All,

 

Please forgive the multiple lists I am sending this to, but I thought it would be of interst to everyone. I recieved this email from another yahoo group a short time ago so please forgive me if anyone has seen it before. My thanks to the poster for some info and sad news from a little piece of my past  Any info of Handy Towers operation, especially pics, would be great before the tower ceases to exist.

 

Bill Sturgeon

 

While taking a nice leasurely drive to Chicago, I swung out to 41 and up to see Handy Tower. I had visited the site while at Purdue back in 2002, and it was in relatively good shape then. Many of the relays were still inside the tower, waiting for electricity and for a train to bring them to life once again.

http://indiana. railfan.net/ pictures/ ej/Handy99north. jpg

Sadly, this is no longer the case.

It appears the roof has collapsed or was knocked into and off of the structure. There is evidence of a fire, not sure if precipitated the roof collapse, or the roof materials were set on fire after demolition. My guess is the fire came first, as it appeared the remaining roof line appeared charred. No doubt a 'playground' for the youth of the area. The interlocking bed had been intact (no levers) in 2002, which with careful climbing on the supporting steel(which I did in 2002), granted access to the 2nd floor. The Interlocking bed has been disassembled with a cutting torch, and the pieces left inside on the first floor. A major I-beam which lends support to the 2nd floor, and was tied into the interlocking bed, has been removed and placed on the floor. This was probably done to discourage climbing to the 2nd floor. Exterior brick is begining to 'scale' away, and I'd imagine its only a matter of time before someone or something (gravity) brings the structure down. Its as if the Tower has been unceremoniously disemboweled, and awaiting the inevitable full collapse.

Very eerie and sad setting. The wind was blowing while I was there yesterday, and the cover to the long disconnected fuse box was creaking in the wind. The KBS past the tower looks little used, but it appeared a hi-railer had been by recently.

I know the elevator that owns the line to Free owns the Tower. They were actively shopping it to anyone who would take it. Its remote location, and brick construction, probably makes a long distance move improbable.

Practice Safe CSX