The Hudson? A river too far.

Niagara Hudson Water Heater
Niagara Hudson Water Heater

In 1935, Niagara Hudson was only about 6 years old, having consolidated 59 little utilities into an electric and gas behemoth that reached across the state. In this area it still carried the brand of New York Power and Light, as well as the Niagara Hudson name. Just two years later, the company would reorganize again under the name of Central New York Power Corporation, but still keeping the NYP&L moniker as well. Finally, in 1950, all the companies and names were consolidated into Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. Why did they abandon the Hudson in their name, when the territory still reached all the way to the Massachusetts border? Not a clue, but so it was until 2000 when it was bought up by National Grid, a UK corporation.

In 1935, Niagara Hudson was offering an innovation in domestic convenience: an automatic water heater. But unlike today’s programs to produce on-demand hot water with tankless systems, this program didn’t involve pesky new hardware. No, for just a dollar a month, NiHud techs would come to your home, slather your tank with a mysterious insulating cream, put a lid on it, and tuck a thermocoupler and burner underneath. At least I think that’s what they were doing, but the whole rig sounds questionable at best.

Want more on the history of Niagara Mohawk? Okay, here.

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