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UER Forum > Archived US: Mid-Atlantic > Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary) (Viewed 249 times)
Noorg 


Location: Southwest Virginia
Gender: Male




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Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary)
< on 4/30/2010 1:46 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
American Furniture Co plant 2/11 - Martinsville VA

I'm aware the public posting locations of spots is generally frowned on, but like Martinsville Novelty Co., this facility is in plain sight for anyone cruising around Martinsville VA, so I am not bothered by letting people know where it is.



As far as I can determine, this plant went out of business sometime between 1987 and 1990, based on business reports and EPA statements (the last air pollution report from the facility is for 1987). It is a cluster of several interconnected buildings on either side of Aaron St.. They used to be connected by a skywalk of some kind (between buildings E and F), but it has been torn down and the openings bricked over. I apologize for the quality of the photos. I took a better camera, but my SO had filled the memory card and not yet downloaded the pics, forcing me to run a low resolution to eke out another handful of shots.

Buildings A, E and F are still partially in use, at least on weekdays. I was only able to gain access to building B on the preliminary run, but building D is the most interesting (four stories) and looks decrepit enough for there to be an entrance somewhere.



The property is fenced in, but not in a way that would readily stop someone from getting in. Along the back there may be places where trees and vines make crossing the fence easy, but the undergrowth is extremely thick. I believe there is also a spot where an old telephone pole has fallen across the fence.

I parked in the lot to the left of building F. This lot is no longer in use, and the road going up to it is eroded and covered in grass, but still passable by passenger car. It is also close to a ground-level water tower for those wanting a view from a slightly better height.



Crossing the street, I made my way around to building B. Note the growth of vines on the superstructure of building D in the background. With a better camera and lighting I think that view could be very striking.



Building B was not secured in any meaningful way. At the entrance I used, one fluorescent light fixture just inside the doorway still had power, but the rest of the structure was unlit save for a few shafts of sunlight. Various odds and ends were stored in the pool of light, but the rest of the building was empty, dark, damp and somewhat dangerous, with holes in the cement floor, running water and rotted plywood covering more holes (just avoid stepping on anything that isn't metal or cement).



There is access to building A, but only by use of force, so I declined. The only interesting feature of the building was what I assume to be drying areas for furniture or lumber. These were long, closed tunnels with huge amounts of pipes running below, and equally large circulation fans.



I am guessing the pipes were for hot water and the fans were to exhaust either fumes from paint and varnish, or for moisture from drying wood. Light at the end of one of these prompted me to gingerly make my way down a catwalk on one side, with the only handhold being rusted electrical conduits which, given the building's unknown electrical status, I avoided. Unfortunately, the light I saw was a patch of sunlight through a hole in the roof, and the end of the chamber was a dead end. The only other unblocked exit was through a room filled with electrical transformers. I heard no electrical hum, but given the dampness I did not even get close to that opening.

So, the preliminary scouting was not as fruitful as I would have liked. The last picture is through a hole in a door on the street side of building C.



Clean and dry. No idea what access there is to this building, but it does not seem to be in use. If I get around to a full investigation of any of the other buildings, I'll do a followup post.
[last edit 4/30/2010 2:01 PM by Noorg - edited 1 times]

Liska 


Location: Western Massachusetts
Gender: Female




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Re: Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary)
<Reply # 1 on 4/30/2010 1:53 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Naming spots, etc sometimes is okay I guess if everyone knows about it, but I would highly highly recommend taking out your exact entrance " this is how to get into the buildings!" information. There's absolutely no need for it.

Just post pics and regular write ups. Anyone who wants to get in can go find the entrance information and scout out on their own.

Anyway, looks like a pretty cool place to me!
[last edit 4/30/2010 2:02 PM by Liska - edited 2 times]

Noorg 


Location: Southwest Virginia
Gender: Male




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Re: Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary)
<Reply # 2 on 4/30/2010 2:03 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Edited. Thanks for the feedback. I'm more used to tunnel crawling, where good directions and info are really useful.

Liska 


Location: Western Massachusetts
Gender: Female




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Re: Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary)
<Reply # 3 on 4/30/2010 2:06 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Noorg
Edited. Thanks for the feedback. I'm more used to tunnel crawling, where good directions and info are really useful.


I bet the tunnels are awesome! I went caving a few times, which is really cool.

And yeah, giving entrance info can come back to bite you in the butt later, always best to avoid doing so. Looks like you put a lot of thought into your scouting, though, so hopefully everything goes smoothly for you when you go back and you get some awesome pics

Avius 


Location: Washington DC / NOVA
Gender: Male


Wow you guys!

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Re: Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary)
<Reply # 4 on 4/30/2010 6:38 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Cool. That place is pretty huge.

In places forgotten, tread where you will. -=- http://www.flickr.com/photos/avius/
becckeez 


Location: 804
Gender: Female


trippin.

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Re: Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary)
<Reply # 5 on 4/30/2010 7:16 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
whoa. that place is huge.
very cool. can't wait to see the follow up!

UER Forum > Archived US: Mid-Atlantic > Martinsville: American Furniture Co (Preliminary) (Viewed 249 times)



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