History Replays Today has a great history of the Fulton Gas Works:
The City of Richmond adopted an ordinance on Nov. 29, 1848 that created the “Committee on Light”, “to have constructed suitable works for the manufacture and distribution of carbureted hydrogen gas from bituminous coal for the purpose of illumination through the streets, lanes, and alleys of the city”.2 The committee purchased two lots on Cary St between 15th and 16th St (the block containing Buffalo Wild Wings and the parking lot for among other things, Frame Nation) as the sight of the gas works. Operations began on the site in 1851 with 627 private users which increased to 937 in the second year, out growing the plant in only two years.2 Being in the heart of the city there was no room for expansion so the Committee recommended the purchase or the current site of Fulton Gas Works closer to Rockets Landing in the Fulton neighborhood where there was room to expand. The land was purchased in 1853, construction began immediately, and Fulton Gas Works took over manufactured gas production for the city on October 5, 1856.2
PHOTO: Fulton Gas Works by red, white, and black eyes forever
6 comments
so, seriously, when is this place going to be a paintball-park?
That would be the perfect re-use. That’s a neat history lesson, I never really gave much thought to why they produced gas there, but just figured it was just made for shipping elsewhere in containers or something.
As recently as 1972, gas was stored at the gas works. Flooding from hurricane Agnes lifted tanks off morings. People were evacuate from Libby Terrace because of fear of an explosion.
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the obit of my great-great-grandmother said her funeral (probably reception) was to be at the Fulton Gas Works where her sons worked. Was there a building there for meetings, social events or even living quarters?