St. Joe Lead Company - Federal Mill No. 3
El Gato
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Photographing old architectural buildings is a favorite of mine so, I could not pass up the opportunity to spend several hours exploring the Missouri Mines State Historic Site. A rock-hound since I was a youngster, this was a twofer…old buildings and minerals.
Nestled deep within the eastern Ozarks (St. Francois County) is an area known as the Old Lead Belt; it is a major part of the great Southeast Missouri lead district, the premier lead mining district of the world. The mining industry in this area has played an important role in Missouri's economic and social fabric for more than 280 years.
Missouri Mines State Historic Site preserves the site of the former St. Joe Lead Company, which was established in 1864. The site consists of 18 historically significant structures and artifacts of the largest mine-mill complex (65.59 acres) in the Old Lead Belt. This Site occupies Federal Mill No. 3, a lead-concentrating complex and the largest lead mill in the world. It remained in operation from 1923 until 1972, and is located in Park Hills, Missouri.
I have begun processing a series of images based on the photos, which I took during this site visit. I will post a few from the series every so often as I get the opportunity to work on processing the raw material (I guess pun intended).
My passion for B&W imaging has guided me in the development of this series.
Given the construction of these structures along with their slow deterioration and the eerie “left-as-is” state of the buildings and work areas, all contributed to my selecting to present these images in B&W.
I hope you enjoy these and those to follow in this series.
As always, C&C is welcomed and appreciated.
Conveyor belt and processing building
Water Tower
Retaining pond
Main processing complex
Comments
Wow! Such stunning processing! Seem so sharp and vivid! Also seemingly simple subjects framed and presented in such exciting ways.
Bravo Gato!
Beautiful series, Al. With your penchants, you had to think that you struck gold. Your knack for framing and overall presentation is unexcelled around here. Good work.
A Question. What is being held in the retention pond? Effluents from from different manufacturing processes? Just curious.
Very cool processing Gato, my favorite is the last one, I like crooked things...
www.mind-driftphoto.com
They're all great shots. My fave is the last one of the bunch. The B+W conversions are first class.
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" - Wayne Gretzky
Thank you everyone!!
From such a very talented group of photographers, your comments are very much appreciated and humbling.
Thank you so very much!
El Gato
www.globaltrekk-photos.com
Tom...
Without any analytical substantiation...I speculate that the pond was full of water.
I could not smell any discernible oder(s), see any signs of chemical by-products and deduction based upon when the facility closed in 1972, I hope that any truly nasty chemicals or mining-milling waste had been removed years ago.
El Gato
www.globaltrekk-photos.com
Great shots, Gato and wonderful b+w processing. My favorite of the bunch is the third - I like the sky over the retaining pond.
I'm sure you're right, Al. I'd forgotten the year it closed. Have you more to post from that shoot and/or do you plan another visit?
Thank you Sara. I appreciate your comment!
El Gato
www.globaltrekk-photos.com
Tom....
I have quite a few shots from this particular facility. I spent around four hours, combing over the area. A large percentage of the site was restricted and had no trespassing, no entry signs posted (for obvious safety reasons), which really limited where I wanted to go. I have a strong feeling that I would have found some very interesting machinery, along with production areas and other buildings, had I had unfettered access . I came home with a lot of images. I have been culling through them to select just those I think warrant further post-processing.
I was fortunate to be able to take many photos of building interiors, without having access to the buildings themselves. Many of the buildings had exposed, open, broken-out, missing windows, doors, etc., which afforded a good opportunity to get those interior shots.
There is also a rail line on the property, which I took photos of.
I took images both in color and infrared. The conversion and post-processing to B&W seems to be more dynamic in those images shot with the infrared camera.
I look forward to posting additional sets from this shoot in the coming weeks.
Thank you again for your comments, Tom! Much appreciated.
El Gato
www.globaltrekk-photos.com
This is an excellent set of b&w, Gato.
Plenty to look at.
Plus 1
Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity!
Very well done! Thanks for sharing these.
Gallery: http://cornflakeaz.smugmug.com/
Willard, Roaddog, Don....
Thank you for your comments!
Sorry for my late reply....the daytime job is beginning to ramp up once again....good in many respects, not so good in the reduction of "free time" to pursue more enjoyable activities.
Thanks once again everyone! I very much appreciate all of your comments.
El Gato
www.globaltrekk-photos.com