Located in Oregon, just west of the Idaho border along I-84 is the site of an old abandoned cement plaster factory. Originally known as the Acme Cement Plaster Factory, it produced incredible amounts of lime from limestone–a needed element of cement. Eventually renamed the Oregon Portland Cement company, the plant continued to thrive until the limestone was depleted and completely left abandoned to disrepair in 1983.
I drove past this incredible mine dozens of times as I travelled to visit family between Jackson Hole, WY and Portland, OR in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Awed at the superstructures each time, I finally stopped and spend several hours making images when I noticed it was being torn down.
There is a sweet irony and beauty in seeing the destruction of this plant (which in some views seems to be the birthplace of modern architecture) which provided materials for so many of the concrete buildings of our modern era.
