Deep within the once coal-rich veins of Buchanan County, Virginia, remnants of a bygone era of prosperity linger. This southwestern county, bordered by the coal-abundant Pike County, Kentucky, to the north and McDowell County, West Virginia, to the northeast – known for its billion-dollar coalfield – bears witness to a transformation.
Tag: Industry
In its heyday in the 1930s, this Rust Belt town called itself the City of Homes, a place where a working-class man could be master of his own castle.
While Wheeling, West Virginia’s brewing heritage may be eclipsed by that of Cincinnati, Ohio or Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this can be attributed to the passage of Yost’s Law in 1914, which effectively extinguished the beer industry in the state. Wheeling, once home to more breweries than any other city in the Mountain State, was renowned as a major brewing center during the latter half of the 19th century and as a haven for German immigrants.
Weekend outings, particularly for photographing old abandoned sites, offer a refreshing break from the routine of weekday work life. There’s a unique satisfaction in encountering the distinct scent of abandonment and capturing the scenes that unfold. It’s even more enjoyable when sharing the exploration experience with someone eager to embrace the thrill of venturing into derelict places.
Wheeling, once a prominent city in Virginia and later West Virginia, now faces enduring challenges. Despite landmarks like Centre Market, West Virginia Independence Hall, and the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, there’s a sense of something missing.
The Christian Moerlein Brewing Company announced today that part of the former Kauffman Brewing Company will be renovated to produce beer.
On Sunday, March 28th, this writer embarked on an exploratory sojourn through the rural byways of Kentucky, accompanied by a trusted companion. Our objective was to document, through the lens of a camera, three sites that bear witness to the state’s multifaceted history: a tobacco processing facility in the throes of demolition, a venerable residential structure, and a former medical institution dedicated to combating the scourge of tuberculosis.
I thought nothing of the Ault & Wiborg Building in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio until it was too late. But it had an interesting history…
Suspicious fires at Parker Tobacco Company in Maysville, Kentucky are claiming the abandoned building.
Over the past ten years since I started this website, many of the industrial sites that initially inspired me have undergone significant changes. From the once-active AK Steel Ashland Works to various cement companies, these places are either being demolished or restored at an astonishing pace.
“Whether it’s disused factory buildings sitting vacant all across Hamilton County or the destruction wrought by the riots of the late 1960s on inner-city neighborhoods, there is still something to be gained from focusing an artistic eye on such losses.”
The advent of the Indiana Army Ammunition Plant was inevitable because of the looming tempest of global conflict. Spurred by the National Defense Appropriations Act and the subsequent Munitions Program, the United States Ordinance Department enlisted private corporations to undertake the formidable task of designing and constructing munitions factories for the production of smokeless gunpowder and other ordinances.