Cleveland's Hulett Ore Unloaders Are Being Scrapped!

[@RailroadStreet]

Citizens’ Vision Group’s Open Letter to their Supporters, and Doubters Attempts to preserve the Huletts have been going on for over 30 years. This is a synopsis of the process from the perspective of the only entity who has consistently advocated for complete restoration of the the historic machines. In 1992, when our Hulett Iron-Ore Unloaders had been slated to be replaced by self-unloading ships, Conrail expressed intent to demolish the last 4 Huletts located on their Whiskey Island ore dock in Cleveland, Ohio. Conrail petitioned the City of Cleveland for a demolition permit, but the City’s Landmark Commission placed a hold on issuance of the permit. In 1997, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority took ownership of the ore dock and proceeded with the same intent to demolish the Huletts. Over the new few years, people dedicated to historic preservation saw to it that the Huletts would be named a City of Cleveland Landmark, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, named an ASME Mechanical Engineering Landmark (along with the Steamship William G. Mather being just two of only 281 worldwide) and placed on National Trust for Historic Preservation's 11 Most Endangered List. In addition, the National Park Service offered a grant to consider designating the Huletts as a National Landmark, with all of the protections that go along with that-but sadly, this offer was declined. In October of 1999, the Committee to Save Cleveland's Huletts (CSCH) produced the iconic nighttime photo of the four Huletts with the Cleveland skyline backdrop, glorifying the machines with colored lights to match the bridges that had recently been lighted in the flats. Conrail’s and the Port’s intent to demolish the Huletts-- and the City’s willingness to let it happen-- fueled an uproar by preservationists who mailed postcards of the nighttime photo to key supporters, spearheading a phone and mail campaign and generating $250,000 in donations. This activism resulted in a 1999 agreement to scrap just 2 Huletts and dismantle 2 for future display. Concurrently, the Committee to Save Cleveland's Huletts filed suit in Federal Court to preserve all 4 and stop their destruction based on violation of National Historic Preservation laws, with the CSCH ultimately winning the case in a landmark ruling. While the judge’s decision was delivered after the Huletts were taken down, the victory provided the leverage needed to protect the 2 dismantled Huletts. Since 2000, the parts of the last 2 Huletts have been patiently sitting in storage on Whiskey Island. As a result of the Federal Court decision, a Working Group was established to work with The Port of Cleveland to determine the fate of the Huletts. With the $250,000 raised by preservationists and $250,000 given by the Port Authority, expectations were great to eventually see the Huletts re-erected. However, very quickly the Working Group dismissed the idea of saving an entire Hulett and only focused on saving a leg and bucket--akin to saving just the trunk of a mastodon to show future generations what a mastodon was. The Committee to Save Cleveland's Huletts, now part of Citizens Vision, was invited to participate in the Working Group as a Concurring Party--but not as a Signatory, leaving them powerless in the group. All suggestions for complete preservation submitted by CSCH were completely ignored. The resulting MOA from the Working Group, executed in 2018, choked out any possibility of complete preservation of a Hulett, due to the weak mitigation requirements placed upon the Port. It was clear that a creative and visionary solution was not on the horizon. Left out of the loop on all ideation, the CSCH prepared significant ideas that were supported by research. With a mechanical and an electrical engineer in CSCH leadership, viable complete-preservation solutions were formulated that not only saved the Huletts but benefited all parties, especially the City of Cleveland. The plans can be found at the Citizens Vision website-- www.citizensvision.org . One example is the Dock 32 proposal, incorporating both Huletts with the Steamship Mather Museum in a setting that included a land bridge from the Mall, residential and retail units, Browns Stadium upgrades, an aquarium and ferry boat terminal. Another proposal for east of mouth of the Cuyahoga River also included the Mather, and connected to the Waterfront RTA line, which would reinvigorate that resource and complement other Flats East Bank development. Our current proposal for Scranton Peninsula would place the Huletts and Mather near Collision Bend on a reclaimed one mile stretch of purely recreational river--the result of cutting a channel to shorten commercial shipping. These ideas were presented to the Working Group, but also were shared with leaders in the city and county government, as well as the public through the Citizens Vision website. When the story broke in late January 2024, that the Port was taking bids on scrappers, media reports generated such interest that a benefactor contacted Citizens Vision’s CSCH with an offer of a $500,000 match. On April 8 he advised the CSCH that he had already raised $100,000 from a steel company. With the financial commitment of the benefactor established, the CSCH worked to connect him with the Port of Cleveland, Cleveland Cliffs, Canalway Partners and the Great Lakes Science Center. After an initial contact, Canalway subsequently ignored the benefactor's attempts to discuss his offer to preserve the historic icons. As it stands, attempts will continue to save these important elements of Cleveland's and our nation's history by connecting the benefactor with other interested parties. Meanwhile, the demolition company initially hired had plans to preserve one Hulett for display at their headquarters at the old Timken Steel plant in Canton, Ohio. While it was not clear how serious their plan was, ultimately the deal fell through when the company could not produce proof of bond within a three-day deadline. The Port hired its second bidder, and when they hauled small Hulett parts from the storage site the CSCH issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding proof that the MOA had been followed. The Port initially agreed to stop demolition, but the scrapper began cutting apart the Huletts on April 19, possibly to make sure that facts on the ground supersede any possible reprieve. As the benefactor commented, “The opposite of good is not evil--it is indifference. Regardless of the outcome, we continue our efforts and in our own small way continue to Speak Truth to Power.” Citizens Vision and The Committee to Save Cleveland’s Huletts can be contacted at [e-mail]

[@manga12]

cant they save at least one those are history making machines one should at least be saved they were part of the skyline for 100 years

[@taxirob2248]

Cleveland is run by weasels that would burn the city to the ground if it was lucrative enough for them

[@TomJoyes]

I am a scrap guy, and sentimental is a poor thing for a scrap guy to be. I looked at a job removing ship unloader at grain elevator/port. Èquipment so elegant it deserved to be in an art museum, designed by brilliant men with pencil, paper and a slide rule, built by men with guts and heart and iron in their blood. It filled me with reverence. We grieve the loss of these things. My condolences to the people of Cleveland

[@Tuberuser187]

Here in the UK we lost too much of our industrial heritage as well, machines like these Huletts helped build the world, literally and figuratively.

[@J.R.in_WV]

@@Gerhard57NL an issue of money and especially size…..it’s not unreasonable to put historic cars, vans, large trucks (or lorry to you guys haha), military equipment, or even rail cars and locomotives in a museum or park for preservation….they can be moved on regular surface roads fairly easily while remaining in one piece. I can understand why ships and massive heavy equipment aren’t preserved nearly as often because of the huge amount of labor and cost involved in moving them, especially ships considering they have to be moved on and remain in a waterway large and deep enough to fit their size. It’s sad but logical….honestly it’s amazing the Queen Mary wound up being saved from the scrappers. Just a shame the Hewlett’s didn’t find their own City of Long Beach to take them in as an attraction…..but then again they wouldn’t make a very good Hotel either.

[@VictorianMaid99]

so much of the old machines were created with only pencil and paper. This is what drafting was but was replaced long ago by computers...

[@taxirob2248]

@@J.R.in_WV we have ugly public art installations all over the place that cost even more to install and maintain

[@xray606]

Funny how gov authorities have no problem leaving giant areas completely covered in garbage, but when they can make a couple bucks off something, it’s suddenly imperative to clean it up.

[@TheSudrianTerrier653]

and they knew what they were doing, they didn't even care about the fact the Huletts were pieces of history, Similarly , ookaloosa County is gonna sink the SS United States, no regard for it's historic significance

[@speeder36]

The Bethlehem Steel Lackawanna plant had 4 Hulett unloaders and I was a millwright maintaining them until the plant closed in 1982.

[@mikefresca2758]

Most people in Lackawanna have no idea how much that coast is really responsible for. Everyone thinks PA and forgets about that plant.

[@DentedPentax]

A horrible fate for such an interesting and important machine

[@2dogsmowing]

When the huletts were put in that storage spot. You can tell the way the contractors put them there with care.

[@dtj9923]

I've been biking past these monsters almost every night since 2009 on my way out to the old coast guard station. It's really sad to see them being demolished after all of the attempts to have them preserved. I definitely agree that setting one or both up by the William Mather would have been the right thing to do. These machines are an important piece of American industrial history and an important piece of Cleveland's history as well. I know realistically we can't save everything, but it feels like there was enough interest and sponsorship to make it happen that was not leveraged. It sucks to see something so symbolic of Cleveland being destroyed.

[@internetpointsbank]

"Can't save everything" There is basically nothing left.

[@robertwest6350]

Those machines where instumental in the building of our country. They deserve to be preserved so future generations of Americans can marvel at what we used to be all about

[@douglasbailey5047]

My great grandfather finished his 50 year career as a bucket operator on the Huletts in Ashtabula Harbor. He was known to be a favorite of the men charged with the job of hand shoveling out the bottom and edges of the hulls because he was so good at reducing their workload with his skilled operation. There’s a bucket set in Ashtabula’s Point Park at the East end of Walnut Blvd if anyone is interested in seeing one up close.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

Remember when we used to actually build things in this country?

[@mvanluven78]

Then Reagan and his republican buddies absolutely decimated our once great nation. In favor of the all mighty dollar.

[@electrictractiontrainsandt3063]

We need to start making our own products again here in this Country! It sure would be nice!

[@seymoarsalvage]

@@electrictractiontrainsandt3063 Have you actually bought anything US made lately? The QC is horrible, not to mention overpriced. My higher-end Chinese made tools have a better build quality than my US made ones, at 1/4 the price.

[@electrictractiontrainsandt3063]

They should update all of the remaining American steel mills and start producing our own again. We don’t need to import steel and many other items. America was the largest manufacturing Country in the world as of the 1970’s. So not all that long ago as time goes, we were at the top of our game! Steel, cars, cement, and miscellaneous items were made all over the US.

[@tomschmitz8884]

@@seymoarsalvage I have no idea what you're talking about because all the Chinese made Products that I have ever bought and anybody I've ever talk to has bought are what we all call "disposable"… American quality cost more that's why people don't buy it. Your story doesn't really make any sense

[@fxsrider]

We drove up to see them yesterday and could only drive by the fenced off area. Such a bummer to see them go.

[@dongrant5827]

Unbelievable! I just travelled from Connecticut to Philadelphia to see the SS UNITED STATES because of the risk of it being scrapped, now this? Did we not learn anything from the loss of Penn Station?

[@ShawnC.W-King]

No

[@Leatherface123.]

No

[@llynellyn]

No

[@raymiller9391]

No I’m still sad that things like the big Muskie was scrapped.

[@dongrant5827]

@@raymiller9391yes, another great example of an historically significant item lost to time and the scrappers. It’s not only a miracle that 9 of the big boy locomotives were saved, but that 4014 is running now is unbelievable!

[@thomasconley3429]

And this is where we are as a country. While everyone is staring at the screens on their phones. we are getting rid of out history with inventions that were out of this world at the time.

[@colinb8103]

Not just the US ,anything is up for sale over here in the UK

[@QuattroSG]

In real terms, we aren’t a wealthy country anymore. We are so deep in debt the interest is as high or higher than the payment we make on it, we’re upside down. The govt refuses to exploit our natural resources, first thing JB did was kill a new pipeline. Truthfully we seem to be on a steep decline just like the British were a 100 years ago.

[@safffff1000]

Back in the 70s we had those at Republic Steel. I worked on the River Terminal RR that supplied empty rail cars, then pulled the loaded ones out. What put them out of service was ingenious and much cheaper and convenient. Self unloading iron ore boats. They were boats with movable conveyor belts that were fed inside the boat by a bulldozer pushing the ore to the belt feed. They could unload anywhere along the river's wall edge. Just had an outdoor overhead crane to move the oar into piles to store.

[@JusticeAlways]

"ore" as in iron ore.

[@electrictractiontrainsandt3063]

These should be saved! This would be an amazing outdoor museum display of park centerpiece! Think of the crowds that would want to see these up close. They are a great part of American industrial history!

[@juice_in_liters]

Well that stinks. I was hoping one of them would be reassembled eventually, but after rusting away for nearly 25 years, I'm not surprised they're being scrapped. That drone footage is amazing though! I thought all the shunters (minus the Youngstown Steel Heritage unit) were gone. I was also really surprised to see the remaining three after the brush was removed.

[@ShawnC.W-King]

This was The Port and Cleveland's government plan as a whole since the beginning... If they can't get their way, take the trump approach: "delay delay delay delay, delay".

[@skyking6989]

Growing up near Cleveland i saw those all the time. Saw hulettes in Ashtabula as well. So much history cut up for scrap. Time marches on

[@CJinsoo]

80 years of operation. 100+ years still standing. to the engineers and builders-job well done!

[@theonlyegg]

If I know Cleveland, they'll all be scrapped and the demo company will be like, "oops! Was sure it said 'all' on the work order!" 🤷‍♂

[@ShawnC.W-King]

Cleveland's corruption and insipid gross incompetence never ceases I see.

[@DavidSmith-pm2rg]

That is an absolute tragedy. There is absolutely no reason to scrap them. There’s no doubt whatsoever. There’s more than enough room in that area that they could still be out of the way and not be disturbed. What does the parks service say about this? Has anybody brought it up to the Mayor or city Council? Somethings should just be left alone until there is a good plan and money to set them up as a display. There is no doubt whatsoever that these machines would bring in tourist to specifically see them or as an added feature for tourism. Unless somebody’s trying to line their pockets with the scrap money, then there’s absolutely no good reason to continue on with this terrible idea of scrapping the Huletts. Save these last two remaining Huletts!!!

[@jefferymatthew2776]

This is such a shame losing another piece of Cleveland history 😢

[@get__some]

that's what happens when very rich politicians run the town. the mayor alone got over $1mil from foreign lobby

[@ErolAspromatis]

Sigh... we used to build real physical things as a country and Cleveland was at the center of it.

[@mvanluven78]

I mean I wouldn't call Cleveland the center. More like Detroits little brother.

[@ErolAspromatis]

@@mvanluven78 probably a timing issue, before 1910 (Henry Ford), historians seem to believe Cleveland was ranked first in industrial output. But certainly Detroit took over after that... younger brother :)

[@thebabbler8867]

@@ErolAspromatis They're both Chicago's siblings.

[@dmax5678]

@@thebabbler8867 Actually Detroit is much older than Chicago. Detroit was founded in 1701, Chicago in 1837.

[@drscopeify]

It's not that we make less stuff but that industry has changed, we used to make cars, trucks and trains out of steel but today we use Aluminum instead and you can see the rise of factories that make Aluminum like the large car stamping plants. We used to make freeway/highway/road ramps and bridges out of steel but it rusts and costs a lot of money to maintain so today instead we use Cement and rebar. So there was a decline in steel but a rise in cement which is mostly made in very large facilities in Texas and California and in Illinois as well. The size of the cement factory on US 395 in California is gigantic and you can see the shape from miles away. We changed industries and how things are made. Let's not forget we make in the USA millions of cars, half of the world's jet airplanes, dominate the Helicopter industry, we made 1000 f-35 fighter jets in just a few years, we make huge quantity of farm and mining equipment and tractors, the list is sooo long, Here in WA state we make massive quantity of Lumbar form many giant mills, we make windows and doors, roofing, sheet metal buildings, insulation, most of the building materials you see in Home Depot are made in USA. From gutters to door to fiberglass to drywall, paints, chemicals the list is crazy long.

[@theobscurity9392]

I'm thankful for your original video, I hadn't heard of them before and we got a chance to go to Cleveland later that year for a concert and I made it a point to to see and take some pictures of the unloaders. When I heard they were being scrapping I was pretty disappointed but thankful I got to see history in person

[@AdrianRossner]

I only learned about these steel giants through your truly great documentary, and I vividly remember being absolutely thrilled by the soundscape. I have a PhD in industrial and technological history, so I am always fascinated to see and hear in action what I have only read about in sources and books. Accordingly, the shock is profound after seeing the latest video: It is completely incomprehensible to me how one can treat these marvels with such disrespect. They enabled the development of the city into an industrial hub, and now they are being defamed as scrap. Just infinitely sad...

[@famousutopias]

@AdrianRossner that’s a fantastic degree to have! Way back in college days I thought if I were to pursue a history degree, technological history would be it. The way the Ancients (as I like to call anyone doing clever things prior to last week, haha) solved problems was often mind bogglingly creative.

[@opathe2nd973]

As a long time Clevelander, I am sad to see those giants succumbing to location and money. Watch and you will see condos there some day.

[@Studio23Media]

It's a tragedy that at least one isn't being saved for posterity. 🙁

[@paulbergen9114]

I was fortunate enough to make it there in the last days to assist a friend who is making a video for kalmbach publishing trains on location and just climbing on this shaking moving noisy equipment that smelled like oil and crispy wiring but especially great was the sound of the circuits being changed when you wanted to move the other direction or lift or lowered the bucket. It was such an exciting tour I had a hard time falling asleep that night. About the same time I do remember photographing a pint-sized one along the Calumet River in Chicago which was built for barges and was a bit newer. It was the Former Republic Steel facility but had been sold off to another firm that still used it on occasion

[@raoulcaliente1030]

This is a Cleveland tragedy. At least one of these puppies should have been moved to Public Square. Watching these puppies work is a ballet in heavy metal. I once lived in the Hat Factory and later The Bridgeview and . . .

[@anthonyciolli5891]

A modern marvel

[@ethanspaziani1070]

Preserve our history! It's quite depressing

[@EpicRails]

I’m not even from Cleveland. Hell, I ain’t even from the Midwest. But it hurts to see them like that, almost gone!

[@tommymadden9746]

Its nice to hear someone care about what's happened to Cleveland industry. This stuff is gone. So are 2 Ford plants in Brookpark just empty fields now where men put food on the table for there families.

[@davidhorner5655]

Worked on whiskey island for Norfolk southern. Glad I got to see them up close and personal a couple of times.

[@bradd7059]

Theres one question in all of this no one seems to have a answer for and that is why is the port authority in such a rush to scrap them and why do they want them scraped so badly???? If they want room so badly wouldn't most just want them gone and not care what happens after? So why, why does everything have to be scraped and nothing else so badly?????

[@Nick-ue7iw]

Because the Great Leap Forward requires the destruction of culture at every opportunity.

[@crherniman]

Because 880 tons of scrap metal each. $$

[@rp1645]

The most amazing thing about this type of clamshell unloader, besides it's looks. 😊 Is the operator can, right on top of the bucket 😊 very unique 😊❤😊

[@normanlacy3390]

Those machines built America they are critical to remind the youth of the blood sweat and tears of the men that operated and built them. They saved the drag bucket of the ol muskee drag line outside Marietta ohio,no reason they shouldn't preserve part of the ol tired iron that built our great country

[@jfro5867]

What’s that famous expression…..’knows the price of everything but the value of nothing’. That feels appropriate, to me these magnificent machines are our industrial heritage and should be taken care of for future generations to see.

[@soran27]

fabulous documentary work

[@davidpawson7393]

I'll not only give one a home until i die I'll maintain it too after someone educates me. I am a retired equipment tech and licensed electrician but I didnt get where I'm at being a know it all. Dave, Milton New Hampshire Rt 125

[@garydodson6737]

Unfortunately, most politicians in Ohio don't care about or embrace local history. Their motto seems to be "development at any cost." I personally know of a pioneer cemetery that was paved over and turned into a parking lot. When a few citizens raised concerns the response from city hall was, "the mayor has the ultimate power to decide what is allowed."

[@markIburgess]

I'm in the UK and found out about Hulett unloaders a few years ago and was fascinated by them. Sad to hear they are to be scrapped. One should be saved for posterity, huge thing to move and reassemble though.

[@larrydemaar409]

So sad, I wish that they could have been saved.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Sad day. FM Nut has a video of them operating that's well worth watching.

[@oglo2011]

I was wondering how the operator saw the bucket, he rides on top. Smart smart.

[@jhonsiders6077]

It would be nice to seen one of them preserved none left from what I have heard .

[@brankoval4686]

You should do a documentary on the flour mill in the flats. It closed in 2020. The way they explained it was a mix of covid and a small railcar bridge that brought the wheat in that would cost $750,000 to update. 1635 Merwin avenue. We made white flour for Orlando which has a bakery in Cleveland among many others nearby. As well as animal feed for farms. They used to deliver the wheat by large ship in the early 1900s. Last flour mill along the Cuyahoga river. I was glad to be a part of it. They still have rings on one of the buildings where you would tie up your horse.

[@mickwg]

I wonder if they might be willing to donate one of the other shunter locomotives to the National Transportation Museum in St. Louis, MO

[@christinayounglove9231]

I wonder would The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan be interested in such a thing as Ford had its own fleet of ships at one time? Perhaps contacting them?

[@heyinway]

River Rouge complex in Dearborn, Michigan used them.

[@DelayInBlockProductions]

Your videos are wonderful.

[@yugotime1598]

Absolutely disgusting injustice to our industry history.

[@StubbyPhillips]

"Money people" suck.

[@patrickbaitman8336]

Sounds antisemitic.

[@robertmartel8721]

As if they were taking up so much space in the facility. Still calling baloney on that argument.

[@FARMALLL666]

IS THERE ANY HULETTS LEFT IN ANY OTHER CITIES/PORTS ?

[@user-vo1em8fu5u]

no

[@bobocaterpillar3697]

i was working on that dock last week, they are almost all gone. so sad.

[@davy1458]

I'm from indiana...I just read that indiana now leads the nation in annual steel production....never imagined that indiana would produce more steel than cities like cleaveland or Pittsburgh....but here we are killing it !!!

[@peteengard9966]

I grew up watching the machines every chance I got. With them going the way Big Musky went is a darn shame.

[@georgewallis7802]

so many years of heritage lost if these go

[@MartinRadio2]

My uncle bought one of these and is rebuilding it !

[@MrTapanes]

Is there anything we can do to save these?

[@hydroaxop73]

Not a surprise about Maple leaf they caused damage to an existing building while wrecking another in elyria Ohio American industrial mining company is a great organization

[@dannork1240]

I live on the other side of the Great Lakes so I can see where the Taconite was sent down the lakes. I would have loved to come see where the ore ended up, but it sounds like I’m a few decades late👎🏼

[@BigMoTheBlackDragon]

You make it seem that there is still a place called "Ohio". In all seriousness, the more time goes by, the more knowledge we actively try (& succeed), to forget. Remember when we retired the space shuttle fleet, & people were like, "why don't we just build some Saturn V rockets?", & NASA had to tell everyone, "we can't build them anymore." So now, we have to reinvent the wheel. Sometime in the future, we'll need those loaders again. We won't be able to build them again. We'll spend multiple decades trying to recreate them -- & they won't be anywhere near as good, near as reliable, or near as inexpensive. History keeps repeating itself, & nobody will ever learn.

[@calvinrhoades4406]

What a beautiful, powerful and magnificent piece of machinery, what a bunch of greedy idiots to scrap such a marvel!!!!

[@livinglikeananimal]

It's sad that these aren't being preserved after all, but I understand the constraints because they are truly tremendous machines in scale and finding the space to accommodate a full crane is difficult, not to mention the costs of upkeep. The SS United States is in a similar bind - a marvel of engineering and history, with people who clearly love and want to save these machines from the scrapyard, but nowhere to put them and high costs to maintain and repair. I'm at least glad the Huletts operated long enough for there to be video captured of them in motion.

[@SternenruferinPatchouli1]

atleast they could relocate one of those to a museum

[@dgronzega8073]

It would be awesome to see one in person. Here in Central CA there are a few bucket links from the gold dredged that chewed up the rivers in search of gold. Not on the same scale though

[@scottmacleod6301]

Where was the Edward l.Reyerson getting unloaded when it was put into service around 2007 or around that time? It needs dockside gear. So does the Sherwin although I doubt it will ever see service again.

[@StubbyPhillips]

Imagine how many stupid little phones can be made from those gigantic pieces of our industrial heritage!

[@nos9784]

Now i wanna see your phone, because mine sure isn't made from steel 😅 So sad they'll just be destroyed.

[@StubbyPhillips]

@@nos9784 I think there are some steel screws in there, but maybe not since the "industry leader" led the industry to glue everything together so we can't replace the batteries or repair them.

[@nos9784]

@@StubbyPhillips the shell of the usb port, some frames, membrane springs in the buttons, maybe some parts of the speaker or camera. (steel is still optimal for springs) Oh, and the "paperclip" thingy for the sim tray. And, yes, there's propably some screws left. The last phone i opened had some, at least.

[@freema22]

16:25 If you look to the left of the screen, you can see the top of the other arm/bucket assembly

[@davidperry970]

I really think our younger generation doesn't give a crap about these things.

[@paulbergen9114]

Sadly if it's not electronic and doesn't make some odd noises and isn't a fantasy today's younger generation can't be bothered by this. I felt badly when they tore down the last overhead Bridge crane in Port Washington WI

[@davidpawson7393]

I was thinking that until I moved to rural New Hampshire. There's hope and the pendulum is swinging back.

[@davidvanniedek2605]

It is sad but I don’t really think it’s the younger generation scrapping them though…

[@DentedPentax]

The young people who do care (like me) are largely powerless to prevent it. It's all big greedy companies and governments that control it.

[@jamescerone]

@@paulbergen9114 I don’t think phone addicted millennials are responsible for the scrapping of giant, out-of-use industrial machines 😂😂 Y’all will blame millennials for *anything*. It’s called the march of time. I’m sure your generation ripped down many a historical device. Hell, your generation was the one that closed all this stuff down. The reality is that you just can’t save everything, and GIANT steel machinery is not easy or cheap to preserve and display in a safe manner. At the end of the day, there are in fact more pressing issues. Preserving something like this would be cool, but really it’s a sentimental luxury.

[@whitlcj1]

Is the iron staying in the country?

[@imchris5000]

its really a shame they did not save at least one to rebuild it paint cleveland across it, it could of been clevelands statue of liberty for the people coming in from the lake

[@skribblyscramiento539]

Actually a 60 foot arm and bucket were saved for display in Canton, Ohio so all is not lost.

[@DVeck89]

I imagine insurance and liability has factored in a lot. No matter where they got setup whether in a city park or a museum, no matter how much fencing and security was provided, somebody would climb it and get hurt and sue.

[@ALLOFTHEBOOST]

What an absolute shame. City should be disgusted with themselves. Old heritage structures like these should be preserved for our younger generation.

[@menguardingtheirownwallets6791]

Unless you can come up with the $12 million it will take to buy the scrap steel, move all of those Hulett unloaders a few miles to a new location that is under separate ownership (and will take another few million to buy the land), and then re-assemble the Hulett unloaders into workable condition, then you might as well just give up and let them be scrapped.

[@rexoliver7780]

How were these devices powered?would think a machine this massive must have a huge engine to run it.

[@RailroadStreet]

They were powered by electricity.

[@rexoliver7780]

@@RailroadStreet can we see a video of the electric drive in one these that’s still intact? Would be very interested in seeing this.

[@RailroadStreet]

There are none that I know of, but here is a video in color with sound of the Huletts operating. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4Otl6GhZ7hmaZIsi=mQC5IwcZXYinKyq8

[@Comm0ut]

The steel industry they served thrived on scrapping too, so they're returning to the system they helped construct.

[@kellys.6047]

Sounds about right for Cleveland, it’s an armpit of a city.

[@Thunder_6278]

This is called progress.....

[@crazydutchbloke]

Seems no one is really interested enough to invest the time and money to get them restored. so its good to see them getting recycled instead of just rotting away.

[@internetpointsbank]

Cleveland is there any reason to go there unless you are a leach or addict?

[@billfeld5883]

I would enjoy operating that, it's looks like more fun than a drilling rig!!!! He was looking good in his cab!!!😅😅😅😅😅

[@young11984]

I cant imagine the cost of dismantling whats there just to move it to another site much less the restoration cost and reassembly and getting them functional again BUT if i was rich i would have it moved to NC and set up in my back yard just because lol. I love old iron and anything that was built with pride and long term reliability vs the mess we have now that is thrown together with short life expectancy from day one

[@johnnycolorado5481]

May as well scrap them now, can you imagine the cost of putting them back together. Millions for something that would never be operational. Don't get me wrong, they were a freaking awesome piece of machinery that should never have been dismantled. Very sad

[@scottmihalsky3612]

This disgusts me. This country used to be a leader. Now, we are a sham.

[@ToreDL87]

So all the garbaged areas can't be cleaned up, but once they look at many tons of steel (easy profit) it's an instant no brainer even if it's a national monument. A true shame, won't be visiting Ohio if I ever go stateside.

[@markdi2]

I hope they can be saved somehow

[@highrx]

Cool machines.

[@TheMNrailfan227]

I believe this video might have been prematurely made. I just saw an article about one of them being saved

[@VictorianMaid99]

At least one could have been saved. They could have transported it to a park someplace as history. This is how we treat America!

[@BLECHHAUS]

Too bad. Unfortunately I don't have enough space in my garden to set it up.

[@parttime9070]

It's good steel low in isotopes..

[@soulman4292]

As a Clevelander, the descendent of miners of iron ore, and coal, and someone who can trace their roots to back to the colonial era around the Great Lakes, This is some HORSESHIT! That is Ohio cultural heritage, industrial heritage, and history that is being scrapped instead of preserved

[@davidblowe9096]

I work in local government (in another part of the world) preservation is a pain ! It cost many 10s of thousands to keep things in preservation and for what ? just to keep it to look at it ! and yeah it’s sad to see thing fall into disrepair but what do we want ? Money spent on services or money spent on keeping something.

[@Jesse-yf2uh]

Even if it is important it all gets scrapped… even the really well built old buildings get bulldozed for cheaper ones that won’t last near as long..

[@sheilagibson982]

So sad, they didn't keep their word to preserve them.

[@FixitFrank]

Its frustrating. People want to save things but no one wants to pay for it.

[@mommom-jy5jb]

Bad move Conrail, so sad

[@warrenjones744]

While it is sad to see such an engineering masterpiece and a big part of American Industrial history go. The reality is to Conrail and later The port authority they are scrap, a liability and in the way or any future operations. There is value in the scrap metal. Unfortunately everything can be saved.

[@chadbredbenner1555]

What a shame to see our nation's Industrial Revolution history being scrapped and erased from history. All four should have been preserved in place where they were erected. Again, horrible loss of history.

[@kaiyack]

Shame it might be low-background steel just going to the junk pile

[@QuattroSG]

These are cool machines for sure, but time marches on.