Looking For Jimmy

OK, we weren’t looking for Mr. Hoffa, but we wouldn’t have been surprised to find him- he was about the only thing we didn’t find during Saturday’s alley cleaning party. During the exterior overhaul of the building, we installed two doors in the alley-side wall. That meant finding the actual grade to establish threshold heights. Long story short, we found a paved alley surface about 8 inches under the accumulated muck by the new doors. So, there we were, our new doors situated lower than the de facto alley level, a surface constructed by accretion of mud, trash, broken brick and concrete, scrap metal, more trash, etc. This meant storm water regularly running under the doors. That wouldn’t do. So Skip and Sara got a crew together, and we stormed the alley with shovels and pickaxes and implements of destruction. Also wheelbarrows and a dumpster.

And look what we found under there! A storm drain, as we actually expected. We asked the city if they’d grade/scrape out the alley, and they said no, we’ll only deal with the storm drains. Well, your move, boys, as it’s solidly plugged with muck. Thanks to everyone that came out to help; this was a big job.