Acme Steel, Chicago Coke PlantI can usually be found at the plant on Saturday mornings. After my visits, I always share the details including photos, scans, video and a detailed list of the new documents to be added to the Document Archive.
In late August 2022 I got some insider info that the CCLBA (who I knew had taken possession of some part of the plant since winter 2021-2022) had one of the two parcels on the market. Their website allows you to make a formal request for permissions to physically visit and view the property so […]
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 […]
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 […]
All week long the forecast was calling for a high of near 70F. In my mind, this meant that there might be some fair weather explorers who wanted to swing by. God bless them on their investigations but I prefer to be alone, so I did my best to get on the road early. I […]
There is something especially enjoyable about taking the bus to the plant. And something about visiting the plant in bad weather: cold, and a heavy load of fresh snow is preferable. The more you have to suffer to attain something, or survive the journey to your destination (and back), the sweeter it is. As of […]
I was eager to get back to the plant after the nightmare wet weather last week. It was bitterly cold but I am well acquainted with that after at least a dozen visits last winter. It feels good to know that I have the place to myself and won’t be disturbed, normal people have families […]
It had been a few weeks since I visited the plant, and quite a bit longer since I spent any amount of quality time there. As Saturday rolled around, a blizzard was supposedly in the works as well so I thought it would be a good day to accept the challenge and do it the […]
It’s been a long time since I had a serious mission to accomplish at the plant. The past 5-6 visits were brief and mostly just to hang out. Nothing wrong with that, but I have longed for last winter when the sense of urgency was palpable at 6am as I lay in bed on my […]
Almost since the first time I visited the plant, I badly wanted to come and visit in the evening. A big part of that would be to have a beer(s), as I do my best to avoid day drinking. This would almost require staying the night somewhere in the area however due to the distance, […]
I’m not sure exactly when I first purchased shish-kabob meat from Baltimore foods, but this video is from sometime in 2018 and I have it marked as my third trip. I guess that makes sense because I can find photos of labels from 2016 and 2017. Quite a collection I have here! I don’t know […]