Wednesday, March 03, 2010

1924 Aerial Photo Tour of the Gowanus Canal Superfund Site





Fulton Manufactured Gas Plant


1880-1930's Metropolitan Manufactured Gas Plant,
12th Street and 2nd Avenue
(Lowe's Home Center)

Est. 1859 Citizens Gas Light Works


For 100 years...
Before the discovery and widespread use of natural gas deposits and electricity, coal was destructively distilled or "cracked" in locally operated factories producing a flammable gas known as "Town Gas". Manufactured Gas Plants supplied residential heating, cooking, and gas lighting to the surrounding neighborhoods via a network of pipelines. These plants operated in Brooklyn from the 1860's up until the 1950's when they became obsolete.

There were three Manufactured Gas Plants along the Gowanus Canal in South Brooklyn- The Citizens, The Fulton, and The Metropolitan Gas plants.
After extracting the gas, the byproducts, one of which is coal tar, were stored in pits or tanks that often leaked into the soil, groundwater and the canal where it sank to the bottom. Coal tar does not break down over time and is carcinogenic.

Note: You can see the MGP's many large circular storage tanks, Gasometers or Gas Holders in the detail photos. In 1924, the Canal's bays used to extend all the way to Fourth Avenue.

The color aerial photos were taken in 2008. The black and white were taken in 1924.
For more photographs visit my flicker page. LINK

A great site for information about former MGPs go to www.hatheway.net.

www.flickr.com

2 comments:

  1. just googling and find this great site.get many information and good tips.will back other time and will bookmark this site

    regards

    ReplyDelete
  2. Such a great article it was which the Metropolitan Gas plants.
    After extracting the gas, the byproducts, one of which is coal tar, were stored in pits or tanks that often leaked into the soil, groundwater and the canal where it sank to the bottom. Coal tar does not break down over time and is carcinogenic.In deed the photos are clear even though it is black and white. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete