Tag Archives: urban
St. Louis in the Distance
Downtown St. Louis, Missouri and the Gateway Arch are easily visible from the roof. I believe we were spotted on the roof by a passer-by in a stopped pickup truck. Drew and I decided to get out of there ASAP.
International Harvester
International Harvester sold home appliances briefly between 1947 and 1955, which makes this refrigerator a rare find. IH sold their appliance division to Whirlpool in 1955. This means that this refrigerator was purchased and placed in the Armour plant very late in its productive life.
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
Gutted by Fire
Homes damaged by fire also litter East St. Louis neighborhoods. Some are due to rapidly declining building quality. Some are due to accidents. Some, unfortunately, are due to arson.
The home to the left of the white house experienced some damage. The house across the street burned completely about a week ago.
Gateway Community Hospital
Gateway Community Hospital
I drove by in December 2009 and the plastic was not present. I was really hoping to explore this hospital, which has been closed since 1990. I had planned my day around it.
I spoke with an East St. Louis resident about the hospital. He informed me that the plastic had gone up recently. Demolition is well under way.
A guard sitting in a truck in the parking lot adjacent kept a close eye on Drew and I as we circled the hospital.
Murphy Building Stairwell
Behind the Murphy Building in East St. Louis. The center of the building has collapsed inward. The main stairwell has been all but obliterated. Drew and I were not about to test the fire escape stairs.
If you look closely you can see flora growing out of the brickwork.
Murphy Building
Front facade of the Murphy Building in downtown East St. Louis.
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