Briefs: Birthplace of AC condemned

Buffalo Forge Co. once was a prosperous industrial complex, covering 14 acres, active as early as 1877, but is now being demolished. The Forge is a landmark in industrial history as it is the birthplace of modern air conditioning, invented early last century by Willis H. Carrier, who was originally seeking a way to reduce humidity in a publishing press. Carrier Corp. was founded by Carrier and his Forge colleagues in 1915. The Forge was closed in 1994 and has since remained unused. Since 1999, It has been regarded as a safety hazard beyond repair because of its crumbling walls and floor likely to cause accidents, but also because of contaminants such as asbestos and the creosote-packed ground soil.