Rochester

Washed Away

Exploring the last remaining abandoned part of American Laundry Machinery in a driving rain... I was supposed to go to a few places through the day but my friend wasn't ready to go until just before dark. Oh well, got to watch the Bills blow it again before exploring! Located across the railroad tracks from most of the complex, and behind a massive "fence" of loosely arranged steel sheets and concrete blocks, the entrance was much more imposing than what was inside, for the most part: some of the dullest, grayest abandonment I've ever seen. And perhaps the least artistic…

Continue ReadingWashed Away

That Does Not Compute

Yet another revisit to the Sykes Datatronics factory, a place that will always be meaningful to me since it was my first abandoned building, just about 7 years ago. After an astounding 12 arson fires, and 25 years exposed to the elements, it's starting to seem like this place is going nowhere fast. Other than a few holes in the tarpapered roof, the structure is as solid as ever (if you ignore the warping parquette floors over the foot-thick concrete), and the neighborhood is still in stagnant decline, despite being within sight and sound of the soccer stadium. I don't…

Continue ReadingThat Does Not Compute

Summer Reruns

Back in the subway for the Nth time. It's a waste of a chance to get out somewhere with a real explorer, but maybe, just maybe, it might lead to something better in the future. Until then, I guess I should just be glad to have gotten out at all. Spider! Hmm, maybe it was worth the trip. I never had a wide angle any other time I was here.

Continue ReadingSummer Reruns

Goodbye, Iola

[continued from previous post] And just like that, I met a real explorer. Three real explorers, actually. I might be able to make a comeback after all. I'd hoped this would happen somewhere I hadn't already been so many times, and I might get to see a new, interesting location somewhere, but at least I have my foot in the door again! We continued from the house into Building 7, the corner one at South and Westfall. The tunnels, and even the basements, have flooded since last time I was here, making these cages an even more miserable place. This…

Continue ReadingGoodbye, Iola

They Paved Paradise And Put Up A Costco

I never thought I would see this day, when the end is near, if not here, for what has become my favorite abandoned place. Not the most spectacular (but close), not the biggest (also close), but certainly the most meaningful to me, for all the times I'd been. I've probably spent as much time here, between all the tunnel parties, all the actual exploring, the week I spent squatting Building 1 with Anna for the hell of it, and the nights that I'd just get a few friends and some beer and Jim Beam and forget about how fucked up…

Continue ReadingThey Paved Paradise And Put Up A Costco

An House Of Sin

I've been exploring at least every week this summer, and hardly have any pictures to show for it; finally I got out during the day for a change, back to the Flint Street warehouse, which is more rotten than ever before, and features an ungodly stench in the July heat. It'll probably be the last time I bother with this place... but I wanted to at least try the new wide angle I got for my birthday. ugh... Someone tore down the attempt at boarding up the gaping hole in the back of the building. It's had a turbulent history…

Continue ReadingAn House Of Sin