DEFUNCTSITE

As part of my ongoing project to document the demolition of the former Washburne Trade School building…

Standing next to the west end of the 18th Street viaduct, is this odd little building that has been sitting vacant for years. I never knew what it was, but I always liked seeing it there. It added to the old industrial character of an area that includes the Schoenhofen Brewery, the Amtrack railyard, and an old (circa 1915) vertical lift bridge. Except now that odd little building is being demolished.

Like I said: the February 15 fire at Washburne Trade School, on YouTube…click HERE to see the full post and video. Thanks to phule for sending me the link–go look at his photoblog.

The demolition of the large main building at Washburne Trade School began about a week ago. There is still a lot of work to be done before there will be any noticeable changes to the building, but still…

Yes, it’s the obligatory post-abandoned-trade-school-fire blog post…

Last night a four alarm fire ripped through the old Washburne Trade School, gutting the last remaining building of this once massive complex. Other sections have been demolished over the past several years, but due to a lack of funds or initiative (or both), the massive former factory building has stayed put. Lately I’ve been watching the place for signs of activity, wondering if and when it would get torn down. Now I assume that the answer to those questions are “yes” and “soon, probably”. So of course I went there after the fire to grab a few photos…

My previous visit to this abandoned racetrack was underwhelming, to say the least. The weather was dreary and the track clubhouse reminded me of a cheaply built strip mall left to rot. I did not plan on going back, but when I learned that the racetrack was being demolished to make way for a shopping center I decided a return trip was in order. Maybe the place would be more impressive the second time around…

It seemed like a good idea earlier in the week, meeting at 5am so that we could get into the vacant building without being seen by dog walkers and nosy baby carriage pushers. But as I forced myself out of bed at 4:30, I wondered if maybe we were being just a bit too cautious. I met my sleep deprived friend in the park across the street, and together we started looking for an entrance. We wanted to go to church.

…a friend mentioned something about some abandoned schools, and soon I found myself in the passenger seat of a car speeding past a sewage treatment plant with a large sign that read “WELCOME TO GARY INDIANA”.

In 2001 the Chicago Paperboard mill, a sprawling complex of circa 1914 buildngs along the Chicago River between Ogden and Elston Avenue, was closed due to diminishing profits…