Gasometer near Skyway and Calumet River

(Satellite)

Southeast Chicago Historical Society posted
Houston, we have a problem! 1973
[I did not understand the caption until I finally noticed the street sign in the middle of nowhere. I'm surprised the gas holder is still standing in 1973. This photo shows that they did not have to tear it down to build the skyway.]

At original resolution

1938 Aerial Photo from ILHAP

Michael Mora posted
"Railroad Yards, South Chicago, Illinois," 1966, photographer David Plowden. Looking south-southeast from elevated New York Central yard/tracks near 87th and South Chicago Ave. From Burchfield-Penney Art Center website, SUNY Buffalo. Other fantastic photos by Mr. Plowden on this website of Torrence Ave Ford Plant workers and NW Indiana/South Chicago steelworkers. Click on his name at link.
https://www.burchfieldpenney.org/…/object:1987-015-001-rai…/
Bob Lalich Michael Mora - thanks for sharing. I haven't seen this one before. The yard tracks on the left ended just south of 87th St. The telephoto lens used for the photo makes it appear to have been taken closer to the river. 1966 was before the Penn Central merger. The yard and main tracks under the nearest signal bridge were New York Central at the time.

Rod Sellers posted
Where am I?

Rod Sellers commented on his post
1938 aerial view of the Calumet River at approximately 97th Street. 5 railroad bridges in view at right. Gas holder (also called gas storage tower) at about 97th and Baltimore can be seen. Gas towers were used to store gas. There were several in the area. Most disappeared in the early 1980s. Gas holders (and other buildings) were often used for navigation markers in early days of aviation. Attached photo is gas holders near 95th Street.

Bob Lalich commented on Rod's comment
The gas holders in the second photo stored gas manufactured in the adjacent buildings. The huge green gas holder in the aerial photo, and others like it scattered around Chicago, were built to store gas transported by pipeline from the Texas Panhandle. That pipeline was built in the early 1930s.