Due to the generosity of Metro East resident, Dennis Bensheimer, whose company who had contract work at the National Stockyards in 1986, we now have access to photos of the Armour Meat Packing Plant from 1986, almost exactly 27 years ago in late June.

Things were much different around the National Stockyards back then.  First off, the stockyards was still in business back in 1986, and would not close until 1997, so there was still rudimentary maintenance occurring around the yards.  Secondly, the Armour Company, which closed its plant here 1959, had only vacated the building 27 years before 1986, as opposed to 54 years ago to the present day.

Over the next week, I will compare Mr. Bensheimer’s photos from 1986 with photographs from the last five years, noting deterioration and the effects of abandonment.  I also will make use of newly acquired Sanborn maps of the stockyards that will cast new light on building functions and overall lay of the packing plant.

All photos from 1986 courtesy of Dennis Bensheimer.

Update: Demolished in the spring and summer of 2016.