Wade Sand and Gravel is an unusual industrial site in Birmingham Alabama. It is primarily an active sand and gravel pit and processing site, but it also has some ruins of an old steel plant that was located there. Iron production was started here by the Pioneer Company in 1888, and the site was known as the Thomas Works. It was operated for several decades by Republic Steel, and had as many as 1,800 employees at its peak. The blast furnace closed in the 1970s, and steel and iron operations ceased in the 1980s. The excavation of limestone continues, and threatens to take over the 500-acre site. Over the last 15 years, the owners have operated an informal artist in residence program among the ruins, and artistic embellishments can be found here and there.