A Sad History That Goes From Glory To Gory.
I have revised this blog post to provide more detail and photography, please click here to see it.
All of the photographs that were in this post are now on the new one.
Doorway to Devastation by Richard Lewis 2016
Wonderful images. They are very evocative and convey a pall of sadness as well as capturing the decay. I did a quick Google to see what it had once looked like. It really does look like it’s taken a brutal battering. I am surprised it’s been left on that state for so long rather than being torn down and the land sold.
Thanks Laura. I always appreciate your comments. I agree that this place has taken a battering that other buildings would not have survived. It is extremely well built which is why it is still standing.
Ditto to what Laura says above. I cannot believe that the government of this municipality has let this building stand and it’s condition for so long. What a shame to have let it deteriorate to this level. Rich, you are so brave to go in this building and take such beautiful pictures.
Thanks Ina. You can’t really blame the city. This place has been the victim of time, changing economies and private developers who didn’t do what they promised. I have to say that entering this place for the first time was scary, but as I’ve gotten to know it, I feel more comfortable. Still it is one of the only photoshoots I do with a hard hat on.
Great pictures of a sad sight. Where there’s a will……..
Thanks Derrick. It is a sad sight. Photographing abandoned buildings often reveals a tragic story. This one is is tragedy on a grand scale.
Rich,
Thank you for taking the initiative to go into another abandoned space and document it wo well. There is so much history that surrounds us that many of us will never know about without people like you. Your beautiful images give this mansion the respect it deserves. I look forward to reading more about it.
Pat
Thanks Pat. This is a very interesting and sometimes overwhelming project. I’m not sure where it will go from here but I’d love to do a book about this place.
WOW… you are really getting into this sort of subject and I know why… it is fascinating stuff. Wonderful post and images. Looking Out is my favorite. Keep up the great work you are doing!
It’s funny how a few years ago I wondered what you saw in these old places and all those rusty things you photographed. Now I get it. There are so many stories to be told and an odd beauty in the devastation.
This is raw footage that has not been altered. Other abandoned sites, like Pennhurst, have been cleaned-up and picked through. You captured this devastation in its raw form. Nice job.
You nailed it Larry. We go to the sites like Pennhurst and Eastern State that are devastation made fit for human consumption. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s also kind of like the difference between experiencing a tragic event live and seeing the movie made about it.
Rich … I think Larry nailed it… this is a raw site and you handled it really well. Your inside-outside take on this place, gives us, ‘the voyeur’ a starting point to imagine the story behind the rubble.The framing throughout makes us focus… not an easy task considering the state of decay here. THIS is why we get along so well and WHY I continue to be educated and inspired by your work…. kudos!!!!
Thanks Mike. This has been one of the most fascinating subjects I’ve photographed. It is very raw and a little scary. I actually wear a hard hat inside.
You know when it comes to inspiration and education the feeling is extremely mutual. the more I get to know you the more I value our friendship and your amazing creative spirit.
Do you know if the mansion is still standing?
Yes the mansion is still standing. There are even some plans to restore it, although it will cost several million dollars to do that.