Reminders of boom times - Refrigorifico Bories

Trip Start Jan 30, 2010
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Trip End Sep 12, 2010


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Hostal Oasis

Flag of Chile  , Patagonia,
Friday, March 5, 2010

Refrigorifico Bories was a sheep processing plant built in the 1920's, and at it's peak it was the largest employer here in Punta Arenas. The plant processed sheep driven here by caballeros (cowboys) from the estancias of southern Patagonia. Today, the place is deserted save for a few workers attempting to preserve the buildings and machinery, with hopes of turning these historic structures into a museum someday. Until just a few months ago, a small section of the plant still operated, slaughtering sheep, freezing the meat and preparing the wool and hides (and still emptying the waste directly into the ocean). Now, that section is shuttered too.

Although officially closed, we wandered freely through the buildings, looking at the old steam engines, brought here from England almost one hundred years ago. and remnants of the life of this factory. We met a weathered Englishman who spends ten months each year here. He told us he is able to eke out a living that allows him to hike throughout the beautiful mountains that surround us here. This gentleman gave us a few snippets of information, but most of the records are long gone. Few are still living to tell the stories of boom times, when the steppes were filled with farmers, and wool and meat brought wealth to southern Patagonia. Perhaps their spirits still wander the halls?
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Comments

Lisa Fuchs on

Glad to see you're getting your fill of trains!

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