I'm really frightened by the descriptions you gave about the chemicals in this place, and it's even scarier to see the pics of the vats full of stuff leaking all over the place. I can't believe that Ithaca, which is such a crunchy, enviro-positive place would allow this kind of stuff to just sit out where anybody could walk in and, literally, die from exposure to a range of nasty stuff.

I'm all for keeping cool UE locations open for explorers, but when a place is contaminated, it's a different matter. It's really just a matter of time before some curious kid gets really sick or dies from being in this place. Imagine what would happen if there were a fire. Yikes...

Maybe I am being overly dramatic, but this place is really scary. And yet, I still want to go. How is that?!

-- Mat

EDIT: I read the stuff about the EPA cleanup of the place, but why wouldn't cleanup involve immediate removal of the contents of the vats, and at least putting up a fence, or a sign listing the radioactive and chemical hazards? Unfortunately, the answer may be that there are parcels of land which are even more contaminated than this one, and which are an even greater threat to the environment. Scary thought...

Mat,
this is my hometown ue spot and i've been there tons of times even before they knew about the uranium deposits. They're tearing the place down this year, so i'm happy the pics are up. Trust me, there's no way to keep kids out of this place dangerous or not, its next to the high school PLUS its on the side of the gorge. When I was in high school we'd climb up the side to get to it.

Posted by DjMalign Trust me, there's no way to keep kids out of this place dangerous or not, its next to the high school PLUS its on the side of the gorge. When I was in high school we'd climb up the side to get to it.

I've been right nearby this place in the past without knowing that it was closed, or that it was dangerous. I can see how it would be difficult to secure, though, considering the geography of the region.

But, seriously, as you well know there are some hardcore hippies and eco-warriors that live in Ithaca. I can't believe those people wouldn't be making a HUGE stink about this place since it's an ecological disaster and it's in their backyard. I guess maybe it's out-of-sight-out-of-mind, though. Maybe everybody thinks that because the EPA is aware of it, it's been taken care of. Or, like I said above, maybe in the grand scheme of things the EPA deals with, it really isn't a big issue, and they figure that kids are smart enough to stay away from bad-smelling chemicals. *shrug*

Thanks for the reminder about this place, though! It totally brought back your stories about the place when you mentioned the chicken-head thing. Freaky stuff...

-- Mat

Mat; I think that the cleanup was of any ground contamination, or 'brownfield" as it were. What is in the building isn't a concern as far as local groundwater is concerned ( although you are correct it's a wicked liability!)

Posted by 'Dukes Mat; I think that the cleanup was of any ground contamination, or 'brownfield" as it were. What is in the building isn't a concern as far as local groundwater is concerned ( although you are correct it's a wicked liability!)

Yea, they seemed to mostly care about no longer poisoning Ithaca inhabitants with all the lead deposits, that was really the main priority. Although, I was surprised to find all those chemicals and such, it was rather freaky when we started getting light-headed and realized something wasn't right.

Posted by Elshar Yea, they seemed to mostly care about no longer poisoning Ithaca inhabitants with all the lead deposits, that was really the main priority. Although, I was surprised to find all those chemicals and such, it was rather freaky when we started getting light-headed and realized something wasn't right.

Could that have been a coincidence, or do you really believe that there was something there causing you physical duress? I was just wondering... I remember Dukes saying that he had gone in the 'lab' at National Lead and was sick for at least a couple of weeks. Our party went in not that long ago and all the chemicals were removed... no sickness.

weird. This place in ithaca has been abandoned for over 20 years and those chemicals are STILL there.

Makes me wonder what's in the ground up here...

Samurai

Posted by Elshar Yea, they seemed to mostly care about no longer poisoning Ithaca inhabitants with all the lead deposits, that was really the main priority. Although, I was surprised to find all those chemicals and such, it was rather freaky when we started getting light-headed and realized something wasn't right.

I did my undergraduate work in Ithaca, and this place was well-known to be responsible for the frequent "lead warnings" that were sent out to Fall Creek area residents.

Some pretty shady characters must hang out here; I remember one time finding what seemed to have been a cat that was tortured to death in one of the drainpipes...

well, not only that but read my story of what happened when i was a teen. severed chicken heads and the like.

the lead poisoning is not airborne though, its a soil and groundwater issue

Posted by DjMalign well, not only that but read my story of what happened when i was a teen. severed chicken heads and the like. the lead poisoning is not airborne though, its a soil and groundwater issue

Yikes, that's messed up... watch out for guys with black Iron Maiden shirts and long hair.

Yeah, if the ground is relatively wet the lead would be less of an issue. However, if it's dry and you're kicking up dust... :-/

I don't think ithaca ever gets dry

Posted by DjMalign I don't think ithaca ever gets dry

Heh... point taken. Man, I miss that town - I was sick of it by the time I left, but shortly thereafter I realized how good I had it. Summers just aren't the same without Potter's Falls & the Second Dam...

you ever explore the old mill at first dam? that shit was crazy. there was an entrance to the lower section through the waterfall. it led into a cave and a ladder up through the rock into the mill, since the original staircase linking the top part rusted and fell