In the later
part of the 1980s, I worked in the buildings along the north
end of Patrick Henry Drive that were all part of what had been
Dysan before being acquired by Xidex (and that would later
become Anacomp): 5100, 5200, 5440, 5201, and 5301 Patrick
Henry Drive and the corner building at the intersection of
Patrick Henry and Old Mountain View Road.
During this time, a certain 30sumtin transitioned away from
custom machine designer to facilities coordinator, got his first
experiences as a supervisor, and became initiated in the various
environmental, health and safety issues confronting manufacturing
operations.
Here were my first real experiences and exposures to
manufacturing plant needs: natural gas, electricity, heating and
cooling, heat exhaust, exhaust and abatement for air pollution
control, waste water discharges, underground storage of chemicals
(and associated ground and water contmaination from leaking storage
tanks), hot water boilers and steam boilers, HVAC chillers and
cooling towers, air compressors for clean dry air, hazardous waste
generation, fire sprinkler systems, telephone and data systems,
security systems, etc.
During this time I was introduced to Building and Fire Codes and
local/regional/state/federal environmental and safety regulations;
environmental permits; hazardous waste management; safety
committees and accident investigations; and dealing with
inspectors, regulators, and lawyers.
But my most memorable memory of this time period is of me
standing on the corner of Patrick Henry and Old Mountain View Road
shortly after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake: standing still and
alone, gazing north as the twilight faded. (Then the land north of
here was nothing but undeveloped fields.) As darkness fell, I
stared at the congestion of taillights trapped on eastbound Highway
237, which had become one huge parking lot moving at glacial speeds
(and which would remain so for at least a couple of more hours) as
simultaneously everyone in the Bay Area desperately tried to get
home, agonizing all the while, fearful for the worst of what they
might find when they got there, and desperately praying for the
best.
The cache shouldn't pose any major difficulties.
Regarding this Been Here series: the series will probably grow
to include:
Been Here: Walsh
Been Here: Elko and Reamwood
Been Here: Patrick Henry
Been Here: Pastoria
Been Here: East Java
Been Here: Osgood
Enjoy! And happy caching!
50sumtin