Sublunar Photography

The Gulf Oil Refinery was constructed here in 1931 as part of a crude oil pipeline that stretched from Texas up to the North East.

This facility employed seven full time employees ranging from engineers to telegraph operators. The engineers were responsible for monitoring the oil levels and pressure and maintaining the several large 50 ton, 3-cylinder Diesel engines that powered the pump station. These engines were approximately 12 feet tall and used some of the same oil that they pumped through the lines.

There are three large storage tanks on site to store the oil which came through the lines. These tanks were built with a moat around them in the event of a spill so as to minimize damage to the surrounding area.

This facility operated well into the 60's and was shut down in the late 60's or early 70's. It has been abandoned since. Anyone who gets close to the tanks can still detect the smell of the oil they once contained. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the large engines, nor the station itself except a twisted steel frame and the crumbling brick walls.

I have not been able to determine with certainty was this place was originally. I suspect it was an incinerator, based on the large hoppers and dual stacks (as compared to another known Incinerator). But this is a guess. Currently, and as it seems to have been the case for the past several years, it was used a rubber scrap facility. Property databases generically refer to it as "Former Industrial Site".

Renz Correctional Center was opened in 1961 as a high-security prison for female offenders. It was designed to hold about 500 prisoners and was known as Renz Farm because it was used to raise chicken and grow produce. Its most notable place in history pertains to the escape of James Earl Ray from the Missouri State Penitentiary just down the road. He managed to hide inside a delivery truck that was heading to Renz to deliver bread. At some point along the route, he got out and was on the run for about a year before ultimately performing the crime for which he was made famous. On April 4th, 1968, James Earl Ray assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr in Memphis Tennessee at the Lorraine Motel where King had booked a room.

In 1993, during the Great Flood of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, the overflowing river water was heading straight for the prison. The administration had planned for evacuation several times throughout the course of the year due to spring flooding and constant rain. On July 2nd, 1993, the evacuation of prisoners began and was completed successfully without incident within two days time. After the prisoners had been moved to another facility, the corrections staff returned in boats to salvage remaining equipment from the building and move other property up to the 2nd floor. They had every intention of returning once the waters receded. But the crest of the river continued to climb until reaching 38.6 feet, overtaking the 32 foot high levy that was designed to protect the facility. As the flood-waters finally receded, they left behind a 15 foot deep lake across the 15 acres of the property and they took the 9 foot tall security fence along with them. Inspectors discovered that the building was beyond repair and the decision was made to close the facility permanently.

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