In the middle of the 19th Century, the city of Troy New York was a huge industrial center. As such it required huge amounts of fuel for its factories and for the homes of its workers. By the 1870’s the primary fuel was coal gas, made by heating coal in the absence of oxygen. It primarily comprised of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. It was held in large tanks, and then distributed via pipes.
The gasholder house, owned by Troy Gas Light Company was built in 1873, with a telescoping tank inside of its walls to store the gas. The tank was 100 feet in diameter, over 40 feet tall when full. These houses were common in the 1800’s, as coal gas was manufactured in the areas where it was needed. It was in use until 1929, and while the interior tank was dismantled in the 1930’s, the building remains, and has been recognized as a historic site.
I am very familiar with this building. I grew up a block away. It’s on the corner of 5th and Jefferson Streets . It’s an amazing and beautiful structure .