The Sound of Two Smokestacks Falling
The demolition of Long Mill Dye House in Roanoke, Virginia brought down two smokestacks but one didn't fall as planned.
photo from WSLS.com
Watch this AP video and listen for one of the operators warn: "Be advised: one stack apparently did not fall in the right direction." There were no reports of injury to persons or property.
A local TV station WSLS reporter wrote:
Many of the people who came out to watch the building crumble worked in the mill for years, but for some it wasn’t such a sad sight to see their former employer come crashing down.“I hate to see them kill all the big rats, they had rats over there about 2 foot long,” said Jim Chattin, who used to work at Long Mill.
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Any bets on how long before this video is being used as "proof" by the 9/11 "truth" people that the World Trade Center was imploded on purpose?
Not to be too much of a stickler, but that utter blight was located in Danville, not Roanoke. From what I hear, good riddance. The two cities are not too very far apart geographically but they are worlds apart in just about every other regard.
Wouldn't have happened to Fred Dibnah.
JC Calhoun (#1):
Hey! I'm writing that right now!
But seriously: I was kicking around the idea of getting a pet rat. Not a two foot wild rat to be sure, but a smaller, more domesticated one. P!nk mentioned in an interview that they make great pets. What does the BB hive mind think?
two footers hey? What was that Stephen King story?...
Some days, you just need to get a status report.
...
Status Report
Please be advised, one stack did not fall in the correct direction.
Suspect detonation circuit interrupted.
All units report no injury to persons, but the part about no injury to property is either stretching it or pretty damn good luck.
That is all.
Perhaps someone should have killed the rats before setting the fuses. Those little bastard's'll eat anything!
David Carrol - I was just thinking to myself today that my ferrets are the pets I wished my rats had been. That said, they're a messy pain in the ass, and rats are much less messy.
if you want a rattie, get a hoodie.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/350439278_6e3e7b24b0.jpg
s'why e's called Mad;
http://www.wesjones.com/ferret.htm
Ditto on the Danville instead of Roanoke.
I almost got the assigment to shoot this event but...well...I didn't.
It's certainly ironic...that tower falling the wrong way and all..considering that new AT&T commercial with the news crew in the wrong area of a blast zone....NEWS CREW VIDEO
Rats are great pets, they are friendly, social and affectionate. They can be litter trained and they have unique personalities.
I highly recommend getting an animal from a (good) rat rescue organization. I volunteer for one and people who foster the rats work hard to socialize them well. A good organization will match up the personality of the rat with the owner and can provide support. Plus, when you get a rat from a good rescue, it probably won't be of the "surprise I'm pregnant" kind that often occurs from pet stores.
You could check out webpages like: http://www.dapper.com.au/index.htm
for more information.
definitely a good idea; rat rescue.
Reminds me of the old Ovaltine smokestack they just demolished last month here in Villa Park, IL. The old Ovaltine factory was abandoned for years, it was right across the street from my grandparent's house, and where my dad grew up, and I remember it as one of those "places" everyone remembers from their childhood.
The odd situation with the demolition was that they converted the old factory in to luxury lofts and apartments about 7 years ago, but they left the smokestack. This past year the smokestack started to fall apart on its own and rain down debris on the apartment's parking lot, so they decided to implode it. Thing is, they needed it to go straight down else it would land on top of the very expensive apartment buildings. Everything went mostly to plan, and only some damage was done to garage units.
I wish I was there to see it go down, but I only first heard about it when the dozens of YouTube videos started getting posted documenting the destruction (which, IMHO, are far better examples of what a smokestack sounds like when it falls!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krhbe6OzMIE
oh for the good old days when you'd chain a few urchins to the top edge with wee hammers and have it come down a brick at a time...sigh.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?q=child+labor+source:life&imgurl=9db849edf9bc6490
Again, this is Danville, VA -- not Roanoke. I watched the demolition with great sadness today. Five generations of my family have worked in that mill since the late 1800's. Their hard work laid the foundation for me to have a successful career in web media and retire at the age of 32.
Every day I went to work in my cushy office, I reminded myself of the sacrifices that got me there.
The more amazing part for me is the shockwave of what looks like failed mortar travelling down the left hand stack. I wish there was a better quality video of just that stack.
#3 MRFOO- Wouldn't have happened to Fred Dibnah.
Dibnah! I was gonna google, coz I forgot his name! I came here to say that exactly.
I'm really curious which demolition company did the implosion. Controlled Demolition Inc. has a reputation for taking on really difficult jobs and pulling them off flawlessly. Anybody know who did this one?
#4 POSTED BY DAVID CARROLL
I've never had a rat live past two. They're just so very prone to cancer. But that being said they're extremely smart (compared to things of that size) and can be well trained.
Also I remember when the Murray Utah smokestacks were imploded, and how some people were just bitching about loosing a "landmark". I think the hospital there now is a vastly great improvement.
(That being said I don't travel to that area much)
Also I think the scupture at the trax stop is rather lame.
http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/MCPL_Photo&CISOPTR=742
Any other Utahans remember that?
@ #3 and #20
just think of all the americans here who have never had the pleasure of seeing fred dibnah bring down a smokestack! i'm appalled
or *chimney*stacks as i've suddenly realised they should be called
Topple-me-own-Stack Dibnah?
Thank for the feedback guys, I'm getting me a rat for Xmas! My local SPCA has a price for rats, so I will try there first...
do your reading, there are a few things to know to take good care of them.
Dale, you need to check your facts bub.
Daleville (ironic, isn't it?) Is a festering blight on the commonwealth.
Roanoke is (thank all that is holy) far away from that shitehole.
Nice video though. Shame it didn't take out more of the city.
It is a dump.
Next time do some research.
My apologies to Stokie, somehow you did better than most of the trapped rats there. I used to work in law enforcement and that place was always a cesspool.
Everyone have a good holiday season.
PatchLogan, I appreciate your sympathy but you are also mistaken. 'Daleville' is actually quite close to Roanoke. Danville is where the Long Mill Dye House was located -- two different cities.