All;Tonight on the Discovery Channel will be airing the Milwaukee episode of "Urban Explorers": http://dsc.discovery.com/schedule/episo ... &gid=0This episode will include footage (I don't know just how much) taken in the compressor house of the Milwaukee Solvay Coke plant just prior to its demolition last year. This is/was the building full of steam engine powered compressors, blowers, and pumps that Larry Tucker and myself campaigned to have preserved intact as a museum and visitors center or restaurant. Despite support from the preservation community and even the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper, only a few engines were preserved; the rest of the building is or will be scrapped.I was a technical consultant for this production. I was e-mailed several times by the producer and received a cell phone from the film crew at the plant entrance will they were waiting to enter the site. I also put them in touch with someone who had footage of the engines when they were still running; I don't know if that footage will be included or not.I don't have a television (wouldn't have time to watch it if I did), but I do have a VCR and DVD player. I am hoping someone will tape it for me. Check your listings for local time.-James Hefner Hebrews 10:20a Surviving World Steam Project

Dear James,Did you know that in Philadelphia, the neo-classical 1899 commercial museum and 1929 Conventional Hall (where FDR and Truman were nominated) were recently demolished by the University of Pennsylvania. Both buildings were in good condition, of the highest architectural merit, and had quite remarkable histories. If buildings like this can't be saved - what hope is there for industrial buildings? Clearly those of us who are interested in industrial preservation have a tremendous amount of work to do.Tom Cornilliehttp://philadeco.com/