Altering the Malden Skyline - April 2016

 

Original photo July 27, 2011

Remember back in 2011 when Norm and Jules got the property in Malden, that they named Aluminum Acres?

Remember the scary building?

The plans back then were to tear it down right away and build a nice fancy replacement building.



Yeah, that didn't happen.

Although it didn't quite go as planned during the last five years, it has been an adventure none the less.

Aluminum Acres only had two buildings on it when Norm and Jules bought the place. They were forced to alter the Malden skyline when Ilean was dismantled last year on Memorial Day weekend because of the broken water pipe. (See my June 2015 blog entry - Ilean: Farewell my friend, Rest in Pieces; for the details.)
 

This time it was a planned alteration of the skyline. The issue was that it took five years to get started after it was first decided. The only question now was how long would it take to finish?

The work started with Norm 3 and his friend Joe taking off the old wavy metal. Norm 3 said the metal was cool. Norm thought it just looked old and rusty. I just figured it was wavy. Joe never really said much either way.

Norm 3, Joe and their better halves (Liz and Lani) stayed at Aluminum Acres Friday night. They started working before Norm showed up with the real ladders.

This ladder was used to climb out of the pit for the water hydrant that Jason and Norm installed the week before. I could have built a better ladder but Norm makes me stay home more. He didn't take me with to put in the hydrant and I haven't been able to find one so I'm not sure what they did. I will just have to watch out for dogs to show me where its at.

See the wall on the ground in the lower right? That FELL OFF during the last storm. The cross member FELL OFF the storm before! The building was literally taking itself apart piece by piece. We finally just helped it the rest of the way.

I liked the new skylight but I couldn't convince anyone to stop. It really brightened the place up and made it not so scary.

This was the work bench. I never saw Norm do any actual work there so I don't know why he called it that.

There was a lucky horse shoe hanging on the wall. One must believe in luck and such. If you don't believe in luck how do you explain reading a blog written by a gnome? Just sayin'

I'm not sure how long it would have taken, but the tree was determined to push the scary building over.










I tried to get on top of the building for a good supervisory look but Joe spotted me. I had him beat heading up the ladder but I ran into Norm 3 at the top. Luckily for me Joe warned Norm 3 that there was a camera present.

Instead of getting pummeled we got a great photo. I was then sternly advised that I should stay very close to the ground or I might get flying lessons.

Noted.

After most of the wavy metal was off, the building wasn't too scary.  Kind of light and airy actually.

The final moments of the scary building.

 

If you ever need a crew that can get a job done fast... Here they are!

To answer the question of how long would it take?  One day.

After working all day it was time to put the final touches on the scary building and have a tasty beverage at the same time.

Good bye scary building. The sun rose on you this morning and by nightfall it was over.

Now, what to do with the newly found space....

Until next time,

Travis.