Industrialized cities around the world feature derelict factories, mills, warehouses, and refineries. Once behemoth structures at the social and economic heart of industrialization, these buildings now lie in ruins... old industrial sites are invested with more than cultural meanings: they are the remnants left behind in the wake of deindustrialization. Despite their state of disuse, abandoned industrial sites remain connected with the urban fabric that surrounds them: with communities; with collective memory; and with people’s health, livelihoods, and stories.

-Alice Mah, Industrial Ruination, Community and Place: Landscapes of Urban Decline

Early morning fishermen sit on the river border that divides the United States and Canada, with the U.S. on the left and Canada on the right.

Hydroelectric dams in each country. Canada left, US right.

During the 1960s, the city of Niagara Falls, as well as the surrounding region and much of the Rust Belt, were hit by an economic decline as industries started to relocate. The exodus of affluent families to the suburbs had already begun, leaving vacancies throughout the city. These areas were among the earliest in the United States to feel the ripple effects of globalization, which were largely unforeseen.

An Indian Casino towers over vacant lots that surround it purchased by the casino to revitalize and draw in more visitors and commerce. Despite this intent, the city council prohibits further development out of concern that it would shift the balance of power within the community.

A vehicle sits on a trailer beside an abandoned swimming pool in a run-down motel.

Remnants of a different time litter the parking lot of this abandoned motel.

Karel Soucek had always been a daredevil, a risk-taker fascinated by stunts and thrills. But when he moved to Canada, he found his true calling as a professional stuntman. In 1984, he set his sights on a challenge that had never been done before - going over Niagara Falls in a barrel. Soucek didn't take this task lightly. He researched previous attempts, tested the currents with unmanned barrels, and dropped his barrel off the Niagara Escarpment to check its shock absorption. Finally, he was ready. His custom-made barrel was bright red, emblazoned with the words "Last of the Niagara Daredevils - 1984" and "It's not whether you fail or triumph, it's that you keep your word... at least try!" On July 2, he climbed into the barrel and was rolled into the Niagara River, hurtling toward the brink of the falls. He was over the edge and into the swirling waters below in mere seconds. To everyone's relief, Soucek emerged from the barrel alive, though battered and bleeding. He was fined for performing the stunt without a license but quickly recouped his costs through sales and interviews. He even convinced a corporation to finance a new feat - a 180-foot barrel drop from the top of the Houston Astrodome into a tank of water. But on January 19, 1985, Soucek's luck ran out. As he hurtled towards the water below, his barrel was released prematurely and began to spin out of control. Instead of landing in the center of the tank, it hit the rim. Soucek was severely injured but still alive when he was cut from the barrel. He died shortly after while the Astrodome stunt show continued. Soucek's tragic end reminded him of the dangers that came with his chosen profession. But his legacy lives on, and he remains an inspiration to those willing to take risks and push the boundaries of what is possible.

"We remember the bomb going off; we remember the Love Canal; we remember the plants closing; we remember our parents being out of work; that’s what people remember. They remember all the fallout of the plants closing, the fallout from Love Canal."

- Interview w/ anonymous resident collected by Alice Mah

One of the many large-scale industrial parks in and near Niagara.

The story of Love Canal, a toxic waste disaster that affected a New York neighborhood during the late 1970s and early 1980s, is a powerful reminder of the importance of environmental regulations and the need for corporate responsibility. Lois Gibbs, a resident of the affected community, spoke about her experiences at the RemTech conference, an industry event where professionals can share information and gain perspective.

In 1978, Gibbs learned that her son's elementary school and the surrounding neighborhood had been built on a 21,000-ton toxic waste dump. Investigations confirmed the presence of strange odors and black substances in people's basements and yards. The waste was linked to various health issues, including birth defects, miscarriages, and illnesses. Gibbs and the Love Canal Homeowners Association fought for the rights of the more than 800 affected families, facing resistance from local, state, and federal officials.

Eventually, investigations confirmed the link between waste and health issues in the community. President Jimmy Carter declared an emergency and ordered the affected families to be evacuated. The Superfund Act of 1980 was passed in response to the disaster, providing for the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and the recovery of funds from corporations that released hazardous substances.

The Love Canal disaster highlights the importance of environmental regulations and corporate responsibility. It also demonstrates the power of community activism and the need for government officials to take action to protect their citizens. The lessons of Love Canal continue to resonate today as communities worldwide face environmental challenges and work to create a safer and healthier world for future generations.

"Everywhere the air had a faint, choking smell. Children returned from play with burns on their hands and faces."

"I visited the canal area at that time. Corroding waste-disposal drums could be seen breaking up through the grounds of backyards."

...

"Trees and gardens were turning black and dying. Puddles of noxious substances were pointed out to me by the residents. Some of these puddles were in their yards, some were in their basements, others yet were on the school grounds."

-Eckhardt C. Beck,

EPA Administrator for Region 2, 1977 – 1979

"Love Canal will be long remembered as a national symbol of failure to exercise a sense of concern for future generations."

- David Axelrod, NY State Health Dept.