#HTE

Today’s Urban Design Observation: Boxed Oil and Construction Lumber Mystery

Bit of a mystery on yesterday morning’s dog walk. On the east side of Columbus Park I spotted these.

I wouldn’t touch these any more than I’d grab and shake a ticking backpack with wires sticking out of it. But I was curious, as these were purposefully placed where they are (away from the curbside trash pile) so I leashed the dogs tightly behind me and crept a bit closer to inspect these, careful not to come into contact with them.

They appear to be boxes filled with bottles that contain some kind of oil, judging by the blotting on the boxes. I can’t describe why, but when you see marks like this on cardboard you can tell it’s from oil, not regular liquid.

Why the 2x3s? My only guess is that they were placed atop the box to prevent local critters (the park is home to squirrels and, of course, rats) from getting into the box and gnawing the bottles open. Which suggests to me that someone left this oil here (for what purpose? To cool off?) and plans on retrieving it.

Not sure what “temp open” means, and can’t work out what’s written above that.

Across the street from this spot are two businesses, a deli and a funeral home. I might not have my choice with the latter, but I am definitely never going to patronize the former.

Oh, wait a second. Now that I’ve blown the photos up I see it says “Ultra 35” on the box, which I overlooked in person. Let me Google that. Be right back.

Okay, I’m back. Ultra 35 is a heating oil…for industrial furnaces. I’m guessing the funeral home does cremations.

Still can’t figure out why they left it outside, and this morning when I passed by they were gone.