Pictured is the power plant and car barn for the Allentown Kutztown Traction Company, a trolley line running between Allentown and Reading which later became the Allentown Reading Traction Company. Electricity was generated here, and the trolleys were repaired in the trolley barn. Any excess electricity was sold in bulk to the Borough to resell to the residents and to light the streets. This was how the Borough got into the electric business.
Located at 58 to 72 Willow Street, this was also the headquarters for the traction company. Portions of the power house still stand today, located between Radius and AD Moyer Lumber. Photo is circa 1902 from the Kutztown Area Historical Collection.