A while back, I shot pictures of an abandoned coal mine that I put up here.

The ominous huge structure that I photographed then is now demolished, leaving stark emptiness in its place. You can see here how the remaining elements "plugged in" to the central structure which is now gone.

A few days after I took these pictures I saw a bulldozer on the site, which makes me think the whole site may not be long for this world.

A bit sad even though I'm sure few will miss it, in its corroding ugliness.

D

Note: You will be prompted to set up an account once done with your message

This is new. Well, not really new since obviously it's faded nearly to invisibility, but it wasn't there when I last photographed the mine in late 2006.

When I was last there, there was nothing to prevent me from going up those stairs and into the building, which I did. The air became increasingly contaminated with noxious chemical smells as I continued up in the structure, and the smell was obviously doing nothing good to me and so I left before I could explore the big now-demolished structure in the middle.

So now there's a little sign. Insufficient to deter determined explorers, I am sure, but I can't help but think that going into that structure, without the bracing it got from the now-demolished building, would be even more dangerous than before.

The campaign associated with this sign has a web site. I can't help but wonder if the pictures section would make people more, not less, likely to want to explore these old structures.

But perhaps they will at least avoid swimming, and explore on foot instead of via ATVs. Those things alone would appear to prevent nearly all the deaths and injuries associated with this rather curious recreation.

Thoughts?

D

Note: You will be prompted to set up an account once done with your message

I checked out the links and this was news to me.

I found it interesting but sad that there are dangerous places out there that people don't know about.

I heard there are abandoned mines underneath the surrounding areas of our homes in this area (Richeyville) and at any time something can happen but I don't live in fear about it, I'm just more aware.

Thanks for the information!
-walt

Note: You will be prompted to set up an account once done with your message

Have you ever seen the entrances to those mines?

I wouldn't mind getting a few shots of them.

D

Note: You will be prompted to set up an account once done with your message