New Marathon Pundit Photo Series: The Former 111th Street Garbage Dump

In 1968, my family moved Chicago's South Side to southwestern suburban Palos Heights.

At that time, there was a garbage dump at 111th Street and LaGrange Road in unincorporated Palos Township, a vile and smelly place to the six year old Marathon Pundit.

The dump was capped off sometime around 1972. Around the time to property was purchased by the Cook County Forest Preserve District. For years, methane gas was released from valves such as the one pictured here. To the slightly older but still young Marathon Pundit, traveling past the former dump at night was pretty awesome, the gas was lit, giving the barren field an eerie bluish look at night.

Yesterday I walked through the old dump. The only hints that the spot was a dump are the valves.

Another photograph tomorrow.

Related post: Sign of late summer: Sunflowers

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