Are you a West Texas Oldtimer?

[gdanaher]

Then you might know the answer to this question. Up until about 1980, along I-10 somewhere around Big Spring or Midland, on the south side of the highway was this large dank building that belched black smoke continuously, year after year. It was out on the flatlands and you could see the smoke spread out with the prevailing southerly wind. I remember having to drive through it and smelling the stink. Sorta like burned tires, and that's what it might have been, but it lasted for years. Does anyone recall this, know it's history and actual location? Just one of those random memories that Google can't seem to answer.

[3dfxMM]

I don't have an answer for you, but do you mean along I-20? Big Spring and Midland are both along I-20 and not really anywhere near I-10.

[gdanaher]

Yes, I-20. Forgot about that fork in the road.

[threoh8]

Not sure about anything to the south, but there is a carbon black plant just north of I-20, east of Big Spring (Midway Road). Perhaps its emissions were cleaned up since then? It's still easy to find in satellite photos.

32d 16' 45" N, 100d 24' 31" W

[gdanaher]

A carbon black factory would explain it, but the coordinate puts it way south of the highway. The building I am thinking about was torn down at some point. I used to travel that route a few times a year and it was sort of a landmark becasue it was visible for a great distance. then one trip, poof, gone. I looked at the ground level Google and around Big Spring the vegetation is too thick. Must be farther west, but it gives me an industry to Google. thanks.

[Songbird]

It was a carbon black plant outside of Penwell (a little spot in the road just West of Odessa. And it was I-20. Lived there for many years (Odessa,not Penwell).

[threoh8]

Sorry, missed a digit in the coordinate of thes SR Carbon plant (still north of I20): 32d 16' 45" N, 101d 24' 31" W

Penwell: Looks like a dismantled plant of some sort at 31d 46' 05"N 102d 30' 14"W.

[gdanaher]

The ground level Google at Penwell looks right and the place name rings a bell, so that's enough to satisfy the basic curiosity. Thanks. There appears to be more than a few could site candidates, so as time permits, I'll zoom in tight and see if I can find the exact site. It was perhaps 200 yeards south the of the interstate.

[Jumping Frog]

Sorry, missed a digit in the coordinate of thes SR Carbon plant (still north of I20): 32d 16' 45" N, 101d 24' 31" W

Link to a picture at 32.27917N 101.40861W:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=32.27917 ... 5&t=h&z=18" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Penwell: Looks like a dismantled plant of some sort at 31d 46' 05"N 102d 30' 14"W.

Yep. Link to a picture at 31.76806N 102.50389W:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=31.76806 ... 6&t=h&z=17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;