Central Steam

Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Fall 2007.

The next day I left the Harold Parker campground to meet up with Arntzville. I forget what GrayFox or Navi276 were doing; but Arntzville and I were heading back to Fitchburg for the other abandoned power plant.

Another abandoned power plant?!? Yep, this city of 40,000 also has an abandoned steam power plant. When the paper mills in the area begun to close in the 90's, the power plant lost its customers and they had to cease operations.

Arntz and I would've surely listened to this sign if it were only more polite.

Only in America will you find a biking trail which travels between an abandoned power plant and its silos.

"I don't know Arntz, should we listen to this sign?"

He sort of looked at me confused; I guess you got to know people to get their sarcasm.

Yeah, we didn't listen to the sign. I know; you're shocked.

Sorry Fitchburg. I'll listen to (select) signs next time I'm there.

Somehow, while planning on travelling 10 hours to this meet up, I forgot my tripod. Therefore, I didn't take very many pictures at the dark GE Power Plant.

Come this Sunday though and I asked Arntz to stop at the local Wal-Mart to pick up the finest $9.99 tripod you've ever seen.

What does all this rambling mean? More quality & quantity in the steam plant pictures than the GE plant pictures.

This power plant was better anyway...

Arntz spotted this. It's sort of sad if you think about it.

Back to the cheerful emptiness.

As with all of the power plants I've been to, the tubing and staircase portion of the plant is good; but the highlight is always the turbine room.

The green mossy walls and the arched doorways of the turbine room give Central Steam a uniqueness all its own.

While Central Steam is the better of the two plants; it is also the smaller. It was time to leave and thankfully Arntz noticed a dude walking his dog upon the path. We froze in complete silence and watched as he stood near the direct center of the building and pulled out a small camera. Arntz watched him take quite a few pictures; until he eventually moved along and we made our escape.

Our hands dirty from the adventure, we stopped by the Nashua River to wash them in the geographic feature which once fuelled the building we had just explored.

As I looked down, I spotted that ole' crayfish. I can honestly say I've never seen one of them before. He/She must enjoy the oil that leaks from Central Steam into his/her home.

Anyway, Arntz and I parted ways and I called The Dude to let him know that I wasn't going to be doing some hospital that afternoon. Tired from a couple days of exploring, I decided it was a better idea to embark on my 10 hour drive home.

Overall it was a great experience. Driving 10 hours is a bit much; but it was completely worth it and I can't see how I'd miss next year's getogether.

My thanks go out to The Dude and Duffy for organizing the event, GrayFox for the locations, Arntz for driving me around and Desmet again for the TGI-Friday's. Along with everyone else, I hope to see y'all again soon.

Navi.

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