Left to Die

Does it kill you like it kills me?
...to see these once beautiful buildings left to die?

Grand Entrance
Edited in Topaz Impressions 

The majority of the buildings on the Norristown State Hospital property are 

vacant and deteriorating. 

Another Brick in the Wall
The Acute Admissions Building #17

They are owned by the state, 

so that explains a lot. 

Building 17 

Edited with Topaz Impressions

Originally known as the
State Lunatic Hospital of Pennsylvania,
Norristown State Hospital continues to serve psychiatric patients today.

Tangled

In it's day (1880s- mid 1900s) this hospital offered:  

a library

verandas

various clubs

electrical systems 

a pathological laboratory 

an assembly hall 

a theater 

a dancing hall 

cottages for special needs or interests 

industrial shops for residents to hone their skills 

beds for 5,000 (today 150 are occupied) 

the first female physician superintendent 

modern medical care 

Peeking Inside 

While I would love to step inside and see these old sights

common sense...and the signs... say "Keep Out." 

The floors are collapsing - 

so looking inside the windows is all that is recommended.


Rapunzel's Window 

And you'll need a permit,
otherwise the staff or security will ask you to leave.


Waiting for the Bull Dozer

I don't know what plans there are for these buildings,
but in the current state
I don't see much possibility other than a bull dozer
in their future.

Norristown State Hospital
1001 Sterigere St, Norristown, PA 19401 
(610) 313-1000

$20 Topaz Coupon

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Dying for Flowers

Entwined

Empty greenhouses
represent the sad story of the floral industry
in the United States.


There Goes Business Out the Door

Once a booming local industry,
the United States now imports about 60% of its flowers.


Where the Wind Blows

The 1990s the US Govt.
reduced tariffs on floral imports from South America
(after all we want them growing flowers
not cocaine.)

Without all those pesky
tariffs, environmental and labor laws,
a Columbian rose could be bought for 6 cents
compared to the 52 cent American rose.


Happy Endings:  This manufacturing company is still in business. 

I'm thinking this is a good excuse for me
to stick to chocolate for Valentine's Day.

"Hey Honey..."

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Wilderness In The City

Nature reclaims an abandoned rail line in Philadelphia, PA.
Center City is in the background.

The Weekend in Black and White

The Reading Railroad

I spent a warm March day 

under beautiful blue skies

exploring a disappearing slice of Philadelphia. 

Some remains of early industrial Philadelphia, 

the old Reading Railroad line, 

is vanishing as you read.
The rails are being scrapped.

I love this place because: 

Here, in the middle of urban Philadelphia, 

you can find a slice of nature; 

a bit of quiet;

a place to walk without traffic;

and remains of history. 

I am kind of sad to see it all torn up.

But there is a happier side. 

A movement is gaining momentum 

to turn this slice of land into a public park. 

I hope the dream is realized, 

and I hope they leave just a little bit of the industrial behind, 

to preserve this site's context in history.

For more information check out Viaduct Greene.
The orange line on the map below outlines
what is left of the rail line.
More photos can be seen here.

Penitence

Noun

penitence (uncountable)

1. Condition of being penitent.
2. Feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.

It was an idea that overtook the prison systems 

 in the early 19th Century in the United States. 

Prisons should become a place that would inspire penitence,  

thus the name Penitentiary. 

In Philadelphia, 

the Eastern State Penitentiary sits like a medieval castle. 

And in its day, it was a state of the art castle! 

The prisoners here had the luxury of 

running water and central heat long before most Americans did, 

even before the man living in the White House! 

The prisoners also enjoyed

skylights and beautiful architectural details! 

Instead of being placed in group cells, 

a prisoner would now have his own cell 

in which to be alone with his thoughts, 

thus enabling penitence. 



The Barber's Chair

The prison was slated for redevelopment after it closed 

in 1970, but later Mayor Wilson Good intervened. 

Today, the prison is considered a historic site and 

operates as a museum. 

 Tons of photographers are

attracted to the deteriorating cells inside the prison walls. 

You could spend hours here! 
If you go, take a tripod and dress for the weather.
2027 Fairmount Avenue  Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 236-3300

More of my photos from the prison can be seen here.

A Seat in the Cell

Eastern State Penitentiary 

Penitence

Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia, PA

The Weekend in Black and White

Lunch on the Train