Power House

Before the estate was connected to the municipal grid, the Power House, known on the blueprints and architectural drawings as the Heating Plant, generated everything the property needed: hot water and heat for the Main Residence and every building on the grounds.

Albert Kahn designed the Power House as part of the original estate, finishing it in the same Tudor Revival style as the Auxiliary Buildings and Main Residence. Its placement along the shoreline near Ford Cove was deliberate. A tunnel connects the Power House to the Main Residence through the basement, running underground between the two buildings. It is a reminder of how carefully the estate was engineered: not just designed to look beautiful from the outside but built to function as a complete and self-sufficient system beneath the surface.

The Power House is open to visitors throughout the year and is included with any Ford House admission ticket. Check with staff on the day of your visit for current access.