The Allen Steam Station in Gaston County, N.C., has served customers in North Carolina and South Carolina well for more than 65 years. Unit 3 retired in March 2021, units 2 and 4 retired in December 2021, unit 5 retired on Sept. 30 and unit 1 will retire by Dec. 31.
Retro takes us behind the scenes, illuminating some of the people and places that have contributed to the station’s rich history. Allen was home to a series of firsts for the company, from the weight of its massive electric rotors and furnace boiler size to the placement of smokestacks on the ground rather than on the roof.
Some of these photos have identification, but we need help with a few others. If you can identify anyone or anything, please email us at DukeEnergyCorporateCommunications@duke-energy.com.
Photo 1: The dedication of the Allen Steam Station on Sept. 23, 1957. George Garland (G.G.) Allen, whom the station is named for, is third from left. Allen grew up on a farm in Warren County, N.C., and worked as a bookkeeper before joining the company. Allen went on to serve as president and first chairman of the board for Duke Power. He’s been characterized as “alert, questioning, ready to give praise or criticism as the facts may justify, but always kind and forever fair in his treatment of personalities and issues.”
Photo 2: Vincent Brooks is pictured at the controls on the 50th anniversary of Allen. Brooks' grandson, British Brooks, played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels before signing with the Houston Texans in 2024.
Photo 10: This photo from 1955 is when housing for workers was being built. Do you recognize the makes and models of the vehicles?
Photo 5: Does this lab look familiar? We're interested to know what these employees are up to.
Photo 4: Our files note that is the “award winning softball team.” Can you name any of the team members and what year this might be?
Photo 14: Joye Davis said her dad is on the right, working as an electrician on units 1 and 2 during construction: "He was only 27 years old! I wasn't born yet, but they lived in the village on-site for a bit." Note that there were no safety glasses or fall protection required then.
Photo 13: A group of Duke Power leaders at Allen Steam Station stand in front of Unit 1. Many would go on to leave their mark within the company in years to come. Included is a young Bill Lee, who would later become Duke Power’s CEO.
Photo 11: A worker looks back at the camera as units 3 and 4 are being built. At the time of its construction, Allen was Duke Power’s largest generating plant. The plant’s units could produce 1,155 megawatts of energy, which was enough to power nearly 1 million homes.
