MICHIGAN

U.S. Steel idles Zug Island Plant

The Detroit News
The bridge at the upper left in this recent drone photograph doubles as a railroad trestle and is the main entrance to Great Lakes Works on Zug Island. The two tall structures beyond the bridge are the A and B furnaces, idled respectively around 2000 and last summer. The similar dark tower to their right is blast furnace D, which may have produced its last iron in late March. The bridge at the lower right, known as the Gap Gate, is rarely used.
The bridge at the upper left in this recent drone photograph doubles as a railroad trestle and is the main entrance to Great Lakes Works on Zug Island. The two tall structures beyond the bridge are the A and B furnaces, idled respectively around 2000 and last summer. The similar dark tower to their right is blast furnace D, which may have produced its last iron in late March. The bridge at the lower right, known as the Gap Gate, is rarely used.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
Steam rises behind the Zug Island loading dock from the EES Coke plant, owned by DTE. At right is D furnace, shut down in late March by U.S. Steel’s Great Lakes Works.
Steam rises behind the Zug Island loading dock from the EES Coke plant, owned by DTE. At right is D furnace, shut down in late March by U.S. Steel’s Great Lakes Works.
David Guralnick, The Detroit News
A modest sign along a pitted stretch of West Jefferson marks the entrance to Great Lakes Works on Zug Island in River Rouge. The Zug Island Road is reflected in a rain puddle, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
A modest sign along a pitted stretch of West Jefferson marks the entrance to Great Lakes Works on Zug Island in River Rouge. The Zug Island Road is reflected in a rain puddle, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
Historic photos from Great Lakes Steel on Zug Island, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
Historic photos from Great Lakes Steel on Zug Island, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
The EES Coke quenching tower erupts with steam as water is dumped on hot coke fresh from the ovens on a typical Zug Island day. The coke battery, once part of National Steel, is now owned by DTE.
The EES Coke quenching tower erupts with steam as water is dumped on hot coke fresh from the ovens on a typical Zug Island day. The coke battery, once part of National Steel, is now owned by DTE.
David Guralnick, The Detroit News
A advertisement from 1943 touts the quality of Navy Quonset huts made from National Steel Corporation steel. National Steel was purchased out of bankruptcy by U.S. Steel in 2003. Thursday, April 9, 2020.
A advertisement from 1943 touts the quality of Navy Quonset huts made from National Steel Corporation steel. National Steel was purchased out of bankruptcy by U.S. Steel in 2003. Thursday, April 9, 2020.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
An historic photo from Great Lakes Steel.
An historic photo from Great Lakes Steel.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
A pair of historic photos from Great Lakes Steel on Zug Island, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
A pair of historic photos from Great Lakes Steel on Zug Island, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
An historic photo from Great Lakes Steel.
An historic photo from Great Lakes Steel.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
Eleanor Roosevelt visits Local 1299 in River Rouge in 1959. She rededicated the building, named for her late husband Franklin D. Roosevelt when it opened in 1946.
Eleanor Roosevelt visits Local 1299 in River Rouge in 1959. She rededicated the building, named for her late husband Franklin D. Roosevelt when it opened in 1946.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
While the EES Coke plant to the left spews white smoke, the mammoth D furnace, right, stands idle.
While the EES Coke plant to the left spews white smoke, the mammoth D furnace, right, stands idle.
David Guralnick, The Detroit News
Proceedings of the First Age and Policy Convention of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee. The SWOC was a precursor to the United Steelworkers.
Proceedings of the First Age and Policy Convention of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee. The SWOC was a precursor to the United Steelworkers.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
An historic photo from Great Lakes Steel.
An historic photo from Great Lakes Steel.
United Steelworkers Local 1299, The Detroit News
The United States Steel Great Lakes Works sign stands at the entryway to the main plant in Ecorse. Thursday, April 9, 2020.
The United States Steel Great Lakes Works sign stands at the entryway to the main plant in Ecorse. Thursday, April 9, 2020.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
Bob Kemper, grievance chairman of United Steelworkers Local 1299, poses for a photo at the local in River Rouge, Thursday, April 9, 2020. Mr. Kemper is a 24-year Great Lakes Works employee.
Bob Kemper, grievance chairman of United Steelworkers Local 1299, poses for a photo at the local in River Rouge, Thursday, April 9, 2020. Mr. Kemper is a 24-year Great Lakes Works employee.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
A Great Lakes Works fire truck at Zug Island, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
A Great Lakes Works fire truck at Zug Island, Thursday, April 9, 2020.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
Piles of coal stand in front of the excess gas pipe at EES Coke, a DTE facility on Zug Island that makes a crucial ingredient in iron. Workers at the Great Lakes steel plant call the pipe “the Zippo.”
Piles of coal stand in front of the excess gas pipe at EES Coke, a DTE facility on Zug Island that makes a crucial ingredient in iron. Workers at the Great Lakes steel plant call the pipe “the Zippo.”
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
Had the Edmund Fitzgerald survived its fabled last voyage in 1975, it would have pulled up to one of these Zug Island ore docks. Freighters are now self-unloading, so the three large cranes are no longer in use. The steam rising behind the leftmost crane comes from the EES Coke plant, owned by DTE.
Had the Edmund Fitzgerald survived its fabled last voyage in 1975, it would have pulled up to one of these Zug Island ore docks. Freighters are now self-unloading, so the three large cranes are no longer in use. The steam rising behind the leftmost crane comes from the EES Coke plant, owned by DTE.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
The United Steelworkers Local 1299 in River Rouge was modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Thursday, April 9, 2020.
The United Steelworkers Local 1299 in River Rouge was modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Thursday, April 9, 2020.
Andy Morrison, The Detroit News
The piles of calcite, left, and white limestone were fed into Great Lakes Works’ 220-foot-tall D furnace, the dark structure to the right.
The piles of calcite, left, and white limestone were fed into Great Lakes Works’ 220-foot-tall D furnace, the dark structure to the right.
David Guralnick, The Detroit News