After over 5 years of exploring, I have finally compiled an underground video of some of our exploits.
Please enjoy.
© 2013 Crashdown Productions
Still Coming!
Hope you enjoyed the last couple posts. I have a couple more to work on which should be up shortly.
Stay Tuned.
Kurth Malting Plant
In 1859 Henry John and Fredericka Kurth came to Columbus Wisconsin with a four barrel brewers boiler(about 124 gallons) and immediately purchased land on the south side of town. In 1865 they spent $4000 (approx $54,000 in todays money) to erect a large brick brewery building just south of their origional structure and in 1866 they put in a large boiler. In 1870 Kurth was the largest of the three breweries in Columbus. The next two decades were years of great growth for the Kurth Brewery. By the year 1900 the brewery complex included a tall grain elevator, a four story malt house and a three story brewery.
In 1904 the company incorporated as “The Kurth Company”.
January 1st, 1974 Kurth Malting Company merged with The Wisconsin Malting Company to expand operations and become a larger and more effective operation to Breweries in the Midwest. Having combined operations in Minneapolis, Milwaukee and Manitowoc and a combined capacity for 15 million bushels annually.
In 1967, ADM acquired the Fleischmann Malting Company, which would become a very profitable producer of malts for the food and beverage industry. In 1986, ADM acquired the Kurth Malting Company and renamed it Fleischmann-Kurth Malting Co which would later become ADM Malting until a 1998 Merger with Lesaffre et Compangie of France to become International Malting Co.
Since the consolidation older and less efficient mills in the various regions have been closed down.
Superior Plating
Superior Plating, Inc. has been in business for over 90 years, and has grown to be one of America’s largest finishing job shops. Superior Plating’s main plant occupies the entire block facing First Avenue NE at University Avenue NE in Minneapolis. This plant is 110,000 square feet which contains the reception room, offices, laboratories, all employee facilities, plant utilities and the factory area.
As recently as September 2011, all 35 production lines were humming, manned by about 100 workers. But with a tough economy and its business going to cheaper foreign metal platers, the company decided to close its doors.
Superior got a reprieve a few months ago when its unionized workforce agreed to wage concessions, said President Michael McMonagle. But when a plan to raise new capital faltered, Superior had no choice but to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November.
Bankruptcy court records show that CCGS Finance LLC has agreed to pay $2.5 million for the land, which includes a 110,000-square-foot building and an adjacent parking lot. The sale also is subject to the cleanup of the land, which has been listed since 1984 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a Superfund site. Groundwater there is contaminated with solvents. Because Superior doesn’t have the money to pay for the cleanup, a parent company of CCGS has agreed to loan Superior up to about $1.3 million in debtor-in-possession financing, using the property as collateral.
Shit Happens!
So we hit up Nicollet Island Monday Night just because we hadnt been there in years.
So after a fun night of crawling around and getting sand in our asses I went up the Porch Rungs too open the manhole lid like I had 20 times before. After about 5 pushes of not succeeding I decided to take a breather when all of a sudden I blacked out for less than 2 seconds later to only realize I was free falling. I ended up landing part way on to Kellie (One of northstar/medics friends) and landed with a hard thud onto the tunnel floor.
End result,
3 Broken bones in left foot, sore left rib cage and a bruised tailbone after a 30 ft free fall.
So guess what?!
Plenty of time for some updates! Stay tuned!!
Oh and on a side note, I’d like to thank Modbox’s FB post which I found hilarious!
Modbox,
“Last night I witnessed ToXiC helplessly free fall farther than I’ve ever seen anybody fall. I hope you and the tiny little chick that broke your fall while possibly saving you from serious injury are still alright. A side note I wanna sarcastically thank Alieyn for shutting the camera off seconds before the fall. That would have gone viral dick! 
”
Thanks bud, hahaha!
Finally, updates!
Sorry for the huge delay!
Have a couple new trip logs up and also the finally released (though not finished) gallery!
Check them out 
Also added a few pictures from 2008 to Bureau of Mines.
Abbott Hospital
In 1902 Dr. Amos Wilson Abbott established a small hospital for women in a former house at 10 East 17th Street. In 1910, grateful for the care Abbott had provided to his wife Kate, industrialist William Dunwoody allocated funds for a new building to be built for Dr. Abbott’s hospital. This 1910 hospital building, sometimes called the Dunwoody Building, recognizable by its pitched roof, front balustrade, and rows of windows, sought to maximize natural light in its interior.
In 1919 Thomas Janney had a four-story Children’s Hospital constructed on the same block, just north of the Abbott Hospital for Women. The Janney Hospital became a part of Abbott Hospital upon Janney’s death in 1921. In 1929, 1939, and 1957, additions funded through the Hospital’s affiliation with Westminster Presbyterian Church a few blocks to the north connected the two buildings and extended the hospital along 18th street to Stevens Avenue, and filling an entire city block. The main hospital entrance was moved to 110 East 18th Street, and the entrances on 1st Avenue were closed.
Tunnel of Terror
From 1982-2004 the St. Paul Jacees ran the Tunnel of Terror.
During a routine inspection in 2003, the St. Paul Fire Marshals’ office cited a need for a second emergency exit. The City of St. Paul granted them a two year variance, which allowed the Saint Paul Jaycees to continue Tunnel of Terror operations in 2003 and 2004 while they explored the feasibility of installing another emergency exit.
The annual Tunnel of Terror scared thousands of guests each year thanks to the time and talents of approximately 100 volunteers each evening. The event was 100% coordinated and staffed by volunteers who designed and created the dozens of sets, acted as frightening and comical characters, set up all lights, sounds, and props, coordinated all logistics, and most importantly, were the “spirit” of fun and teamwork that made every year more successful! The proceeds raised by the Tunnel of Terror benefited dozens of local non-profits and community events and projects in the Saint Paul area, including annually collecting tons of food donations for Second Harvest. read more »
Twin Cities Urban Recon is a collaboration of its members experiences. Many members have contributed to this website. Enjoy their work.