The Shoebox

Hold on John (1952)

Two employees working on the substation at Garvins Falls Hydro, which is located in Bow on the Merrimack River.

Bring Your A-Frame (c. 1950s)

Prior to truck-mounted augers, utility poles were dug by hand. The crew would then use an A-Frame Digger truck to help raise and set the pole. This photo was taken at PSNH’s Automotive Maintenance Center in Manchester’s millyard.

Washing Machine Charlie (c. 1950s)

Reader Submission!

This is a photo of PSNH employee George “Washing Machine Charlie” St. Cyr in front of his first company truck. George started working for PSNH in 1945 as an appliance repairman. The truck itself was higher in the back so that he could deliver appliances from it.

Why “Washing Machine Charlie”? According to George, “There was a lineman on Amherst St. that could not remember my name, so he nicknamed me Washing Machine Charlie, as I was repairing washing machines at the time, and all the other linemen called me by that nickname.”

Thanks George!

Meters in Hand (1954)

An employee gets ready for the day at the 73 W. Brook St. office in Manchester.

Cooling Off (1955)

An operator opens one of the condenser valves at Schiller Station in Portsmouth, NH. When the valve is open, river water is able to cool off the exhaust steam from the turbine—which sits above the condenser—thus squeezing the last bit of energy out of the steam to maximize unit efficiency. This completes the Rankine cycle, converting heat into energy. The same valves exist at Schiller today. 

PSNH Lineman (c. 1950s)

According to Linda Clark, the lineman in this photo is Roland Nichols.

He worked on the lines with my grandfather, Harry (Doc) Nelson. My grandfather worked from the 1920s throughout the late 50s. Nick gave our family a chocolate cake recipe which has been handed down through present generation.

2013-01-14: Updated with name of lineman.

Diver at Greggs Falls Hydro (1955)

Diver inspecting water gate at Greggs Falls Hydro Station in Goffstown. PSNH owned Greggs Falls until the mid-1980s. It still operates and is visible from RT 114 in Goffstown. Divers are used extensively at hydro plants to make underwater repairs without drawing down the reservoir.

2012-05-02: Thanks to Bob Gundersen for the updated description!

Inside PSNH’s Garage (1956)

This mechanic is working on one of the cars used by meter readers. PSNH’s Automotive Maintenance Center is still located on the corner of Canal and Pennacook Streets in Manchester.

Laying Cable (1952)

Downtown Manchester’s underground electric system was installed between 1951–53.

Linetruck(1956)