to the Federal Penitentiary and other buildings on the island. The powerhouse had a tower duty station which was guarded with a "30-caliber Winchester rifle with 50 rounds of ammunition, a Colt .45 semiautomatic pistol with three seven-round magazines, three gas grenades, and a gas mask."[3]
References
- ↑ "The History of Alcatraz". Alcatrazhistory.com. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ MacDonald, Donald; Nadel, Ira (15 February 2012). Alcatraz: History and Design of a Landmark. Chronicle Books. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-4521-0153-8. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ↑ Wellman, Gregory L. (28 May 2008). A History of Alcatraz Island:: 1853-2008. Arcadia Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7385-5815-8. Retrieved 31 August 2012.