On a freezing cold bitter day in February 2011, after visiting the Westinghouse Boiler Room, and a failed attempt to bribe the security guard at Rheem, Ninja and I spent 7 or 8 frozen hours exploring the long abandoned Firestone Tire Factory in Hamilton, Ontario.
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada built the tire manufacturing plant on 40 acres of re-claimed harbour land in 1921. Twelve expansions had taken place by 1983, growing the facility to a massive 800,000 square feet. By 1987 however, Firestone was drowning in debt, losing upwards of $250 million per year. The company began liquidating assets to stay afloat, and in 1988, The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada was purchased by Bridgestone, which successfully and quickly revitalized the brand. This marked the end of Firestone tire manufacturing in Hamilton, as the massive plant was closed and abandoned. In 1990, "The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company" and "Bridgestone Tire Company Ltd USA" were amalgamated and became "Bridgestone Firestone North American Holdings Ltd".
Since 1988, the Firestone plant had been left to rot and decay...
The full write-up and lots more pics can be found here...
http://jermalism.blogspot.ca/2012/08/abandonment-issues-firestone-tire.html
IMG_3714 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3838 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3638 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3653 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3853 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3703 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3780 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3788 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3819 by jerm IX, on Flickr
The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada built the tire manufacturing plant on 40 acres of re-claimed harbour land in 1921. Twelve expansions had taken place by 1983, growing the facility to a massive 800,000 square feet. By 1987 however, Firestone was drowning in debt, losing upwards of $250 million per year. The company began liquidating assets to stay afloat, and in 1988, The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Canada was purchased by Bridgestone, which successfully and quickly revitalized the brand. This marked the end of Firestone tire manufacturing in Hamilton, as the massive plant was closed and abandoned. In 1990, "The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company" and "Bridgestone Tire Company Ltd USA" were amalgamated and became "Bridgestone Firestone North American Holdings Ltd".
Since 1988, the Firestone plant had been left to rot and decay...
The full write-up and lots more pics can be found here...
http://jermalism.blogspot.ca/2012/08/abandonment-issues-firestone-tire.html
IMG_3714 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3838 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3638 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3653 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3853 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3703 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3780 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3788 by jerm IX, on Flickr
IMG_3819 by jerm IX, on Flickr
