Aside from the most prominent building on the site, is the presence of the bare still bases. While the banks of stills on the south side of the site are the most noticeable, there are stills inside, and behind, (east of) the U.S. Yttrium building. There are a total of eleven still bases in the southeast bank, including the walls. These bases held large tanks, (10′ diameter x 30′ in length), which were used to produce various petroleum products. The crude oil was heated to various temperatures to produce motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, and oil for asphalt. The tanks were removed after the refinery ceased operations in 1932.
The still bases shown on this page are numbered from west to east, similar to the other pages on this site. Note: all of the stills and production buildings along the south side of the property were originally constructed by and for the Standard Oil Company of Indiana.
A view of the eastern still battery from the (burned) rear platform of the Midwest control building.
Detail of the north edge of the first still bank.
Detail of graffiti on center of wall.
A view of the southeastern wall of the first still base.
The work of the tagger "MUND" is found all over the site, including this one on the south end of the first still base.
A view of the control building from the third still to the east.
As found on the west wall of still base four.
West wall of still base four.
With age, the still bases are crumbling and with it, taking some of the graffiti.
Also on the west wall of still wall four.
A view of the yttrium plant from the east wall of still base four.
Looking at the back of the eastern production line from still bases five.
A toy gun rests on still base eight.
A view of one of the still foundations.
A view of the east bank of still foundations looking south. The wall in the foreground is part of the production line.
A view from the top of the stills looking west. The original refinery extended beyond the tree line, (the Big Laramie River).
Beautiful photographs! And very thorough research. Thank you, you have inspired many!