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Tonight on National Geographic Channel, catch back-to-back episodes of the new series Abandoned where hosts Jay, Mark and Dan take you inside the old Pabst Blue Ribbon Factory in Milwaukee and a silk mill in Maryland. After searching through each of the sites and negotiating selling prices, Jay selects items for refurbishment, creating some truly one-of-a-kind pieces.
Photograph of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Factory. The operations of the Pabst Brewing Company were once controlled from an imposing and ornate stone castle. From this beer baron's palace, the leaders of Pabst created a brewing empire that spanned the nation. Today Pabst is still a major national brand, but its birthplace sits abandoned - a victim of corporate downsizing in 1996.
Pabst Blue Ribbon Factory
Jay and the crew hunt for treasures in the abandoned headquarters of the Pabst Brewing Company, a sprawling castle-like complex that dates back to 1844. For this mission, the team must travel hundreds of miles to Milwaukee, but for Jay, the potential rewards justify the long haul. Once home to the nation’s largest brewery, the cavernous building is rich in legend and history. That means it could be filled with valuable relics that celebrate the Pabst story. Jay also knows that the company has a mass of loyal followers, and the right devotee would likely shell out big bucks for its memorabilia. When the three begin exploring, it isn’t long before they realize the place is a treasure trove of brewery collectibles. The basement is packed with old ads and vintage signs, while the hallways are lined with handsome aged wooden barrels. In one room, they come across a large vault that contains an original set of building blueprints. Even the infirmary turns out to be a small gold mine with hospital gear marked with the famous Pabst logo. There, Jay finds an old first aid box that he decides he wants to turn into a cool, beer-lover’s collector’s item. But upstairs in the executive suite, is where the team makes their most impressive discovery – a beautifully-crafted rolltop desk that once belonged to the legendary Captain Pabst. Jay immediately falls in love with the piece, and is anxious to take it home, along with all the other items that were picked up throughout the day. But first, he’ll have to strike a deal with the property owner and his quirky pricing. Jay must somehow negotiate the numbers down. Otherwise, the whole trip is a bust, and his business takes a big hit.
Photograph of The Klotz Throwing Company silk mill. The Klotz Throwing Company built a silk spinning mill in the rural mining town of Lonaconing, MD in 1907. The mill provided steady employment to the wives of local miners.
Maryland Silk Mill
Jay, Dan, and Mark hunt for treasures in an historic time capsule – an abandoned silk mill believed to be the last one intact in the US. Sitting idle for over 50 years, the building is badly rundown, and several of its windows are broken. From the outside, it looks as if the building has been looted and vandalized, but the team steps into a place that is packed with objects. In fact, it looks as if time simply stopped back in 1957, when the mill shut down. In every room, they find items that help piece together the story of both the factory and its workers. Many of these objects are also things that the team can salvage. Antique light fixtures, old fire equipment, and a vintage wooden pushcart are just a few of the pieces Jay is eager to restore. Saddened to see how time is taking its toll on the aging factory, he hopes to remove these historic items before they’re completely destroyed by decay. But the owner is fiercely attached to the mill and seems unwilling to let anything ago. Jay must somehow convince him that it’s finally time to sell and to give these objects a new life, before it’s too late.
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Don’t miss all new episodes of Abandoned tonight, August 29th, with Pabst Blue Ribbon Factory at 9P and Maryland Silk Mill at 9:30P et/pt.
August 29, 2012, 9:22 pm
