A Prison and Tuberculosis Hospital

I was able to explore an interesting location recently…the abandoned SCI Cresson Prison near Altoona, Pennsylvania.  The State closed down the Correctional Institution in 2013 and as of 2022, Big House Produce operates an indoor hydroponic farm in some of the old buildings.

Originally, a Tuberculosis Hospital operated here from 1913 - 1956.  The hospital was then used as a Mental Institution until 1982.  It’s a huge, sprawling property with dormitories, cell blocks, medical, school, auto tech, and a chapel.  There are even tunnels snaking through the property connecting the buildings. Many of the original buildings are elaborate and built in a Tudor style. The prison was run here from 1987 - 2013.

Abandoned Shenango China and Pottery Company

I recently had a very interesting time exploring the old abandoned Shenango China factory in New Castle, PA. This factory has a long (and well documented) history and finally shut its doors in 1991. You can read about it here at the Lawrence County Historical Society. I just want to share some photos taken in March 2020 of this sprawling, multi-building location. I am just amazed at how much was left behind!

Please check out my photo gallery of these historic ruins!

Three Churches

This Sunday I went to Church, actually, three churches. It was cathartic, inspiring, and exciting. This has been a long, hard year for my family and an opportunity to get out with some good friends and do what we love to do was just what I needed (who says asbestos, rusty nails, and unidentifiable toxins aren't good for you😲).  Researching, exploring, and photographing places where people worked, lived, and worshiped is of particular interest to me.  Growing up in Pittsburgh and Cleveland areas has given me access to our country's industrial past. A past that is disappearing quickly and I think puts more importance on documenting before it’s gone.

Cleveland, and more specifically, the east side has many abandoned churches.  Some locations have been vacant for years and have long been scrapped and vandalized.  I don’t have a problem revealing well known spots like this, but I will not specifically give locations of more recently abandoned churches and factories that haven’t been wrecked by vandals yet.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a Slovakian Catholic Church is southeast from downtown. Built in 1926, this was the second church in this location that also includes a school.  The church closed it’s doors in 1992.  I believe the church was used by other religious communities for several years after the closing of the parish.

Another church explored was in East Cleveland.  This church looked to be abandoned for quite a while with most of the stained glass broken and lots of water damage making for some cautious stepping so as not to fall through the floor!  My favorite “feature” of this church was the “vine window”  most of the glass was gone, but the vines had taken over and streached in toward the sanctuary.

The last church we found was much more recently vacated. The stained glass was still intact and several pianos and organs were still undamaged.  The gothic architecture of the church building intrigued me the most.  I wasn’t able to dig up much history on this location, but it appears that it’s been home to at least a couple different churches over the years.

Thanks for stopping by, and please take care if you do some exploring.

Edwin Shaw

Back in the fall of 2016 I was headed to a wedding reception in Lakemore, OH when I happened to pass by an amazing looking vacant hospital on the appropriately named, Sanitarium Rd. A little research and a few weeks later I was parked in front of the abandoned Edwin Shaw Hospital ready to explore.

The hospital originally opened in 1915 as the Springfield Lake Sanitarium for tuberculosis patients. The sprawling grounds consists of several buildings, including the Sunshine Cottage where sick children lived and were cared for, and a cemetery.

The last used section of the hospital was abandoned in 2016 and as I write this in early 2017, the county plans on demolishing the property.

The Last Silk Mill

The old Lonaconing Silk Mill, also know as the Klotz Throwing Co. of Lonaconing, Maryland is the last intact silk mill in the United States.  Built in 1905 and closed in 1957, the mill has been left virtually untouched since its closing. According to the Mill's owner, Herb Crawford, management closed the doors when the employees went on strike in 1957.  The mill had seen a increasing production decline since it's opening in 1907 and was down to under 100 workers in the 1950's from a high of 359 in it's early days.

Herb Crawford is single-handedly trying to save this historic mill from decay and deterioration. Mr. Crawford has discovered that photographers will pay for the privilege to photograph this incredible time-capsule of a factory and he uses the proceeds to repair the leaky roof and install security measures to keep out vandals.

Everything has been left as it was in that last day in 1957 and there is plenty of photographic opportunity!  Many personal belongings and antique artifacts are still where the workers left them.  If you have a photography group that can get to Northern Maryland, then I encourage you to give Herb a call and schedule a visit.  I guarantee you will not regret it!

Contact Herb Crawford at 301-268-116.