0 TREMONT PLACE - BUILDING INSPECTION w.REMOMT PT ACE
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ROBERT J. CROWLEY 48 ` tiiiek c eVi MASS.
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December 13, 1984
Mr. Robert E. Blenkhorn
Health Agent, City of Salm
9 North Street
Salem, Ma 01970
Dear Bob:
As I_mentioned toyouu the other day I had not been inside the'ol'd'Tannery
on Tremont Place f;.at f E
at least two years. Today, with members-onginei-2,
I made an inspection of the place and I must say it in even worse
condition than I remembered.
The principal objective of the inspection was locating and identifying, if
possible, the barrels of unknown substances which seen to be a large part
of the obstacle in removing this place. In the course of this inspection
I also observed conditions which increase the fire hazard and this naturally
increases this department's concern about this building.
On the barrels, there are about 20 fibre barrels of leather scraps and one
full fibre barrel of approximately 50 gallon size labeled, "ORATAN TV,
Synthetic Tanning Agent" on the first floor. in the basement, where incidentally,
the footing is treacherous, at the Irving Street wall there is a large open-top
wooden tank or vat partially full of a congealed substance and about fifteen (15)
55-gallon metal drums which are either partially or completely full. Whatever the
original contents, I would judge by shaking the barrels, that the contents have
long since solidified. The drums are old, corroded and rusted and there is no
means of readily identifying their contents.
In this immediate area there is an upright 4x4 wooden column which appears to
be supporting part of the first floor which is unsteady and rotted at the base.
I considered this area to be particularly dangerous and recommend that anyone
having to enter the building be very cautious near this area. There were also
about twelve (12) 50-1b. bags of Sodium Formate in the middle basement and
these too have solidified.
- z -
Mr. Robert E. Blenkhorn December 13, 1984
In the course of the inspection we discovered water running steadily from
the old sprinkler valve and this I reported to Tan Burke. Mr. Burke informs
me that they long ago shut down the water to the building so obviously sane-
thing has broken and is permitting water to leak by.
I know we are all in agreement that this building is a threat to the neighbor-
hood and I hope we will shortly see the last of it.
Very truly yours,
Robert J. .Crowley
A/Chief
RJC:sl
cc: file
Fire Prevention
Bldg. Inspector Richard McIntosh
City Councillor George McCabe