Acme Steel, Chicago Coke Plant
When I first discovered the plant, my goal was to identify what it was, or once was. I tried to use Google Search to figure out the address (which I eventually did), and then the county property tax ID. I never did – and I never spent anytime on this again, despite all my research. […]
Trains played an important role at the coke plant. They were used largely to move coal from nearby storage facilities to the plant as needed. The plant operated it’s own locomotives. Trains were also used to move hot iron from the furnace plant to the mill in Riverdale. Here at some of photos of Interlake/Acme […]
This project was months in the making and while it required substantial time to execute, the time to percolate ideas was even greater. I think about rich people (‘rich’ by my standards at least) and how they probably never do anything satisfying in their life. Not saying that all rich people don’t work hard, but […]
There is nothing more thrilling in my world of coke plant archeology then to recover a document or item; then sometime later recover another one which is a companion to the first. Suddenly information is unlocked and the latter serves as a Rosetta Stone for the former. Below I outline one of those great moments. […]
Friday April 29th 2022 was a perfect day. Strong words, I know. I think many people would say they never have a perfect day. Others might say they have good days, but not perfect. And I have many bad days. But if you take a vacation day at work, you should hit the streets and […]
There seems to be a lack of drone footage at the plant floating around the internet. So it was a good thing when my brother purchased a unit of his own! He has visited the plant with me twice before and was eager to go back, not just to get some good video but also […]
I first made acquaintance with Bob a few weeks ago when he reached out via email. He was interested in making a return to the plant (he had visited three times previously). I am always ready to head over, but when the prospect of doing so with a true tour guide – a real life […]
The blizzard of January 1978 was a huge storm mostly on the east coast, but it clipped the southeast side of Chicago with 14 inches of snow and plenty of wind. I remember it because I worked 32 hours. It was January 26-27th, two weeks after being hired at Interlake. I was still in coal […]
Bob Green (clock# 253) reached out to me after finding my website and we had a great back and forth via email, which is posted here. Bob has other contributions in the pipeline, and we also plan to visit the plant together soon and document that via video. Stay tuned! Bob, thanks so much for […]
I started working at Interlake Steel January 11 1978. I started at the coke plant, in the coal handling department. It was below zero and I woke up with the flu that morning. I was 20 years old and figured I better not miss my first day. I was in the labor gang and was […]