Awhile back I took a friend to the food bank and got to snooping into the windows of the large green OPALCO generator buildings, my god, what a great untapped piece of island history.

To my knowledge, this is the only generator shack of this kind still in pristine condition in the county and probably one of a hand full left in the state, the “open face” generators are a great educational tool for generations to come. If one of these units actually fired up and worked, it would throw a shower of blue/white sparks that would make an impression on a young mind for a life time and may help to foster a life long interest in the sciences. Money generated by this endeavor above and beyond simple maintenance costs could be donated to local charities, the food bank comes to mind. I feel that if the museum and OPALCO worked together this could be a valuable part of our island heritage for generations o come.

This “heritage asset” should not be neglected in the way it is now. It is a shame to see such a historical site left to gather rust, dust and condensation. Were it not for these historical machines the island would not be what it is today, nor would the county, for that matter. Let’s preserve our heritage. It is the foundation of our existence, here, in this beautiful place we call home.

DAVID DUNLAP

Eastsound