Acme Steel, Chicago Coke Plant
This sign was a real mess. Unlike all the others I have found, this one showed some serious corner cutting to save a few bucks. The backing is a painted steel plate. But the lettering is just attached to a cheap transparency which was somehow adhered to the steel. It wasn’t adhered very well, that […]
In my document archeology, I often times find a quotation or proposal for a project, then some accompanying notes. Often times these notes seem to be preparation to ‘sell’ the idea of the capital improvement to a superior. Or other times, they may be notes taken while in a meeting with the vendor, who explains […]
I swore all week I’d take this weekend off but that didn’t last. Perfect weather – had an awesome ride up to 100th before I hit the plant. I ran into a couple around the quench station as I entered. Really awesome people – we walked around and chatted for about 20 minutes. We talked […]
I never thought I’d get to 20 visits. I’ve spent a lot of time at the plant. And I’m still not done. I always remind myself of how terrified I was on my first visit (I can relive it anytime I want by watching the video). Back then I didn’t know anything about coke or […]
After my revelatory moment last weekend, it was a matter of time until I ascended to the top of the coal bunker, after months of toying with this in my mind. I could have waited until Saturday (right now it is Thursday evening), but I was driving back from Michigan Thursday afternoon and Acme is […]
I came with my brother on this trip, he had never been but we had discussed many times. Did my usual hook up Ave. O to 100th, then back down Torrence. Great day for a ride, perfect crisp weather and winds were low. The finds: gas alarm w/ photos (1980) This is a number of […]
Last weekend’s search yielded this excellent 30 year old text. The constitution and by-laws aren’t worthy of much time but what follows is historically important, to be sure. But before we get to that – what is the WSBFACPA? Section II of their constitution states: “The purpose of this association is to promote good fellowship […]
I initially covered finding this massive text back on site visit #15. This is a draft written by an outside vendor and clearly Acme was not happy with the results. I shared a crop previously – the inside front cover is filled with notes about the difficult correspondence with the vendor, here they are in […]
My first plan of attack was to head back into the BP office and continue to dig through the frozen landfill I have been neglecting for months. I found a big plastic bin as well which I brought back to the main office. I had been wanting to try to offload junk from the asst. […]
One thing that has always intrigued me is the history of plant, related to the various mergers and spinoffs that have changed the name of the coke plant since it opened in the early 1900s. The oldest documents I have found that show ‘Interlake’ as a name are from the mid 50s, I have a […]