The Herndon Gas Company was started in early 1900 by brothers Dr. Edwin and Dr. Benjamin Detwiler. It provided gas to power the streetlights in downtown Herndon and for a few of the more affluent households in town, including the brother’s homes. 

To produce the gas, calcium carbide was added to a hopper and gravity fed into a lower water tank. After dissolving in the water, the carbide produced acetylene gas, distributed through a piping system to street lights or homes.

The replica inside the station represents a 35-light generator that provided enough gas to illuminate 35 lights, or 30 lights and a two-burner stove. This type of unit was recharged once per month.

This building is one of three known gas-generating buildings in Herndon. These buildings were made of concrete and specially designed to implode rather than explode as a safety precaution.

The Detwiler brothers were innovators. Aside from the gas company, Edwin was responsible for erecting the first telephone pole in town.