6 replies to this topic

[Urban_Explorer]

While on my way to the abandoned amusement park, I was walking along the tracks & spotted this building. I couldn't get any information as to what this place was, but on a sign telling visitors to use the main entrance - I barely noticed the "Nicolet Industries Inc" stamped on the same sign. Here are a few pics, more can be found here: http://urban-explore...ndex.php?cat=17

*Single trailer parked out front at a dock.*



*The warehouse is located beside a set of tracks - their driveway was what I was standing on when I took this shot.*



*I love it! Nature taking over the building, at least it likes vacant structures.*



* The weeds were as tall as I am, at least 6ft.*



*Don't know if they came from the ceiling or what, I was surprised they were still in one piece.

[Chaindrive]

I think this may be it...I think...

Quote

Journal-News Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005
Industrial fire raised suspicion during World War II

By Jim Blount

A Butler County industrial fire that raised suspicion during World War II would now cause health concerns and possible evacuations. The blaze Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 8, 1943, destroyed the Sall Mountain Co. asbestos factory at Rockdale in the southwest corner of Lemon Twp., near the Liberty Twp. line.

The Journal-News said "agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) already have begun inquiry to determine if the disaster might be traced to sabotage." A sabotage probe was routine after industrial and transportation fires, explosions and accidents during the World War II years, 1941-45.

State fire inspectors also investigated the fire at the rural site, identified in news accounts as six miles north of Hamilton, at the end of Rockdale Road west of Ohio 4 (Hamilton-Middletown Road).

The asbestos factory -- known as Sall Mountain’s Hamilton plant -- was on the east bank of the Great Miami River along the former Miami-Erie Canal and on the former Louisville, Cincinnati & Dayton Railroad (in 1943 part of the Baltimore & Ohio, now the CSX New Miami-Middletown line).

Employees tried to douse the fire that was discovered about 2:15 p.m. Assistance came from fire departments in Williamsdale, Monroe, Trenton and New Miami, but "they were powerless against the odds," the newspaper said. "Homes at Rockdale, mostly residences of mill employees, were unscathed."

"The factory was nearly 100 percent on orders for war needs," the article said, "chiefly asbestos products for the army and navy," working two shifts seven days a week. The loss included "an inventory of raw materials and completed products worth about $200,000."

Sall Mountain’s 93 employees were retained as the company installed converting equipment in several temporary locations in Hamilton. Machines salvaged and repaired from the Rockdale building and equipment obtained elsewhere enabled the company to continue to produce rolls of paper, millboard and insulation -- marketed as Sal-Mo products -- until Rockdale rebuilding was completed in 1945.

In 1956-57 the Rockdale operation became the Sall Mountain Division of Nicolet Industries Inc. Later, the local plant was known only as Nicolet Industries.

Asbestos became popular during the early 20th century in thousands of products by dozens of manufacturers. According to a Webster’s dictionary, asbestos consisted of "minerals that separate into long, threadlike fibers" and "because certain varieties do not burn, do not conduct heat or electricity, and are often resistant to chemicals, they are used for making fireproof materials, electrical insulation, roofing, filters, etc."

In the 1970s concern mounted nationally about the health problems of people exposed to asbestos fibers, described as invisible, colorless, odorless and tasteless. Those suffering from related illnesses -- and filing law suits against producers -- extended beyond employees of processing companies. Those with respiratory problems, including cancer, included persons involved in asbestos installation and people who worked in buildings that contained asbestos products.

In November 1977, a Nicolet spokesman announced the start of the "phase down" of the 100-employee Rockdale plant and transfer of its work to a Norristown, Pa., facility. "It’s purely a decision based on the fact that the impact of asbestos and health has had a negative impact on our business" he explained.

As health claims against producers accumulated in the 1970s and early 1980s, several asbestos firms filed for bankruptcy protection, including Johns-Manville, the pioneer in the industry, and Nicolet.

Sall Mountain had been formed in Chicago in 1899 with asbestos manufacturing plants in Chicago, Porter, Ind., and Scranton, Pa. The Rockdale paper mill was acquired and converted to producing asbestos paper.

The company name came from the Sall Mountain area of Georgia, the site of the first large-scale production of asbestos in the eastern U. S. in 1894, according to a report by the U. S. Geological Survey. The Sall Mountain founder was Cecil M. Clarke, who had been employed by the H. W. Johns Co., a predecessor of Johns-Manville.

The origin of the Rockdale plant is uncertain. It is believed to have been built in the 1860s by the Fox Paper Co. to produce strawboard, or cardboard. The owners also were associated with paper mills in Rialto and Crecentville in southern Butler County and Lockland in Hamilton County, all located on the Miami-Erie Canal.

# # #

http://www.lanepl.or...74DF2A28D5.html

I think, but maybe not.

[Urban_Explorer]

thanks Chain for the research - that does sound like the company - I see the article did mention Hamilton Middletown Rd, which was the main road that runs Parallel along the tracks near the building as well

Edited by Urban_Explorer, 07 August 2010 - 04:21 PM.

[Urban_Explorer]

Here is a aerial of the entire warehouse, it was pretty good in size.

You'll have to excuse my lame paint edit, I just wanted to point out the Railroad that runs beside the building & the private road which people live near the property as well.

Edited by Urban_Explorer, 07 August 2010 - 04:36 PM.

[Chaindrive]

Right there on the canal.

[Urban_Explorer]

Chaindrive, on 07 August 2010 - 05:44 PM, said:

Right there on the canal.

You got it.

More can be viewed HERE

Edited by Urban_Explorer, 22 December 2011 - 06:22 PM.

[Urban_Explorer]

A visitor to my site told me it was once known as the Corroc International Plant.