|
\/adder
    
location:
DunkarooLand
Gender: Male
I'm the worst of the best but I'm in this race.
 |  |  | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 20 on 3/25/2008 5:54 AM >
|  | | | Sometimes driving around is the only feasible way, I've been looking for local area storm drains for a long time. Google apparently is not my friend in that area :[ but driving around has helped me find quite a few...
"DRAIN" :]
"SEWER" :[
and my latest find was so retarded in my luck and personal oversight...
less than four miles from my house at a friggin dunkin doughnuts which I've been to like 50 times since it opened, I parked 15 feet farther to the left than I normally do... and embedded inside the sidewalk a manhole cover with "STORMWATER" in big bold letters. I felt like an idiot for that one. Another dee-dee-dee moment there.
Right now it really sucks that we are WAY above rainfall amounts in our water table here in CT. Still wishing for a drought, but there is a chance of rain all this week... good news walmart has hip waders and chest waders on sale this week...
"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis... |
|
faustian pact
 
location:
Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
What time is it?
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 21 on 3/25/2008 5:41 PM >
| | | | Don't you love how the most obvious places are the least visible until you really open your eyes?
When I first got into UE, my brother and I drove around for the better part of a week, and came up with crap. Then, of course, in front of our very eyes, sat an old, abandoned strip club next to an auto junkyard. Now, of course, we have found quite a few places under our noses.
"Fight the control image. Fight the control machine"
www.flickr.com/docbenway84 |
|
micro
 
Gender: Male
Slowly I turned
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 22 on 3/25/2008 8:11 PM >
| | | | Sometimes just talking to people in the neighbourhood or to those who work(ed) at a place is the easiest way to get detailed information. Talk to the guy doing yardwork across the street. He'll probably be able to tell you just about as much as anyone. Sometimes guys working security gates can be good resources too, especially if it's a slow day and they have nothing better to do.
Also, while the numbers in addresses tend to stay consistent, street names have a habit of changing over time. Depending on the owner, company names have a tendency of changing as well. Something that's listed as "Milwaukee Malleable and Grey Iron Works" might have been known as something entirely (or slightly)different 75 years ago. Also, some places might have more colloquial names. For example, Bethlehem Steel is often simply refered to as "Beth" by locals. Figuring out this sort of stuff can often help lead to new information, especially online. Google tends to be pretty hit or miss depending on what keywords you're putting in.
|
|
\/adder
location:
DunkarooLand
Gender: Male
I'm the worst of the best but I'm in this race.
| | | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 23 on 3/27/2008 2:30 PM >
| | | | Posted by micro
Sometimes just talking to people in the neighbourhood or to those who work(ed) at a place is the easiest way to get detailed information. Talk to the guy doing yardwork across the street. He'll probably be able to tell you just about as much as anyone. Sometimes guys working security gates can be good resources too, especially if it's a slow day and they have nothing better to do.
Also, while the numbers in addresses tend to stay consistent, street names have a habit of changing over time. Depending on the owner, company names have a tendency of changing as well. Something that's listed as "Milwaukee Malleable and Grey Iron Works" might have been known as something entirely (or slightly)different 75 years ago. Also, some places might have more colloquial names. For example, Bethlehem Steel is often simply refered to as "Beth" by locals. Figuring out this sort of stuff can often help lead to new information, especially online. Google tends to be pretty hit or miss depending on what keywords you're putting in.
|
Yup. Then a lot of times google wont even list the name of a street. OR my absolute favorite thing to see on google maps. a street that begins... suddenly ends then a mile later begins again. Check the topo map and tada! the street is in it's entirety all there, but the rest of the road has been made private...
it always makes me wonder what's there and exactly why the road no longer exists...
such as
road
topo
this place turns out is the perfect place for those summer drunken teenage bonfires ;] (hence the harsh editing job)
"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis... |
|
faustian pact
location:
Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
What time is it?
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 24 on 3/27/2008 5:51 PM >
| | | | I have played around quite extensively with Google Maps, and have found them somewhat helpful...but as you said the maps are sometimes dated, or have oddities.
On a separate note, just this morning it came to my attention that a Milwaukee landmark, namely the 1916 U.S. Coast Guard Station, is being demolished. It sat right on Lake Michigan, and was a beautiful concrete Tudor style building...and it depresses me that I shall never see the inside of it.
Back on topic, I went ahead and pursued asking neighbors and such about a certain location, and did indeed reap the benefits of asking. I will hopefully be venturing forth soon, though there remains one worrisome detail.
The location I am researching is directly across the street from an Air Force base, and although there is no connection betwixt the two, post-9/11 America frightens me a tad.
Luckily, there exists a rather extensive woods behind my location, and thus the perfect direction to approach would be from behind.
A real estate agency currently owns the land, and once the land is purchased, the house and surrounding buildings will be torn down. This was also found out through avenues presented in this thread. Although the real estate agency owns the land, would it still be considered trespassing to enter the house? I don't plan on getting caught of course...
"Fight the control image. Fight the control machine"
www.flickr.com/docbenway84 |
|
\/adder
location:
DunkarooLand
Gender: Male
I'm the worst of the best but I'm in this race.
| | | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 25 on 3/27/2008 11:45 PM >
| | | | Posted by faustian pact
I have played around quite extensively with Google Maps, and have found them somewhat helpful...but as you said the maps are sometimes dated, or have oddities.
On a separate note, just this morning it came to my attention that a Milwaukee landmark, namely the 1916 U.S. Coast Guard Station, is being demolished. It sat right on Lake Michigan, and was a beautiful concrete Tudor style building...and it depresses me that I shall never see the inside of it.
Back on topic, I went ahead and pursued asking neighbors and such about a certain location, and did indeed reap the benefits of asking. I will hopefully be venturing forth soon, though there remains one worrisome detail.
The location I am researching is directly across the street from an Air Force base, and although there is no connection betwixt the two, post-9/11 America frightens me a tad.
Luckily, there exists a rather extensive woods behind my location, and thus the perfect direction to approach would be from behind.
A real estate agency currently owns the land, and once the land is purchased, the house and surrounding buildings will be torn down. This was also found out through avenues presented in this thread. Although the real estate agency owns the land, would it still be considered trespassing to enter the house? I don't plan on getting caught of course...
|
Most likely yes, it would still be trespassing. If it is a reality company maybe you can ask for a tour of the site... if you are a minor maybe go along with an older partner. But herein lies a true dilemma; if it is going to be "torn down" once it is purchased, by whomever, it is still trespassing seeing as you don't have permission, and yet how much harm can you do to a building that will be torn down in any case?
personally I never cared about being on my neighbors land up until the day they moved in [I was 10-12 at the time] Hell I even screwed around the construction site [until they put windows/door up] But I figured I was a twelve year old kid and nobody would give a damn, and nobody really did as long as I wasn't stealing or lighting shit on fire.
If you are caught, and arrested etc etc, the fact that the building will soon be demo'd may help you out, or it may not. But it would still be considered trespassing, though I'd imagine if you were caught you probably would get more of a "get outta here..." type of response then criminal charges... just don't break anything in efforts to explore... fuck tell them you we're hiking in the woody area behind the place and got lost... or some thing ... and you we're looking for a phone.
And as for google maps; the "oddities" are of great interest; don't overlook them, because oftentimes these little incongruences can yield big finds... a washed out bridge, abandoned area, etc etc...
EDIT: Added last sentence, didn't want to post another reply.
[last edit 3/27/2008 11:51 PM by \/adder - edited 1 times]
"No risk, no reward, no fun."
"Go all the way or walk away"
escensi omnis... |
|
faustian pact
location:
Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
What time is it?
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 26 on 3/28/2008 12:26 AM >
| | | | I could probably talk the realty company into a quick tour, but (and this may seem irresponsible to say), isn't part of the fun inherent in UE the risk? If this were a high profile site filled with all manner of security, yes, I would go that route without question. This however is a small compound of buildings, and though I do heed your warnings, I probably will just explore at my leisure.
The second part of the first paragraph is an excellent point, and something to bear in mind at all sites I would think. A good, valid excuse is, I'm sure, a wonderful out if confronted, though of course the best is still escape...haha.
Oh, and I am 24, so in the eventuality that an "allowed" exploration was required, age would not be a factor, or so I hope.
About the oddities, yes, tis true. Even going the analogue route of pondering over scans of old maps, or the physical maps themselves can hide little treasures. That was what lead to an early exploration of mine, actually. Nothing much sits on the site now, and a road runs through the middle of it, but I was able to locate the remains of Rainbow Airport in Franklin, WI. Not a terrific find, but it was interesting to walk in a field outside of a prison (a distance away, mind you), and see old paint on a hidden runway. The tarmac still existed in places, and I was a bit awed at how well this gem was hidden by the innocent field. People probably walk their dogs through this field every day and never take the time to look down at the past beneath their feet...
Oh, and a question if you don't mind. I don't know how well versed you or anyone participating in this thread is in the City of Milwaukee, but does anyone have info about the old Nike 2 launch pads/Air Force base that sits underneath the Summerfest grounds? I have looked at old-ish aerial maps and you can still clearly see the delineated runway, and the faded outlines of what look like Quonset huts perhaps. My question is this: was there an underground aspect to this base (it protected Milwaukee, Detroit, and Chicago, I believe...), or were the missiles launched/buildings placed aboveground?
"Fight the control image. Fight the control machine"
www.flickr.com/docbenway84 |
|
A. Lien
location:
Fantasy Island B.C.
Gender: Male
Abductees Anonymous all welcome
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 27 on 4/4/2008 4:05 AM >
| | | | Dude, y'all write like Shakespeare,  , it's cool, I'm just sayin. Keepin the theme, how about 'eviscerate', instead of torn down. Good advice in this thread, keep an eye on the papers, sometimes the local weeklies have more info on old buildings, heritage issues, pending closures, etc.
And check if your city or nearby cites have historical or heritage societies (tours!) Could be worth joining. They don't need to know you run with the wolves, (that UER crowd  )
My sister is Charlotte Light and Dark. Who am I?
Farewell and thank you... "I was doing something that I thought could have some impact someday. In many ways, it's really these photographs that kept me going creatively." Dennis Hopper |
|
bluegrassishh
location:
western mass
Gender: Female
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 28 on 4/4/2008 4:42 AM >
| | | | Posted by sandaili
So just get some old maps from when the abandoned building was active. Flea markets and antique shops are good sources for old maps. |
old local maps are seriously awesome, best way to find new places outside of the major cities, short of spending the gas to drive around the back roads. old people's basements and lesser known abandonments are also great places to find old maps. libraries too, but you can't take them home.
|
|
Sestet
location:
Hyde Park, New York
Gender: Female
A long time ago, I saw a child playing with a tangerine, the size of a tangerine.
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 29 on 4/4/2008 4:49 AM >
| | | | The internet is the easiest and in some cases most effective way, but for older things that were abandoned prior to the late 90s and were of no real historical significance you won't usually have much luck. The County Assessor's office can perhaps tell you who owns/owned it and when, as can the records at the local town library (check in the computers for news articles) or similar building construction records at the county clerk's office. I've emailed the Ulster and Dutchess County clerks before about this stuff and they're usually very nice about it and tell you that you're welcome to come down anytime and browse their public records. You can find some real historical gems in there.
Don't discount the power of the internet, though. For example, there's a 30 minute interview with one of the former heads of everyone's favorite Psych Center, HRPC, at the web-blog "Psych Files." http://www.uer.ca/...d=1&threadid=54366
Also some pretty useful information on general patient care in these early state mental hospitals that will apply to pretty much any such building across the country that you happen to explore.
Oh, I'm sick of doing Japanese things. In jail they made us be in this dumb Kabuki play about the Forty Seven Ronin, and I wanted to be Oshi, but they made me Ori! |
|
faustian pact
location:
Milwaukee, WI
Gender: Male
What time is it?
| | Re: The Procurement Of Information
<Reply # 30 on 4/4/2008 11:34 PM >
| | | | Verily, verily, thou art...haha, Shakespearean, eh?
That was quite an interesting video, and I thank you for it. I have actually taken the advice to join a local historical preservation society, amateur of course, though authentic in name and deed, and it has provided me with a few locales perhaps worth my journey...
I agree that the internet is a tool of much wonderment, yet even though we are all seasoned in the art of squeezing droplets of information from this source, it is a bit vast and intimidating at times. You start with a simple name search. No luck. How about a Mapquest or Google Earth search? Alright, we have found another name, or an address, or a local business with a number of years in the area. A bit more searching. We have found a phone number. Call it, no answer. Try back tomorrow, no information to be had of any worth. Back to the internet...
I am obviously being a bit melodramatic (and hoping for a little laughter perhaps), but honestly, with the exception of sites such as this one, and a few others I have stumbled across, finding locations via merely the internet can be a back breaking endeavor. With the cost of oil rising (is it just me or is Wisconsin one of the pricier states for unleaded...?), driving about somewhat aimlessly in the less traveled parts of town can be quite costly.
I did however find another wonderful resource that a few veterans here may have have overlooked. Whilst visiting my dear grandmother in her dreary nursing home, I began a conversation with an aged local resident. A Wisconsinite for life, one might say. After an hour long conversation I left with more knowledge than I could retain for long, so my first stop post-visit was a gas station for a cheap pen and a small notebook. To summarize, volunteer your time at a local nursing home, and get cozy (don't take that the wrong way) with some of the sharper elderly patients. One might find diamonds in the rough, so to speak.
"Fight the control image. Fight the control machine"
www.flickr.com/docbenway84 |
|
Powered by AvBoard AvBoard version 1.5 alpha
Page Generated In: 78 ms
|
|
Ethics