Ashcroft Projector

The train loading tower (left), and elevators. Check out that giant flagpole/lightning rod.

This is part of the oldest section of factory, one that hasn’t had a roof in a long time and all usable equipment has been extracted. The machines pictured would spin sliced beets in boiling water… it was a sealed system before someone cut holes on sides of each unit.

The main shaft’s cable spooled with bird castings belies the fact that lives used to dangle from its steel-wound strength. Arrows on the circles would indicate the mine level the cars were currently at.

This is the original projection booth space, but it has been remodeled a bit to accommodate mixing boards and other live performance equipment. Before the theatre was separated to accommodate two stages, this would overlook two balconies, the house, and the main stage.

Much of the milling equipment predated the mill itself, so I would not be surprised if this particular machine really dates to 1860.

At the bottom of the stairs to the caves is this collection of brick arches. I wonder what this area looks like now that a new tenant has taken over this building.

Almost all of the doors and windows on the ground floor have been boarded, leaving the ground level very dark.

The Beeghley was launched in 1958… you can see it unloading limestone here with its retrofitted self-unloader. Update: This ship has been renamed the ‘James L. Oberstar’ after the Minnesota Senator. [Read more on Boardnerd.com here: http://www.boatnerd.com/pictures/fleet/oberstar.htm]

There big filters helped the mill sort through the flour, for additional milling, for example.