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This unusual fact story is reprinted from The
Transmitter, the newsletter of the Folsom Powerhouse State Historic
Park. Many CCHS members will remember a delightful evening spent at this
significant site in 1995 when Folsom hosted the annual meeting.
Anyone who has been through a docent-led
tour of the Historic Folsom Powerhouse has no doubt learned about the
groundbreaking advancements in technology that were an innovative part of
the development of the powerhouse. (Parallel generator operation,
three-phase power, step-up transformers, long-distance transmission at high
voltage and the first ever power grid operation.)
One marvels at the complex and rugged
machinery that had been used to produce hydroelectric power: the highly
efficient McCormick water turbine, the innovative adjustable vane flow
control system used to regulate turbine speed, and the sophisticated
governor that was used to automatically regulate the vane flow control
system. However, did you know that the bearings used to support the spinning
water turbine shafts of the powerhouse were made out of wood?
The Lignum Vitae tree (Guaiacum
officinales), which can be found growing in the West Indies and from
southern Mexico to Venezuela, produces a very hard and dense wood that is
known for its durability and self-lubricating properties. The tree’s name,
which is Latin for “tree of life,” refers to its medicinal values. In
addition, the wood has long been a favorite choice by engineers for use as a
rotating shaft bearing material in applications where there is exposure to
water. Besides their use in the Folsom Powerhouse water turbine application,
shipbuilders used Lignum Vitae in the construction of propeller shaft
bearings for use on their ships. America’s famous Liberty Ships are just one
of the many different ships built to sail the Seven Seas using these wooden
bearings.
The next time you’re visiting the
powerhouse, ask one of the docents to show you one of these wooden pieces of
history.
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