Categories
History/Research

Interlake corporate directory (1951)

I came across this item on ebay and watched it for about 10 days. They wanted $35 plus $5 shipping. This is a big price for what I knew would amount to probably 1 page of coke related content. This item does however offer some other info just at face value. It seems to insinuate […]

Categories
History/Research

In Danger of Becoming 15th

I look at loads of Acme/Interlake related ‘stuff’ on ebay everyday. Most of it I do not buy and just add to the Ephemera page. But once in a while I see something so cool I just have to have it. The photos are really cool but whoever wrote that ad copy got a Cleo […]

Categories
History/Research

11196 aka 11000 S. Torrence Ave.

In about two years of hunting for documents and sharing them with the world via this website, I have come across a small handful that I just wasn’t sure what to do with. These documents seem to have some historical significance but are only a piece to a puzzle – and the other pieces are […]

Categories
History/Research

The Secret Language of Surveyors

Surveyors have a language all of their own. Once upon a time, people needed a way to express via the written word where a piece of land was, and how large it was. I don’t know if surveyors still write like this or not. Then again, at least in South Deering, nothing has changed in […]

Categories
History/Research

Who is paying the property tax at Acme?

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. […]

Categories
History/Research

Trains at Acme/Interlake

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 […]

Categories
History/Research

“Seeing How the Sausage is Made”

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. […]

Categories
History/Research

Rail Transportation at By-Products Coke Corp.

This guest piece was written and submitted by local historian Bob Lalich. His research on this topic is unprecedented and nothing similar is available to our knowledge. Big thanks to Bob for sharing this valuable information! By-Products Coke Corp plant was constructed in 1905. The plant was served by a dedicated railroad – Calumet, Hammond […]

Categories
History/Research

At Acme, Customers are First

My first exposure to this logo was on the 2001 original version of acmecoke.com. When my friend (and Acme veteran) Steve Buckner mentioned that he had created a site near the end of the plant’s run, I went to archive.org to find it. I ended up rebuilding the site on my own server which is […]

Categories
History/Research

Main Office Floor Plan

The main office is a sight to behold to all visitors to the plant, whether seasoned or not. 93 years old as of this writing, its solid construction is built to last a millenia. I have found countless artifacts and important documents here and while I have had many interesting times around the property, I […]