The Third 25 Years:
Cooling debuts, energy crisis weathered
1960 –1984
This section’s focus is 1960-1984, which brought some
changes and challenges for the association. During
these 25 years, the association and its members saw the birth of
commercial district cooling, battled the energy crises of the 1970s,
encountered a competitor and began to recognize the importance
of lobbying on a national scale.
Year President (now known as chair)
1960 Albert F. Metzger, Pittsburgh, Pa.
1961 John D. Lemon, Indianapolis, Ind.
1962 Frank C. Meyer, Boston Edison, Boston, Mass.
1963 Robert H. Swoyer, Allentown, Pa.
1964 James W. Heaton, Philadelphia, Pa.
1965 Carl W. Signor, Detroit, Mich.
1966 E.C. Bruce, New York, N. Y.
1967 Donald H. Brandt, Jackson, Mich.
1968 S.F. Whirl, Duquesne Light Co., Pittsburgh, Pa.
1969 J. W. Megley, Boston Edison, Boston, Mass.
1970 Chester C. Curley, Allentown, Pa.
1971 Everett C. Russell, Philadelphia Electric Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
1972 Joseph J. Bosl, ADSCO, Cleveland, Ohio
1973 Alvin B. Spetz, Rochester Gas & Electric Corp., Rochester, N. Y.
1974 Carroll W. Easton, Seattle Steam Co., Seattle, Wash.
1975 Ellwood A. Clymer, Philadelphia Electric Co., Philadelphia, Pa.
1976 Mack A. Riley, Alabama Power Co., Birmingham, Ala.
1977 Norman R. Taylor, Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., Baltimore, Md.
1978 Lawrence E. Tuck, Boston Edison, Boston, Mass.
1979 Helge Nurmi, Detroit Edison, Detroit, Mich.
1980 Robert F. Botsford, Rochester Gas-Electric, Rochester, N. Y.
1981 John Vandermolen, University of Guelph, Ont., Canada
1982 Clement Crooks, Baltimore Gas & Electric Co., Baltimore, Md.
1983 Anthony C. Mirabella, Hartford Steam Service Co., Hartford, Conn.
1984 Herbert A. Jaehne, District Heating Development Co., St. Paul, Minn.
NDHA/IDHA 1960-1984: The Third 25 Years
College and university systems
started even before NDHA was born
Dartmouth – 1898
Drake University – 1908
Goshen College – 1904
Indiana University, Bloomington – 1885
Iowa State University – 1884
Mansfield University – 1800s
Mount Holyoke College – 1898
Pittsburgh State University – 1903
Texas A&M University – pre-1900
University of California, Berkeley – 1904
University of Colorado, Boulder – 1909
University of Michigan – late 1800s
University of Missouri, Columbia – 1892
University of New Mexico – 1897
University of Northern Iowa – 1883
University of Pittsburgh – 1907
University of Washington – 1898
Williams College – 1902
Annual conference location
Asheville, N.C.
Portsmouth, N.H.
White Sulphur Springs, W.V.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada
Williamsburg, Va.
Cooperstown, N. Y.
Whitefield, N.H.
Belleair, Mich.
Hershey, Pa.
Mont Gabriel, Que., Canada
Buck Hill Falls, Pa.
Oak Brook, Ill.
French Lick, Ind.
Cooperstown, N. Y.
Skytop, Pa.
Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Pinehurst, N.C.
Hot Springs, Va.
Dixville Notch, N.H.
Harbor Springs, Mich.
Cooperstown, N. Y.
Ste. Anne de Beaupre, Que., Canada
Lancaster, Pa.
Bretton Woods, N.H.
The Magazine’s
Early Days
District Energy magazine began
publication as “The Bulletin of
the National District Heating
Association” in October 1915.
The publication’s philosophy is
summed up in an article in that
issue by Prof. J.D. Hoffman: “This
is an age of co-operation. Trade
secrets are few. Valuable informa-
tion is, so to speak, thrust at us
in the technical press and the
schools of the country, almost
without cost. It certainly shows lack
of ambition or carelessness on the
part of the man who fails to take
advantage of this information to
the improvement of himself and the
position he occupies.” Well said.
1968 – National District Heating Association becomes
the International District Heating Association (IDHA).
Biggest Industry News of the ‘60s: IDHA-member Hartford
Steam starts up first commercial chilled-water system in the United States
in 1962. Once the new plant
was up and running, it quickly
became a destination for local
and international tour groups.
This group of fifth graders from
Duffy School in West Hartford
toured the plant in early 1963.
Believe It or Not! David L. Gaskill, NDHA’s secretary from
Ohio, reported in 1925 that Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia, had
been a member of the National District Heating Association under
an assumed name.
