John: I know that the dynamite "sheds" in the powder company town on the
banks of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, CA, were placed with backs to
hillsides. The foundations simply looked like poured concrete foundations to
me, but the structures were built with the rear wall and roof of wood, the
rest of the walls of concrete. If the dynamite blew, well not if but when,
the shock would blow out the back and up the hillside, avoiding damage to
the residences and company buildings in front of them on the flats. They
blew up at least once a year.

The problem with associating the buildings with dynamite is that without
concrete walls the whole thing would blow out in all directions.  The 100
foot spacing is intriguing though. Keep researching!

Micki



-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of John Martinson
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 12:38 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Foundations


We are being asked about 4 old foundations located on an old dirt road
(Highland Valley Road)
above the Boise River on a bluff.  They are not large foundations, so
we are thinking they
are dynamite shed/structure foundations.  A modern topo map shows three
structures, but
actually there are four about 10 to 15 long, with approx. six inch
holes (vent) in the foundations.
The structures are spaced about 100 feet apart down the gravel road.
They appear to be old enough
since they are comprised of board formed concrete that has a fair
amount of lichen development.

The gravel road is called Highland Valley Road, which may be associated
with the Highland
Company, which operated a small dam upriver in the early 1900s to
produce power for likely
their mining operations.

I have pictures/images of the foundations, if you have any knowledge of
dynamite structures,
and would be happy to email them.

We appreciate any help.  Thanks in advance.

John
Boise, ID

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