Friends,
Public tours at Pillsbury have come to an end for this season. Turnout for our final two tours last Saturday was nearly 400. Team Pillsbury will work to bring back public tours in the Spring (March/April) as weather and contractor scheduling allows. We deeply appreciate everyone’s interest and enthusiasm for the project!
Over the winter we will continue working toward full regulatory approval to move forward with abatement and demolition activities. The site is complex, and so are the elements for approval. Sound studies of the I&M railyard to the east have proved to be a challenging element. We need those to know how or if the neighborhood will be negatively impacted when the buildings are removed. If so, a mitigation plan will need to be written. Unfortunately, it all takes time to get it right. And, getting it as right as we can get it is what we are all about. We ask for your patience as we work through this process.
We have been asked via social media and through other channels why we are taking the time and effort to engage the community with historic tours and art. Well, the short answer is that we have the time while we wait for full approval to move ahead. The longer answer is perhaps more satisfying and meaningful. During our on-site tours and events we have a printed spreadsheet that represents over 1100 people that worked at the Springfield Pillsbury Plant over the years. The spreadsheet is compiled primarily from union seniority lists that the project has gathered from worker families. We have a “notes” area next to each name for visitors to write in comments. The recent note written next to a worker’s name who started at the plant in 1937 says everything that needs to be said: “Hi Grandpa, we are visiting your workplace of 42 yrs.”
Thanks to everyone who has helped make this community project possible…we are a long way down the road to getting the Pillsbury Project as right as we can.
~ Team Pillsbury