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UER Forum > US: Great Lakes > Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel (Viewed 3002 times)
Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
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Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< on 10/14/2019 2:06 PM >
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Nothing to hide or protect here, albeit probably against my better judgement. Already covered in shit tags and poorly drawn dicks. Not only the tunnel, but random rocks and trees in the area have been tagged by mentally challenged dickholes who seem to think people want to look at their shit. I hope they all fall squarely on their spray can tips and have to endure long and painful surgery plus extended recovery time to remove the can from their can. Also, while you are spray-dicking, enjoy smashing a hobo camp and stealing 140yr old limestone blocks that probably weigh 600lbs a piece. Now that that rant is over, I admittedly would not complain if someone broke through the seal at the end of the tunnel. However, it must be pretty damn thick as there was indeed failed sledge marks all over it....

Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel, Shorewood WI. Literally no history exists, hence the mystery. Local historians are even stumped, as no documentation exists in any archive. There are several theories. The one that makes the most sense is that it was a carriage tunnel that allowed Schlitz Brewing access to ice on the Milwaukee river, and passage back to one of 5 icehouses that are known to have been in the area. It tunnels underneath what used to be the Northwestern Union Railway, and is now the Oak Leaf Recreational Trail. Best guess is that it was built in 1880ish.

Regarding the seal 60ft in, surely someone, somewhere knows that part of the story. However I could not find any info anywhere on it. No clue how long the tunnel once was, where the other portal was, or what year it was sealed. A densely populated neighborhood, and a high school football field have long hidden any evidence of length and the other portal.


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[last edit 10/14/2019 4:18 PM by Mr. Bitey - edited 1 times]

Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

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Girlexplorer234 


Location: Altoona, Iowa
Gender: Female
Total Likes: 3 likes




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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 1 on 10/14/2019 2:45 PM >
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What is the address for this place? Like are there numbers?



[last edit 10/14/2019 2:46 PM by Girlexplorer234 - edited 1 times]

Lizzy
Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 848 likes


Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 2 on 10/14/2019 3:02 PM >
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Posted by Girlexplorer234
What is the address for this place? Like are there numbers?


Literally every piece of info you need to find it, sans GPS coordinates, is in the post. Google bitch is an urbex monster.




Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

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Aran 


Location: Kansas City
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1839 likes


Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 3 on 10/14/2019 5:41 PM >
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Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Posted by Girlexplorer234
What is the address for this place? Like are there numbers?


Also, it's considered extremely poor form to ask for locations here, especially GPS coordinates and addresses. You're new so it can be excused the first time, but just be aware that asking for locations in the future is going to get you responses ranging from suspicious to downright hostile, and for many good reasons.

Read through the stickied posts in the Rookie Section and learn the basic dos and don'ts of this community, post some exploration pics of your own and you'll be welcomed. Just bear in mind that this community doesn't do location handouts because we've learned from bitter experience the destruction that can cause.




"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

blackhawk 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: Mission Control
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UER newbie

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 4 on 10/14/2019 5:47 PM >
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There's a record of it somewhere.
Old topographic maps and aerial pics most likely would shed some light on it.




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Explorer Zero 


Total Likes: 2026 likes




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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 5 on 10/14/2019 5:54 PM >
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Just took a quick peek at Google Earth. Is Oakleaf trail a former RR right of way?

In any case is the carriage path theory has any corroborating evidence like proximity to the Schlitz location or there is another abutment opposite this one that would make sense, if you use the ruler tool on Google earth you can measure it

Can you compare it to old maps to see if any chance it or the carriage path was somehow marked or labeled?

Or maybe just an early Druid wine cellar I hear theres dozens of those up there




ThePilotGuy 


Gender: Male
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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 6 on 10/14/2019 6:08 PM >
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Seems like there is a lot of dirt and debris down the tunnel. I'm guessing water flow in rain brings it in which would mean there is some sort of opening or seam even if it is small. At this point I'm wondering how much of that section of tunnel is being held up with the plug.




The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.
Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 848 likes


Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 7 on 10/14/2019 6:16 PM >
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Posted by 2Xplorations
Just took a quick peek at Google Earth. Is Oakleaf trail a former RR right of way?

In any case is the carriage path theory has any corroborating evidence like proximity to the Schlitz location or there is another abutment opposite this one that would make sense, if you use the ruler tool on Google earth you can measure it

Can you compare it to old maps to see if any chance it or the carriage path was somehow marked or labeled?

Or maybe just an early Druid wine cellar I hear theres dozens of those up there


Oak Leaf Trail was once upon a time the Northwestern Union Railroad. I have found articles that have said Schlitz had 5 icehouses in the area, but have not found exactly where. I have a tendency to lose the research motivation AFTER the explore. This location was cool, but not likely one I'll continue to revisit. As such, I doubt I will spend much more time on additional research.

BEFORE an explore is a much different story. I dig the shit out of information available online, and sometimes will dip into physical archives at local libraries and records rooms. The information I shared on this site is pretty much all there is. It truly is a local mystery. There are articles out there by historians who have dug into it extensively, and didn't find much more than I....

Historical aerial images in the immediate Milwaukee area can be misleading too, as valleys have been filled, rivers and stream rerouted, hill tops leveled, etc. We absolutely raped this land as compared to what it was pre-industry....



[last edit 10/14/2019 6:35 PM by Mr. Bitey - edited 1 times]

Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium.
Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 848 likes


Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 8 on 10/14/2019 6:24 PM >
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Posted by ThePilotGuy
Seems like there is a lot of dirt and debris down the tunnel. I'm guessing water flow in rain brings it in which would mean there is some sort of opening or seam even if it is small. At this point I'm wondering how much of that section of tunnel is being held up with the plug.


Water intrusion is a fair assumption, given the debris. It does drip a bit from over head, but the land outside the portal slopes down to the river. I don't think the debris was washed in, simply from the observation of many fire pits within. And the pits were on the low points inside the tunnel. Plus - we've had quite a bit of rain the last few weeks. If it flooded I would have expected it to be muddy, as the surrounding area was Finally, all the wood debris looks hand stacked, likely firewood.




Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium.
Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 848 likes


Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 9 on 10/14/2019 6:34 PM >
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Posted by Girlexplorer234
What is the address for this place? Like are there numbers?


Posted by Aran


Also, it's considered extremely poor form to ask for locations here, especially GPS coordinates and addresses. You're new so it can be excused the first time, but just be aware that asking for locations in the future is going to get you responses ranging from suspicious to downright hostile, and for many good reasons.

Read through the stickied posts in the Rookie Section and learn the basic dos and don'ts of this community, post some exploration pics of your own and you'll be welcomed. Just bear in mind that this community doesn't do location handouts because we've learned from bitter experience the destruction that can cause.


I didn't say as much, but Aran is 100% right. So much so in fact I took a gamble at angering the UE Gods with all the give away info I already included in the OP. I can't believe someone would need, let alone ask for even more... I understand The Google is hard, but do I really need to hold someone's hand and walk them to the location's doorstep? Good Lord.... Even the post's title gives this place away....




Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium.
w0nKa 


Location: MSP/KC
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 55 likes


Maze is 100% done! Rockin!

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 10 on 10/14/2019 10:07 PM >
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I find it really hard to believe nobody knows what it is. Looks to me like a disused sewer outfall. I'd get up top and start looking down some manholes.



434574.jpg (70 kb, 800x764)
click to view

434575.jpg (55 kb, 800x506)
click to view





Mr. Bitey 


Location: Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 848 likes


Meow Meow Fudder Mucker!

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 11 on 10/14/2019 10:53 PM >
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Posted by w0nKa
I find it really hard to believe nobody knows what it is. Looks to me like a disused sewer outfall. I'd get up top and start looking down some manholes.




16ft ceiling. Not one article mentioned sewer. And really not that unreasonable for there to be no historical documentation - things do get lost over time. Everything I relayed, is what I found in various articles. And there are partner tunnels in the area that DO have documentation. But none of the other are near this large. I am also pretty sure the historians that did research exhaustively into the mystery are well aware of Google satellite images and the man hole covers....

https://milwaukeen...-tunnel/#more-5491




[last edit 10/14/2019 10:59 PM by Mr. Bitey - edited 1 times]

Give abandonment a reason for its sacrificial reclamation to nature. Love it. Remember it. Take a picture. Share it. Leave the decay to nature.

Lifetime member of The Anti-MyInstaTubeTweetFace consortium.
blackhawk 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: Mission Control
Total Likes: 3996 likes


UER newbie

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 12 on 10/14/2019 11:39 PM >
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Posted by w0nKa
I find it really hard to believe nobody knows what it is. Looks to me like a disused sewer outfall. I'd get up top and start looking down some manholes.



434574.jpg (70 kb, 800x764)
click to view

434575.jpg (55 kb, 800x506)
click to view



That's close to my guess as well; storm sewer of some type.
Doesn't look like the typical RR tunnels I've seen.




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Aran 


Location: Kansas City
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1839 likes


Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 13 on 10/15/2019 1:29 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk


That's close to my guess as well; storm sewer of some type.
Doesn't look like the typical RR tunnels I've seen.



It could be, it's certainly close enough to the river. However, this article claims that it was part of a former ice harvesting operation, and that the tunnel behind the wall was filled in to make way for the housing developments above it.

However, if that author is wrong, given its direction and proximity it looks like it runs directly under the UWM campus and might connect to the UWM steam tunnels. Reusing old tunnels isn't uncommon since it's cheaper than digging new ones, after all.



[last edit 10/15/2019 1:38 AM by Aran - edited 3 times]

"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

blackhawk 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: Mission Control
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UER newbie

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 14 on 12/13/2019 1:12 AM >
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Posted by Mr. Bitey


16ft ceiling. Not one article mentioned sewer. And really not that unreasonable for there to be no historical documentation - things do get lost over time. Everything I relayed, is what I found in various articles. And there are partner tunnels in the area that DO have documentation. But none of the other are near this large. I am also pretty sure the historians that did research exhaustively into the mystery are well aware of Google satellite images and the man hole covers....

https://milwaukeen...-tunnel/#more-5491




One day after this post Mr. Bitey closed his account.
WTF?




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Aran 


Location: Kansas City
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1839 likes


Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 15 on 12/13/2019 1:39 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk


One day after this post Mr. Bitey closed his account.
WTF?


Wait, how do you know his account is closed? There's nothing on his profile that indicates that it's closed.

Still, if this is true it's really, really odd. He was one of the more active explorers in Wisconsin on UER right up until he posted this thread.




"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

blackhawk 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: Mission Control
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UER newbie

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 16 on 12/13/2019 2:04 AM >
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Posted by Aran


Wait, how do you know his account is closed? There's nothing on his profile that indicates that it's closed.

Still, if this is true it's really, really odd. He was one of the more active explorers in Wisconsin on UER right up until he posted this thread.


Try to PM him... this isn't the only "silently" closed account.




Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
Aran 


Location: Kansas City
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1839 likes


Huh. I guess covid made me a trendsetter.

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 17 on 12/13/2019 2:32 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk


Try to PM him... this isn't the only "silently" closed account.



Yeah, I see it. What the hell? Maybe he ran into legal issues from one of his explorations and had to shut it down? Who else closed their account for seemingly no reason?




"Sorry, I didn't know I'm not supposed to be here," he said, knowing full well he wasn't supposed to be there.

blackhawk 

This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.


Location: Mission Control
Total Likes: 3996 likes


UER newbie

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 18 on 12/13/2019 2:55 AM >
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Posted by Aran


Yeah, I see it. What the hell? Maybe he ran into legal issues from one of his explorations and had to shut it down? Who else closed their account for seemingly no reason?


Looks like you found a new pastime here.
Once you start down the rabbit hole...
there's no telling how deep it will go.





Just when I thought I was out... they pulled me back in.
randomesquephoto 


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Don't be a Maxx

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Re: Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel
< Reply # 19 on 12/13/2019 5:40 AM >
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Posted by blackhawk


One day after this post Mr. Bitey closed his account.
WTF?




Lost another member. What a shame. Pretty soon we'll only be left with veterans and Max Power.




RIP Blackhawk
UER Forum > US: Great Lakes > Cambridge Woods Mystery Tunnel (Viewed 3002 times)
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