Robert Gordon and Patrick Malone have just published a thoroughly researched and annotated paper, “‘Perpetual power’ from the Tides in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 1813–1858.” Both authors are long-time Tide Mill Institute supporters and advisors and have spoken about Boston tide mills at past TMI conferences.
According to its abstract, the 27-page paper describes how engineers “overcame daunting technological challenges” to harness the tides in Boston from 1822 to 1858, providing “continuous, uniform tidal power to Boston industries.” This energy-producing system operated like a modern utility by selling this energy to industrial customers. Inventors and artisans, too, took advantage of this energy source, and roads built on the dams around the tidal basins became important transportation links.
Continue reading “Just Published: Perpetual Power from Boston Tides, 1822 to 1858”
The Middlesex Canal Association of North Billerica, Mass., has published an in-depth paper about Boston area tide mills in its long-running periodical, Towpath Topics. The paper, by Tide Mill Institute founder and Dorchester Historical Society president Earl Taylor, describes tide mill sites from Revere to Quincy, Mass., including Boston. The paper also places the tide mills in historical context and discusses why use of tide power faded away. 
