Abandoned Posts

March 7, 2016 / Explorations
February 17, 2016 / Explorations
February 1, 2016 / Explorations

Yogi Berra once said to trust your instincts, keep trying, and, most importantly, act. For years, I have been traveling to the southeast corner of West Virginia, exploring its many one-lane roads and scenic byways and taking in all the Mountain State had to offer.  The desire for wanderlust was just too great.

December 4, 2015 / Explorations

My October journey through New York state, filled with autumn splendor, abandoned buildings, and vibrant landscapes, left me with a renewed sense of appreciation for the region’s natural beauty and history.

December 1, 2015 / Explorations

The Van Nattas Pumping Station, located in Ithaca, New York, was constructed by the Ithaca Light & Water Company in 1893. It was built on the site of the Van Natta & Jones Mill.

July 24, 2015 / Explorations

Molly Stark Sanatorium was a tuberculosis hospital in northeastern Ohio. Constructed during a time when the prevailing medical treatment for tuberculosis was sunlight, fresh air, and rudimentary medicines, the building was constructed with large windows, porches, balconies, and rooftop verandas.

July 14, 2015 / Explorations

A few weeks ago, I revisited the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant (IAAP). This facility, renowned for manufacturing smokeless gunpowder and other ordnance, held the distinction of being the largest of its kind worldwide upon its completion.

July 4, 2015 / Explorations
June 7, 2015 / Explorations
May 22, 2015 / Explorations

Concluding a journey through the Rust Belt, the exploration of a temple, observatory, and factory en route to Cleveland, Ohio, provided a fitting conclusion to the trip.

May 4, 2015 / Explorations

Western Pennsylvania is the industrial heart of the Rust Belt, as once-mighty steel mills, coke plants, and machine shops scattered alongside railroads, rivers, and highways have downsized and closed. A globalized economy and increased automation led to many jobs overseas; what remained was a shell, unable to be self-sustaining without government intervention.

April 21, 2015 / Explorations

From the window of my hotel room in Beckley, I could see the leaves billowing down the street among a fine rain punctuated by dark, gloomy skies. It was perfect road trip weather,

March 26, 2015 / Demolition
March 25, 2015 / Explorations
March 23, 2015 / Explorations

With its understated exterior of beige brick, fronted with vacant retail and derelict apartments, one could not know that the historic Euclid Theater in East Cleveland, Ohio had its beginnings at the busiest street corner west of New York City.

March 16, 2015 / News
February 27, 2015 / Explorations

Dubbed the “ghost ship” by kayakers and explorers for years, the USS Sachem and USS Phenakite stand abandoned on a small creek just yards from the Ohio River in northern Kentucky. The story behind this unassuming vessel fascinated me, given its historical importance, it remains forgotten.

February 19, 2015 / Explorations
February 13, 2015 / Explorations

Back when it wasn’t in the coldest days of the winter, I walked around the former Sue Bennett College in London, Kentucky. The college, in operation between 1897 through 1997, was affiliated with the Women’s Division of the General Board of Global Ministries, the national organization of the United Methodist Church. It began as an elementary school before becoming a two-year college.