First a little intro to myself:
I've been lurking the forums here for a while and just started trying to post some things. I've been Urban Exploring ever since I was a kid. I grew up in the suburbs without much to do so one thing led to another of course... Also of interest, I am currently pursuing a career in film making, and I'm currently working on a post-apocalyptic web series. I like to film scenes for it in some of the abandoned places that I find. I hope to share it with you all once I finish working on the first episode. But enough about me!
A little back story on this place:
Back in the mid 1800's salt played a key role in the processing of gold ore and was in much demand both in the gold country and for local consumption. In 1853, John Johnson started the first solar salt industry at *location removed* that eventually blossomed into 28 different bay area salt companies between 1853 and 1910. Andrew Oliver came to the East Bay and formed one of those small salt companies after his first harvest in 1872. His business, the Acme Salt Company, later renamed Oliver Salt Company, continued under family management until 1982. Oliver Salt Company was the last company to produce salt on the industrial level. There has been a movement to convert non producing salt evaporation ponds (salt flats) in the San Francisco bay back to natural wetlands except for *location removed* which was being considered as a historical site. Currently in the San Francisco south bay, Newark and Redwood City still commercially produce salt through the evaporation process. |
Saw this building while driving down the highway. I happen to have my camera with me (although it was almost out of battery at the time). Hoping I could snag at least a few good photos I ventured onward.
This place is literally held together by a handful of bare studs in some areas. Sorta hard to believe it's still standing up.
As I got closer, I started to notice there was a large population of feral cats around the area. Meow!
Now, onto the inside:
There was evidence that someone might be living in this trailer. I decided not to go any closer then this:
It was at this point that my camera battery pooped out sadly. I used my phone to take a few more pictures. Mainly because I had to document what I saw next... piles of salt!
SO MUCH SALT!
I had to resist the urge to grab handfuls of salt and throw saltballs around.
That's all I got for now. There is an upper level that had some interesting looking mine carts but the ladder was missing and that was more effort then I was willing to put in at the time. Perhaps I will go back at some point.