Tag Archives: meat

Platform

This platform is perhaps 20 feet above the slaughtering floor. I dared not to venture out onto the aged wooden platform. The stairwell climb up was incredibly steep.

Armour transported the live animals to be slaughtered to the very top of the factory. The animals were immediately slaughtered, divided up, and sent through an elaborate network of transportation tubes throughout the plant. Various rooms throughout the plant appear to have a specific purpose, but are all connected via tubes, elevators, or cranes. This would also explain why the large refrigeration generators are at the base of the factory next to where the rail lines are.

Who Are You?

Drew and I made our way to the top of a rickety steel stairwell platform in the Armour plant. He then told me to turn around slowly. When I did, we were face to face with a wild owl. Drew calmly descended the stairs while I remained frozen in place.

My heart was racing as I slowly adjusted my camera to take this photo. This is what urbex is all about. There is always an inherent danger, but there is also the thrill of never knowing what you will discover. This owl was absolutely magnificent. I feel as though this photo does not do justice to its scale though. It was quite a large bird.

Armour Meat Processing Plant

Just to the north of East St. Louis in National City is a very large abandoned meat processing plant. Armour and Company are perhaps best known for developing Dial soap, but they were primarily a slaughterhouse company. This meat processing plant was built in 1928 and ceased operations in 1959.

The Armour and Dial brands continue to exist, though these properties are now held by new owners.

Research Links:

Ecology of Absence – Hog Capital of the Nation

Arial view of the Armour Meat Packing Plant

Historical timeline of Armour and Company