Utility Pole History

This pole is situated adjacent to the historic Pears Mill on the Common in downtown Buchanan, Michigan, and has some history attached to it. Start with the climbing rungs still attached and the numerous pock marks made by climbing spikes. The metal buttons/plates tacked to the pole read as follows (from the top down):

 

C. E. Co.

PENTA 1957

 

C. E. Co.

COBRA 1955

 

CHAPMAN

1987

POL NU

 

I & ME Co.

119

B595 – 101

 

Additionally, a button attached to the other side of the pole reads:

 

GEOFORCE

2015

 

Alphabetical key to acronyms:

C. E. Co. = Chicago Electric Company

CHAPMAN = Chapman Chemical Co. aka ISK Biocides

www.iskbiocides.com/about/history.php

COBRA = Cobra Rods, a wood preservative

www.loghelp.com/products/cobra-rods.asp

GEOFORCE = a global tracking company

geoforce.com

I & ME Co. = Indiana Michigan Power

www.indianamichiganpower.com/

PENTA = pentachlorphenol, a wood preservative

toxicfreefuture.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/penta.pdf

POL NU = Penta Preservative Grease, a wood preservative

www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/001022-00046-198...

 

This pole is near the end of a whole line of poles, all showing evidence of being quite old, that serves a small downtown residential neighborhood.

 

 

Done