Urbex: Coldbringer

Yes, I used a song title from a Chicago based punk band for my title. The song was playing in my head today on a quite exciting urbex.

I visited a company that was cutting edge when the building was built in 1911. They made "manufactured" ice. That's right, manufactured. Most modern people take ice for granted. Up until the advent of refrigeration and the ubiquitous refrigerator around 1913-14. Ice was harvested and stored in insulated icehouses near lakes and rivers. This was the only method for keeping food cold. Methods of using ammonia were developed late in the 1800s, but the method was not practical until after 1900.

This company used ammonia to produce "dry" ice. Quite a feat given the day and age.  Dry ice is still used today for it's intended purpose of keeping items cold. Sadly, this facility suffered a 5 alarm fire involving over 100 firefighters in 2004 and the plant was irreparably damaged and closed for good. I was here nearly 8 years to the day after the fire.

Notice the two circles? Those are the vents from my rooftop photo. Yep, long way down.

Large chamber with the "camouflaged door"

 
Entrance was no problem whatsoever. There was three or four access points. I was surprised to find a rather large empty chamber to include the base of the smokestack. I then noticed a closed door camouflaged behind some new looking graffiti. Through it to my utter shock and glee was the machinery that kept the plant's storage facility cool and the product intact. I thought the door was secured, but it was only jammed closed.

Keeping the ammonia flowing....

Once I got in, I was face to face with several large flywheels and mechanisms in place to keep the ammonia flowing. There was a lot more left to look at than I anticipated by a long shot.

Up on the roof, there are those vents. Long drop through a 100 year old wooden roof!

My excursion took me to the roof (which was the top of the large space with the smokestack). Realizing I was walking on a 100+ year old wooden roof over a 50 foot drop to concrete. I decided to get my ass back inside. I'm no rooftopper after all. I'll stick to interiors.

Storage with the damaged floor

Next was the storage part of the facility. The walls were insulated and the brick had a layer of wood to keep the cold inside. As I gingerly walked out, the noises the floor made had a distinct change. Not good at all. I recognized the fact the floor was weak where I was treading. I must have looked like the hapless coyote in the Looney Tunes cartoons about to go over the cliff. With the care of a man in a minefield wearing snowshoes, I tip toed my way back to "solid" real estate. I did see the fire damage further down, but did not think it extended to where I was. Always trust your gut on an urbex. Ignoring that instinct could have led to me lying in a basement there immobile and in a lot of pain.

In all. I took dang near 500 shots. I really enjoy solo urban exploration. I can take as long as I feel necessary to satisfy my need for exploration.More adventures to follow!