this post will be the probably pretty famous due to the out-in-the-open location pipe foundry in my favorite city in the entirety of the united states. I have been waiting to explore this place for over a year now after seeing it every weekend on my drive off the mountain into town after a hard week of taking care of little shit children, both the spoiled and the troubled. This location to date is my biggest or second biggest explore location, and one of the more interesting. Where i live we don't have large turn of the century factories, and i am a sucker for a crane and a control room.


we will start with a couple exteriors. I took this show from the top of the mountain a couple miles away
IMG_0108 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

then this is a 3d from google maps

Screen Shot 2015-07-31 at 10.18.03 AM by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

IMG_0963 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

IMG_0792 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

first thing we did was park our exploration wagon about a half mile away in a parking lot and walked towards the spot. When first entering the location you see this brand new side walk.. they are currently trying to develope the site as a shopping center and office park, which as an architecture major studying reuse and up cycled things I'm all for this redevelopment. but it was still weird to see a brand new sidewalk at an 1800s factory.
IMG_1003 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

walking more toward the biggest of the buildings you enter through a large doorway into this expansive room that was clearly the main production area. every step you took was a cloud of black dust that rose up. there were two over head sliding cranes. both of which we climbed and hung out at the top of.
6. IMG_0821 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
7. IMG_0755 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
8. IMG_0775 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
9. IMG_0814 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

Here is an example of the black dust/sand that clouds when you step. Andrew, the guy on the beam, kicked some dirt down off of that beam.

IMG_0818 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

view of the working parts of the crane at the top.

IMG_0777 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

IMG_0809 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

IMG_0784 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

IMG_0767 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

next part of journey was this little stairwell to the underground portion of the big room. we were only down there for a couple minutes cause it was terrible haha. I took a couple shitty pictures because my tripod broke right when we got there.
15. IMG_0757 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
16. IMG_0762 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
17. IMG_0764 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
18. IMG_0763 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

after leaving this section we headed out side and towards the big ass building called the cleaning shed. 19. IMG_0829 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

this building was another tall ass room that wasn't as long as the first room, but much more character.
the door at the side there was at least ten feet tall for comparison. But i believe it was much taller because i would be willing to bet a semi truck could drive in and out of there.
20. IMG_0831 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

Quick break for a sick ass profile shot of Tre'

21.
IMG_0836 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

I don't know if anyone can see it but there is a ladder all the way to to the top where you can slide along the wall on an I beam to the hanging crane. We did. and it was sketchy af. We are all ClimbingWall instructors at the camp we worked at so we all brought our harness and crab claws, but we never ended up using the claws. we wore them just in case.

22.IMG_0838 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
23.IMG_0856 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
24.IMG_0852 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

25.IMG_0875 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

26.IMG_0864 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
That climb is where we got dirty as shit. You should have seen us walking around down town after this little adventure. We had to sponge bath ourselves at a taco joint bathroom. then we ordered fried cactus haha it was great.

Next on the adventure we hit the machine shop and mould room. The bricks used for the floors are actually made of wood and are extremely light. it was interesting to see.

27.IMG_0841 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
28.IMG_0896 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
29.IMG_0916 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
30.IMG_0898 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
31.IMG_0891 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr
32.IMG_0742 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

33.IMG_0948 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

34.IMG_0883 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

35.IMG_0938 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

36.IMG_0925 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

doing my part to keep these places clean. also, there you can see my climbing harness and my crab claws up around my shoulders

37.IMG_0930 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

38.IMG_0927 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr


Last stop, we hit the showers, there are a few more pictures on my flickr that didn't make the cut. This post is already picture heavy as shit. sorry about that

39.IMG_0999 by Blane schwindt, on Flickr

Did those showers at the end of your explore provide any relief from the dirt and dust you guys accumulated? Goodness, you look like you were on a survival mission through the Town of Doom. Great explore and pics. Liking all the high places you hit.

We friggin loved that place!! One of our all time favorite spots. The machine shop and electrical rooms are my favorite. So many things to look at when we went. And those sidewalks weren't there yet. Just the molds for them and the pylons for the lamp posts.

Excellent set and write up!

That is an awesome spot!

Posted by Misunderstood Did those showers at the end of your explore provide any relief from the dirt and dust you guys accumulated? Goodness, you look like you were on a survival mission through the Town of Doom. Great explore and pics. Liking all the high places you hit.

Thank you! it was one of the most fun for sure. climbing and control rooms are always a priority on my explores hahah

this place looks absolutely amazing! the pictures are great too.

Posted by rachelmackayy this place looks absolutely amazing! the pictures are great too.

Thank you!!