5 Upham Street
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
I’ve always been fascinated by the building at 5 Upham Street.
It was originally an electrical substation for Malden Electric, one of many local utilities in Massachusetts that were eventually absorbed by Massachusetts Electric Company and, later, National Grid.
Substations like this one played a vital role in the power grid, handling the transmission, distribution, and regulation of electricity.
Although it no longer functions as a substation, the building is still in use—now serving as a storage facility for National Grid equipment, including wires and underground conduits.
