Site preparations have been under way since early January on a $20 million environmental cleanup project at the location of a former gas-manufacturing plant in Quincy. But it will be several months longer before any actual cleanup work begins.

The project is taking place south of Jersey between Eighth and Ninth. That’s where the Quincy Gaslight and Coke Company and its successors operated for 89 years until the plant ceased and was dismantled in 1943. The Central Illinois Public Service Company — a predecessor of AmerenCIPS — sold the property in 1949. Then for many years the location was in private ownership.

Even though the gas plant has been defunct for 67 years, the underground soils — contaminated with gas-making residues such as coal tar, a potential carcinogen — pose a potential health risk if disturbed.

Below are old photos from the site.

From 1924

From 1924

From 1924

From 1942

From 1942

From 1942.