Acme Steel, Chicago Coke Plant
I came across this item on ebay and watched it for about 10 days. They wanted $35 plus $5 shipping. This is a big price for what I knew would amount to probably 1 page of coke related content. This item does however offer some other info just at face value. It seems to insinuate […]
I look at loads of Acme/Interlake related ‘stuff’ on ebay everyday. Most of it I do not buy and just add to the Ephemera page. But once in a while I see something so cool I just have to have it. The photos are really cool but whoever wrote that ad copy got a Cleo […]
In about two years of hunting for documents and sharing them with the world via this website, I have come across a small handful that I just wasn’t sure what to do with. These documents seem to have some historical significance but are only a piece to a puzzle – and the other pieces are […]
In late August 2022 I got some insider info that the CCLBA (who I knew had taken possession of some part of the plant since winter 2021-2022) had one of the two parcels on the market. Their website allows you to make a formal request for permissions to physically visit and view the property so […]
Surveyors have a language all of their own. Once upon a time, people needed a way to express via the written word where a piece of land was, and how large it was. I don’t know if surveyors still write like this or not. Then again, at least in South Deering, nothing has changed in […]
When I first discovered the plant, my goal was to identify what it was, or once was. I tried to use Google Search to figure out the address (which I eventually did), and then the county property tax ID. I never did – and I never spent anytime on this again, despite all my research. […]
Trains played an important role at the coke plant. They were used largely to move coal from nearby storage facilities to the plant as needed. The plant operated it’s own locomotives. Trains were also used to move hot iron from the furnace plant to the mill in Riverdale. Here at some of photos of Interlake/Acme […]
This project was months in the making and while it required substantial time to execute, the time to percolate ideas was even greater. I think about rich people (‘rich’ by my standards at least) and how they probably never do anything satisfying in their life. Not saying that all rich people don’t work hard, but […]
There is nothing more thrilling in my world of coke plant archeology then to recover a document or item; then sometime later recover another one which is a companion to the first. Suddenly information is unlocked and the latter serves as a Rosetta Stone for the former. Below I outline one of those great moments. […]
Friday April 29th 2022 was a perfect day. Strong words, I know. I think many people would say they never have a perfect day. Others might say they have good days, but not perfect. And I have many bad days. But if you take a vacation day at work, you should hit the streets and […]