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OLD FACTORY SITE IN JOLIET REBORN AS HISTORIC NATURE WALK.
JOLIET REBORN AS HISTORIC NATURE WALK. >> THE JOLIET IS KNOWN AS CITY
WALK. >> THE JOLIET IS KNOWN AS CITY OF IRON, RICH DEPOSITS OF
>> THE JOLIET IS KNOWN AS CITY OF IRON, RICH DEPOSITS OF LIMESTONE WAS FOUND.
OF IRON, RICH DEPOSITS OF LIMESTONE WAS FOUND. IT WAS USED IN ARCHITECTURE
LIMESTONE WAS FOUND. IT WAS USED IN ARCHITECTURE BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE JOLIET
IT WAS USED IN ARCHITECTURE BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE JOLIET PRISON.
BUILDINGS INCLUDING THE JOLIET PRISON. THE CITY OF STEEL REMITS
PRISON. THE CITY OF STEEL REMITS DIRECTLY TO THIS SITE.
THE CITY OF STEEL REMITS DIRECTLY TO THIS SITE. DURING THE 1870'S, FIRST BLAST
DIRECTLY TO THIS SITE. DURING THE 1870'S, FIRST BLAST TURNANCES WENT IN AT THE SITE
DURING THE 1870'S, FIRST BLAST TURNANCES WENT IN AT THE SITE AND OPERATIONS BEGAN HERE.
TURNANCES WENT IN AT THE SITE AND OPERATIONS BEGAN HERE. I AM STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF
AND OPERATIONS BEGAN HERE. I AM STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT 110 YEARS AGO WAS THE
I AM STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT 110 YEARS AGO WAS THE MIDDLE OF BLAST FURNACE NUMBER
WHAT 110 YEARS AGO WAS THE MIDDLE OF BLAST FURNACE NUMBER ONE, GOING BACK TO THE 19TH
MIDDLE OF BLAST FURNACE NUMBER ONE, GOING BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY, 3,500 DEGREES
ONE, GOING BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY, 3,500 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
CENTURY, 3,500 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TEMPERATURE.
FAHRENHEIT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE TEMPERATURE. >> THOSE FURNACES ALSO PROVIDED
TEMPERATURE. >> THOSE FURNACES ALSO PROVIDED JOBS WHICH ATTRACTED HUNDREDS OF
>> THOSE FURNACES ALSO PROVIDED JOBS WHICH ATTRACTED HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS TO THE GROWING CITY.
JOBS WHICH ATTRACTED HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANTS TO THE GROWING CITY. IT WAS HOT, GRUELING AND EVEN
IMMIGRANTS TO THE GROWING CITY. IT WAS HOT, GRUELING AND EVEN DANGEROUS WORK.
IT WAS HOT, GRUELING AND EVEN DANGEROUS WORK. RAW MATERIALS WERE DUMPED INTO
DANGEROUS WORK. RAW MATERIALS WERE DUMPED INTO AN OPENING AT THE TOP, WHILE
RAW MATERIALS WERE DUMPED INTO AN OPENING AT THE TOP, WHILE BELOW SUPER HEATED AIR WAS
AN OPENING AT THE TOP, WHILE BELOW SUPER HEATED AIR WAS BLASTED INTO THE CHAMBER COOKING
BELOW SUPER HEATED AIR WAS BLASTED INTO THE CHAMBER COOKING THE MIXTURE INTO IRON ORE.
BLASTED INTO THE CHAMBER COOKING THE MIXTURE INTO IRON ORE. >>
ONE OF THE JOBS OF THE MEN WHO WORKED HERE DURING THAT PERIOD WAS TO WAIT UNTIL THE IRON ORE
WORKED HERE DURING THAT PERIOD WAS TO WAIT UNTIL THE IRON ORE COLLECTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE
WAS TO WAIT UNTIL THE IRON ORE COLLECTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE AND WITH HAMMERS,
COLLECTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE AND WITH HAMMERS, THEY WOULD KNOCK CLAY PLUGS OUT
BLAST FURNACE AND WITH HAMMERS, THEY WOULD KNOCK CLAY PLUGS OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST
THEY WOULD KNOCK CLAY PLUGS OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE.
OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE. THE MOLTEN MATERIAL WOULD RUN
FURNACE. THE MOLTEN MATERIAL WOULD RUN DOWNHILL, FAR BETTER SLOPED BACK
THE MOLTEN MATERIAL WOULD RUN DOWNHILL, FAR BETTER SLOPED BACK AT THAT TIME INTO WAITING
DOWNHILL, FAR BETTER SLOPED BACK AT THAT TIME INTO WAITING RAILROAD CARS.
AT THAT TIME INTO WAITING RAILROAD CARS. >> WE ARE STANDING AT THE SITE
RAILROAD CARS. >> WE ARE STANDING AT THE SITE OF WHAT WERE ORIGINALLY FOUR
>> WE ARE STANDING AT THE SITE OF WHAT WERE ORIGINALLY FOUR LARGE FURNACES.
OF WHAT WERE ORIGINALLY FOUR LARGE FURNACES. THERE WAS ONE HERE, TWO, THREE,
LARGE FURNACES. THERE WAS ONE HERE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR.
THERE WAS ONE HERE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR. THE PURPOSE OF THE FURNACES WAS
AND FOUR. THE PURPOSE OF THE FURNACES WAS TO HEAT AIR TO ITS SUPER HOT ONE
THE PURPOSE OF THE FURNACES WAS TO HEAT AIR TO ITS SUPER HOT ONE THOUSAND DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
TO HEAT AIR TO ITS SUPER HOT ONE THOUSAND DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THAT HOT AIR THEN THROUGH A
THOUSAND DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THAT HOT AIR THEN THROUGH A SYSTEM OF TUNNELS WOULD BE SENT
THAT HOT AIR THEN THROUGH A SYSTEM OF TUNNELS WOULD BE SENT DOWN TO THE BLAST FURNACES WE
SYSTEM OF TUNNELS WOULD BE SENT DOWN TO THE BLAST FURNACES WE JUST CAME FROM.
TODAY THOSE BRICK LINED TUNNELS ARE SLOWLY BEING EXPOSED AS NATURE GRADUALLY RECLAIMS THE
ARE SLOWLY BEING EXPOSED AS NATURE GRADUALLY RECLAIMS THE LAND THAT WAS ONCE HERS.
NATURE GRADUALLY RECLAIMS THE LAND THAT WAS ONCE HERS. >>
IN THE 1930'S IT WAS ALL BUT FORGOTTEN. THIS WAS HEAVILY DISTURBED AREA
FORGOTTEN. THIS WAS HEAVILY DISTURBED AREA BACK IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY
THIS WAS HEAVILY DISTURBED AREA BACK IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY.
BACK IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY. BACK THEN BEING OBVIOUSLY NO
AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY. BACK THEN BEING OBVIOUSLY NO ENVIRONMENTAL RULES VIRTUALLY AT
BACK THEN BEING OBVIOUSLY NO ENVIRONMENTAL RULES VIRTUALLY AT ALL.
ENVIRONMENTAL RULES VIRTUALLY AT ALL. THE FACT THAT TODAY NATURE HAS
ALL. THE FACT THAT TODAY NATURE HAS RETURNED IN THE SENSE WE SEE IT,
THE FACT THAT TODAY NATURE HAS RETURNED IN THE SENSE WE SEE IT, IT GIVES YOU SOME SENSE OF
RETURNED IN THE SENSE WE SEE IT, IT GIVES YOU SOME SENSE OF TENACITY OF NATURE. WE DO TREAT
IT GIVES YOU SOME SENSE OF TENACITY OF NATURE. WE DO TREAT IT AS A PRESERVE.
TENACITY OF NATURE. WE DO TREAT IT AS A PRESERVE. WE LET NATURE RUN ITS COURSE.
IT AS A PRESERVE. WE LET NATURE RUN ITS COURSE. IT IS OPEN ON A DAILY BASIS
WE LET NATURE RUN ITS COURSE. IT IS OPEN ON A DAILY BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR SELF
IT IS OPEN ON A DAILY BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR SELF GUIDE TOUR.
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR SELF GUIDE TOUR. WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION CENTERS
GUIDE TOUR. WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION CENTERS FOR PEOPLE WHO VISIT US.
WE WILL HAVE INFORMATION CENTERS FOR PEOPLE WHO VISIT US. THE ENTIRE PATHWAY IS MILE IN
FOR PEOPLE WHO VISIT US. THE ENTIRE PATHWAY IS MILE IN LENGTH GIVES YOU AN IDEA HOW
THE ENTIRE PATHWAY IS MILE IN LENGTH GIVES YOU AN IDEA HOW BIRTH ACTUAL FACTORY WAS AT ONE
LENGTH GIVES YOU AN IDEA HOW BIRTH ACTUAL FACTORY WAS AT ONE TIME.
BIRTH ACTUAL FACTORY WAS AT ONE TIME. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET
TIME. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET HERE, WE HAVE A TRAIL SYSTEM
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET HERE, WE HAVE A TRAIL SYSTEM WHICH LEADS TO DOWNTOWN JOLIET,
HERE, WE HAVE A TRAIL SYSTEM WHICH LEADS TO DOWNTOWN JOLIET, AND THEN LINKS UP WITH ANOTHER
WHICH LEADS TO DOWNTOWN JOLIET, AND THEN LINKS UP WITH ANOTHER TRAIL THAT RUNS TO LOCKPORT.
AND THEN LINKS UP WITH ANOTHER TRAIL THAT RUNS TO LOCKPORT. WE ARE STANDING AT BLAST FURNACE
TRAIL THAT RUNS TO LOCKPORT. WE ARE STANDING AT BLAST FURNACE NUMBER THREE INSTALLED
WE ARE STANDING AT BLAST FURNACE NUMBER THREE INSTALLED CONSIDERABLY LATER.
NUMBER THREE INSTALLED CONSIDERABLY LATER. THIS ONE WENT IN, IN THE TERL
CONSIDERABLY LATER. THIS ONE WENT IN, IN THE TERL EARL I 19 20'S.
THIS ONE WENT IN, IN THE TERL EARL I 19 20'S. TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF
EARL I 19 20'S. TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF DIMENSIONS, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE
TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF DIMENSIONS, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THE BLAST FURNACE WOULD HAVE
DIMENSIONS, YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THE BLAST FURNACE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS CASE BIGGER THAN
THE BLAST FURNACE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS CASE BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINALLY 90 FEET TALL,
BEEN IN THIS CASE BIGGER THAN THE ORIGINALLY 90 FEET TALL, NINE STORIES UP.
THE ORIGINALLY 90 FEET TALL, NINE STORIES UP. AT THE TIME, DURING THE
NINE STORIES UP. AT THE TIME, DURING THE OPERATION OF THE BLAST FURNACES,
AT THE TIME, DURING THE OPERATION OF THE BLAST FURNACES, IMPURITIES WOULD ACCUMULATE AT
OPERATION OF THE BLAST FURNACES, IMPURITIES WOULD ACCUMULATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE
IMPURITIES WOULD ACCUMULATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE CALLED SALIMANDERS, THEY HAD TO
THE BOTTOM OF THE BLAST FURNACE CALLED SALIMANDERS, THEY HAD TO BE REMOVED, AND CHISELING THE
CALLED SALIMANDERS, THEY HAD TO BE REMOVED, AND CHISELING THE ROCK HARD MATERIAL AWAY.
BE REMOVED, AND CHISELING THE ROCK HARD MATERIAL AWAY. APPARENTLY IN THE CASE OF BLAST
ROCK HARD MATERIAL AWAY. APPARENTLY IN THE CASE OF BLAST FURNACE NUMBER FOUR, THE OWNERS
APPARENTLY IN THE CASE OF BLAST FURNACE NUMBER FOUR, THE OWNERS OF THE FACILITY REALIZED THEY
FURNACE NUMBER FOUR, THE OWNERS OF THE FACILITY REALIZED THEY WOULD BE CLOSING THE FACILITY
OF THE FACILITY REALIZED THEY WOULD BE CLOSING THE FACILITY DOWN AND RATHER THAN SHUT DOWN
WOULD BE CLOSING THE FACILITY DOWN AND RATHER THAN SHUT DOWN BLAST FURNACE NUMBER FOUR AND
DOWN AND RATHER THAN SHUT DOWN BLAST FURNACE NUMBER FOUR AND CLEAN THE SALAMANDERS AWAY, THEY
BLAST FURNACE NUMBER FOUR AND CLEAN THE SALAMANDERS AWAY, THEY LET IT ACCUMULATE AT THE BOTTOM
CLEAN THE SALAMANDERS AWAY, THEY LET IT ACCUMULATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FURNACE.
LET IT ACCUMULATE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FURNACE. WE ARE THE BENIFICIARIES RY
OF THE FURNACE. WE ARE THE BENIFICIARIES RY BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THE
WE ARE THE BENIFICIARIES RY BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THE IMPURITIES AS THEY ACTUALLY
BECAUSE WE CAN SEE THE IMPURITIES AS THEY ACTUALLY EXISTED IN THE BLAST FURNACE.
IMPURITIES AS THEY ACTUALLY EXISTED IN THE BLAST FURNACE. TODAY IN AN AREA ONCE FILLED
EXISTED IN THE BLAST FURNACE. TODAY IN AN AREA ONCE FILLED WITH CHOKING HEAT AND NOISE,
TODAY IN AN AREA ONCE FILLED WITH CHOKING HEAT AND NOISE, QUIET NES HAS RETURNED.
WITH CHOKING HEAT AND NOISE, QUIET NES HAS RETURNED. IT IS A SITE THAT ONCE MEANT SO
QUIET NES HAS RETURNED. IT IS A SITE THAT ONCE MEANT SO MUCH TO A GROWING CITY AND ONE
IT IS A SITE THAT ONCE MEANT SO MUCH TO A GROWING CITY AND ONE THAT WAS ALMOST FORGOTTEN.
MUCH TO A GROWING CITY AND ONE THAT WAS ALMOST FORGOTTEN. >> WE FEEL HONORED TO BE ABLE TO
THAT WAS ALMOST FORGOTTEN. >> WE FEEL HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PRESERVED THIS SITE THAT
>> WE FEEL HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE PRESERVED THIS SITE THAT MEANT SO MANY TO JOLIET'S PAST.
HAVE PRESERVED THIS SITE THAT MEANT SO MANY TO JOLIET'S PAST. FOR ME, THE FACT THAT WE COULD
MEANT SO MANY TO JOLIET'S PAST. FOR ME, THE FACT THAT WE COULD DEVELOP THIS SITE, MAINTAIN IT
FOR ME, THE FACT THAT WE COULD DEVELOP THIS SITE, MAINTAIN IT NOT ONLY FOR TODAY, BUT FOR
DEVELOP THIS SITE, MAINTAIN IT NOT ONLY FOR TODAY, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, THAT WILL
NOT ONLY FOR TODAY, BUT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, THAT WILL BECOME MORE SEPARATED IN TIME
FUTURE GENERATIONS, THAT WILL BECOME MORE SEPARATED IN TIME FROM JOLIET'S BEGINNING, THIS
BECOME MORE SEPARATED IN TIME FROM JOLIET'S BEGINNING, THIS WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO HELP THEM
FROM JOLIET'S BEGINNING, THIS WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHERE THE CITY
WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHERE THE CITY ORIGINALLY CAME FROM.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE JOLIET IRONWORKS HISTORIC SITE CALL WILL COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE
JOLIET IRONWORKS HISTORIC SITE CALL WILL COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE (815)727-8700.