Do any of you "locals" know what these are?

[bvar22]

or the history behind these remnants of an industry?
They are located 1 mile west of Coates, MN a few miles south of St Paul.
The stacks are visible from Hwy 52 if you look west.






I have been curious about them since I spotted them from Hwy 52 a couple of years ago. I figured that they were the smokestacks from some abandoned industrial furnaces. I managed to get a close look a couple of days ago, and they are NOT furnace stacks. They are the remnants of something with which I am completely unfamiliar. There are also some large concrete block artifacts on the same location

I have only been able to determine that they are on property designated as "U of MN---Rosemount Research Center".
I am going to call them for information, but I thought maybe some local residents might have the scoop on this peculiar installation.

Anyone?

[JuniperLea]

1. grain elevators?

??

[bvar22]

7. Some type of "elevator" is my hunch also,

but I've never seen any storage elevator of this type.
The cylinders appear much too narrow (relative to their height) to hold much, and why the tall vent stacks?
It would be much more efficient and cost effective to build one large cylinder than 5 narrow ones.

Not clearly shown in the photos are the doors and many windows in the lower levels.
The presence of these door and windows would make it difficult to store bulk inside. The weight of any bulk storage would just break out the many windows (or so it seems to me). Windows are not a common feature of any elevators I have seen.



There is no visible remnant of a railroad spur to the location, though the bed could be overgrown if the rails were removed.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. I think that they incinerated toxic chemicals in those things.

That area was a super fund toxic waste area at one time.

[Big Kahuna]

3. The Almighty Zamfir's Pan-Flute?

Move over Barry Wite!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

4. Towers for Rapunzel and her four sisters?

Seriously, if you don't get a response put U of MN in your post sub line.

[Igel]

5. Maybe connected with this?

http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/minnesota/MND980613780.htm

[bvar22]

8. Now THAT is reassuring!

"Soil contamination with lead, copper, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was restricted to three smaller disposal areas within the site and resulted from the operations of tenants of the University, including: George's Used Equipment (GUE), Porter Electric and Machine Company (PE), and U.S. Transformer (UST). At GUE, surface soil was contaminated with PCBs, lead, and copper. At PE, soil was contaminated with high levels of PCBs. At the time the site was placed on the National Priorities List (NPL), the groundwater was also contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the disposal of laboratory wastes by the University. The major contaminant of concern was chloroform. Approximately 9,600 people use wells within three miles as a source of drinking water."

This also explains why there is not much local publicity. I asked one local,and he was very evasive about this location. This site is also not placarded with warnings, and access is easy. You can drive right up to these things off a dirt road. I am glad I didn't mess around there. The shots were taken from inside the car.

I am still curious about the specific purpose of those strange stacks.

[LiberalFighter]

6. Try contacting the contacts listed at this website

Rosemount Research Center

[bvar22]

9. Thanks.

I will give them a call tomorrow.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. I've been told they go back to WWII.

The explanation I got (some years ago, when I used to do a lot of flight instruction in the area, and we'd see a lot of interesting stuff from the air) is that during that war a munitions factory was there -- these smokestacks are what's left.

[bvar22]

11. We need to talk!

I am interested in photographing old, abandonned industrial sites, or any interesting remnants. I'll bet you know where there are lots of interesting things us groundpounders don't about!

Check your mailbox.

[IMissPaul]

12. It is...

definately a WWII munitions plant. They sold it to the U of M after WWII for $1 -href=http://www.it.umn.edu/news/inventing/2005_Winter/retrospect.html]see here

Also, http://www.actionsquad.org/ulands.htm here are some kids that explored it a few years back.

[bvar22]

13. Thanks much!!!!

The links are great.
Just the type of info for which I was searching!


I wonder if those kids have had a recent cancer screening?

Welcome to DU and the Minnesota Forum.
We have a very active group, and you are invited to our next meet-up where I can thank you in person.
We should be getting together in the near future.
Watch this page for the planning!~

:patriot:

[bvar22]

14. For anyone else who may be curious....

...here is a picture of the complete plant shortly after WWII. The entire installation was huge encompassing 8,000 acres and many other buildings.
The stacks make more sense in this context.


This ammunition plant was constructed during WW2, but was never operational due to the termination of the War.

I was disappointed that the vintage was so recent. I had figured that it must date back to the 20's or 30's due to the advanced state of decomposition. I am surprised that someone would do such a complete demolition and cleanup of the building, but leave these stacks standing for no apparent purpose. :shrug:

The design of the stacks is still quite unusual (at least in my experience) but is explained by the roof mounted exhaust stacks on the building itself. The exhaust gasses (whatever they were) were not introduced into the stacks until the top narrow portion. The bottom empty cylinders merely support the top stacks and possibly provide a draft through the many ports and windows.

According to the links provided by IMissPaul, this plant was never operational, and not the source of the Superfund Contamination. That happened after the land was purchased by the U in 1947.

From what I can deduce, the U leased portions of the 8,000 acres to several companies in the 50's and 60's who used the land to dispose of old electrical transformers (PCBs, lead, and other nasty stuff).
From what I can tell, the cleanup has been completed and the site is safe (if you trust that).
I did notice several residences in the near proximity, and I'll bet land is a bargain here.
If you are already bald and glow in the dark, you should have nothing to worry about!
:+

I am interested in photographing old, abandoned industrial (or large agricultural) sites, or the visible remnants of such sites.
If you know of any that would be of interest, please PM me.

[greblc]

15. I heard rumour that there was a P.O.W. camp at this location as well.

When I was in the Marine Reserve we had a few weekend drills at this Rosemout location.

The U of M still uses the warehouses on the site.