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Orenda Engines

This is the site of the Orenda Engines factory. It was originally part of the CIL Munitions plant across the highway, but in 1949 became the home of testing for Canada's earliest jet engines.

Once a very important shipping port in the Great Lakes, and the westernmost point of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway, Depot Harbour is now little more than some concrete ruins hidden among the trees.

Lockport Generating Station

I have been able to determine that this was once a generating station for a paper mill on the opposite side of the street. It opened in the 1920's, and remained in operation for about 40 years. In 2010, the property was purchased by an investor who sees opportunity for the location.

Flintkote Factory

This site began life in the 1880's as a paper plant belonging to the Lockport Paper Company. In 1928, Flintkote, an asbestos company, bought out the property and began manufacturing felt for use in automobiles.

Concrete City

These buildings were opened in 1913 to provide model housing for key, "high value" employees and supervisors of the DL & W Railroad's Coal Division, who paid a rent of $8.00 per month. In 2008 dollars, using the Consumer Price Index, that would be $179.42. One additional requirement of these employees was that they had to speak English as their first language.

Eastern State Penitientiary

The history of Eastern State Penitentiary is a fascinating story spanning many years. As a model for prisons yet to be built, it would stand as first a shining beacon, and then as a potential embarrassment both admired and reviled.

Pennsylvania Turnpike

It was early in the day, and already becoming quite warm. We had each brought a large bottle of Gatorade with us and felt quite prepared and excited for what lay ahead. Two tunnels carved into the hills beyond. Tunnels which, for a brief period of time, allowed traffic a faster, easier route through the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. Its inherent flaws, however, started the clock ticking to its eventual closure.

Orenda Engines

Depot Harbour

Lockport Generating Station

Flintkote Factory

Concrete City

Eastern State Penitientiary

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Shannopin Mine

Bayless Pulp and Paper

German Catholic Orphanage