THIS PHOTO shows the Wakefield Municipal Light Plant on North Avenue in 1940. The cylindrical steel frame structure behind the building supported the telescopic gas holder (tank) that stored natural gas. Telescopic holders, typically used in gas distribution systems, emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They consist of multiple cylindrical sections that slide within each other. This design allows for vertical movement, enabling the holder to expand and contract based on gas volume. They were typically made from steel or reinforced materials to withstand pressure and environmental conditions. In this photo, the tank itself is not visible, indicating a lower volume of gas at the time that the photo was taken. When more gas was in the tank, the telescopic feature would allow the tank to expand upward to accommodate the added volume, and the tank would be visible above the building, as shown in the inset photo provided by MGLD General Manager Pete Dion.
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