Steam Power 101

Hanford Mills Museum is offering an in-depth course that teaches the theory and practical operation of a wood-fired steam power plant. Instructor Joe Michaels designed and helped to build the Museum’s wood-fired steam power plant. The class will begin with an overview of boiler and steam engine principles, operation, fittings, and equipment. Participants will learn how to fire a boiler, build and maintain a head of steam, control feed water, monitor steam engine valve settings, and other facets of steam engine operation in the Museum’s steam boiler plant. Beginners welcome, no technical expertise required.
The course will provide a working understanding of small, basic steam plant operation, which can be applied to other mill (or stationary) settings, as well as marine and mobile applications. 

The two-day course will be held Saturday, September 21 from 9 am – 5 pm and continues Sunday, September 22 from 9 am to 12 pm. The cost is $100 for Museum members, $125 for non-members. Register by September 17 online, www.hanfordmills.org or by calling the Museum, 607.278.5744. The class is limited to 10 participants. 

About Hanford Mills Museum
Hanford Mills Museum is open 10 am – 5 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays, and on holiday Mondays through October 14. Hanford Mills Museum is located at 51 County Hwy. 12, at the intersection of Delaware County Routes 10 and 12, in East Meredith, NY, 10 miles from Oneonta, and 15 miles from Delhi. Children 12 and under are admitted free, as are Museum members.  The admission fee for adults and teens (13-64) is $8.50; and for senior citizens, $6.50. AAA and military discounts are available.

As one of only a handful of operating water-powered mills, Hanford Mills Museum has earned a place on both the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places. The mission of Hanford Mills Museum is to inspire audiences of all ages to explore connections between energy, technology, natural resources and entrepreneurship in rural communities with a focus on sustainable choices. 
For more information, visit www.hanfordmills.org or call 607.278.5744.