DTHE BAKELITE PLANT - There is only a concrete slab and railway tracks left from one of
Bellevilles' biggest factories. The Bakelite Factory on Dundas St. ,
was finally tore down on Jan. 1 / 2007. As the dust settled, another
piece of history was gone.
Herbert Henry Dow was born in Belleville in 1866 , the son of an
inventor and mechanical engineer. The Dow family moved to America
and as a child Herbert helped his father in solving mechanical
problems. He invented an egg incubator before the age of 12.
After graduating high school in 1884 , he attended Case for 4 years.
He than took a position as chemistry professor at Huron College in
Cleveland. Herbert was still working on his patent of extracting
bromine from brine. Bromine was a major chemical used in medicines.
In 1889 Dow received his first patent on a machine that extracted
bromine from brine. Herbert finally reached success in 1891 when he
used electrolysis to oxidize the bromine. This was known as the
Dow Process.
Herbert wanted to apply his new method to other chemicals for
extracts. He was fired from the Midland Chemical Company but
returned and purchased the plant. He than formed the Dow Chemical
Company in 1896.
Dow than flooded both his home and foreign markets with his cheap
bromine. His predatory pricing forced all competitors to increase
their prices. Argued by most that this irrational pricing
wouldn't be accepted in society, Dow became extremely wealthy.
Dow has been credited with inventing such chemicals as magnesium
for flares, monochlorobenzine and phenol for explosives, and bromine
for medicines and tear gasses. Herbert supplied 90 percent of the
chemicals used for weapons in World War One. He is also credited for
inspiring the process to create such chemicals as formaldehyde,
and Bakelite, a compound made from phenolic resins.
In the 1950's Bakelite Thermosets Inc. took over the Union Carbide
plant in Belleville. They produced Formaldehyde, Industrial
lubricants and Bakelite a heat resistant phenloic resin. Over the
next fifty years, the plant was plagued with numerous environmental
violations. Many plant fires leaked toxins into the air, and water.
The plant was finally closed in 1991. The Government than took on the
dangerous task of removing 500 drums filled with PCB chemicals. It
was estimated that over 35 acres of land and water have been left
destroyed by leaking toxins.
Over the last 12 years the government has spent millions to help
repair the land and water surrounding the plant. The buildings
rotting shell was a constant slap in the city's face. It was patrolled
by security 24 hrs 7 days a week. The city was having problems with
local youths getting hurt and further damaging the building.
John knows because he and some friends used to go their 1 Friday
Night out of the month and party with the spirits. Yes, you heard me
right . . . . spirits . John has been able to find out about 3 employees
that never punched out from work.
In 1987 a female employee died from phenol chemicals absorbed
through her skin. A male lost his life in one of the trains loading
bays in 1988. The story goes that the man was standing on the dock
watching the train back up. Without warning, the man jumped down
to the tracks as the train slammed into the docks barrier. The man
was pinned alive for 30 minutes. He confessed the reason for his
decision to jump. He walked in on his wife cheating on him.
The most prominent spirit is that of a male. In 1990 Bakelite claimed
its' last permanent resident. The basement turned into a bizarre
murder/suicide crime scene. The media hid this from the public as
not to encourage the youth to flock to the factory.
It is kind of ironic. Herbert Henry Dow inspired the chemical toxins
that would eventually wreak havoc on his birthplace. John always
adds that most inventors live in the present with their inventions,
not with the future mistakes their genius causes.
The following is a unexplainable event that happened in May 1998.
John and 4 other friends went to the Bakelite for the Friday Night
Party. Names have been omitted upon request from individuals. This
is taken from Johns' journal.
The Bakelite Plant - Fri. May 13, 1998. What did we see ? ?
As we walked down the over - grown train tracks the sick familiar
smell filled the air. It took me back to when I was a child. I would
stay at my Grandmothers house in the late 1970's and 80's for one
weekend a month. She lived 7 houses from the Bakelite. That sick
smell of Formaldehyde filled the air in east end of Belleville.
"There it is" said my buddy snapping me back into reality. The plant
was closed and lay rotting for the last 7 years. Most of its vast
windows were nothing less than shards. This had become a youth
and homeless hangout. The kids would break anything they put
their hands on. They would light fires and walk away. The city was
forced to hire 24 hour security to patrol the grounds and factory.
We had been here many times and knew exactly where to go. We
never had a problem with security. We continued to the trains
loading bay. This was the easiest and shelters way to enter the
building. As we neared the dock a male goof punched the rusted
barrier. " hey man , Have some respect ! " I shouted at him. " What's
your problem? " he said. " Don't you know what happened here? " I
asked. "No . . . Who cares? " he snapped. " You should ! " I stated
with wide eyes and continued, " Ask me about it when we get to the
tower".
As we made our way through the building one of our stairwells had
collapsed. We climbed up a ladder to a catwalk to continue to the
roof now. When we reached the roof the cool air smelled so fresh.
From up there you can see all of Belleville. I would always climb
the tower and stand on top. You have a mile view in all directions.
Later that night I finally told everybody why I freaked earlier.
I told them about the stories of the three deaths that occurred
here ( listed above ) . The tone of the group seemed to change
as the light faded away. " I think we should go now" one of the
girls squeaked. " It's getting late " said another. I looked at my
buddy , smiled and said , " You're right . . let's go " . We gathered
our things and started on our way.
The plant is not a good place to be if you are afraid of the dark.
The only light you get is from the ones you bring. There are many
holes in the floors, and navigating them is a chore in the day.
We were on the catwalk when we saw a light shining dimly 2 rooms
away from us. We shut off our lights and stood gripping the rail
in the dark. " Is it the guard? " whispered the girl. " It's just some
punks " said my buddy. " Let's climb down and scare them " my
buddy giggled. So quietly we climbed down to the main floor in
the dark. We then took up hiding spots and waited as the light
came closer.
In the darkness time lasts forever. I heard many sounds coming
from the bowels of the empty factory. Animals , water dripping
but no footsteps coming towards us. The light was only 20 feet
away when I heard somebody say , " Guys . . . Nobodys holding
that light ! " . " Oh come on . . " whispered somebody else. " John
He's not lying ! " yelled my buddy. I heard one of the girls scream
and the light stopped dead.
I walked out of my hiding spot and faced the light. " Who are
you ? " I called out . " John are you crazy? " my buddy barked.
Just then I saw the light slowly fade. I flicked on my light. No
one was there. I ran toward the spot where the light was. Nothing.
I felt somebody grab my arm as they ran by. Minutes later we were
outside on the tracks. The group stopped to get our breath. " What
the hell was that ? " gasped one of the girls. I replied , " Well , I
have heard stories that employees started seeing a strange light
after the pinning death in 1988. They say that it is the spirit of
the victim. People report it following them and as it does it is
accompanied by rapid drops in temperature. He is a trapped spirit.
On the dock where he died, faint moans and shallow breathing have
been heard. He is confined to his place of death" . The group sat
silent and stared at me.
Nobody said anything as we reached our cars. It's really to bad
that they are going to demolish the building. I can't wait to go
again next Friday. I have a feeling my buddy and I will be the
only ones returning from tonights group. I will never forget
what we saw. Paranormal events transcend space and time.
For some incredible photos of the old Bakelite plant before, and
during stages of demolition, click here.
D© SHADOWICC 2002 - 2008. All Rights Reserved.
