Tag: dilapidation
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Abandoned Americana, nos. 22 & 23
I tend to showcase abandoned farms and farmhouses in my ongoing Abandoned Americana series. However, today we get images of a one-room schoolhouse in Ridott Township, Illinois. The plaque above the door says “Dis. No. 5, 1871.” (top) Abandoned Americana, No. 22 and (above) Abandoned Americana, No. 23. March 6, 2024. Ridott Township, Illinois.
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Country exploration
Just off U.S. 20 is an unremarkable barn amid the overgrowth of saplings and bramble. This stone row marker, though, piqued my interest. Nearby, a pile of abandoned tires sat amid the thorns and brush. Ironically, there’s a Goodyear tire factory close by. (top) Row Marker and (above) Tire and Briar Patch, March 6, 2024.…
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The Sunshine Corner
This “drive thru” liquor store has closed, having seen better days. A couple blocks over, a defunct One Hour Cleaners sits in a building that was constructed in 1897. In the window, you can see a blue van with flower-power decals and an 80s era American car. A nearby shop placed mannequins in its upper…
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Project house
In the last post, I referenced a “project car,” and I name this image “Project House.” It’s sad that a house of this size can fall into such a decrepit state, and a few blocks away, house after house is in the same condition. Tomorrow, I’ll return to downtown Freeport, and we’re almost done with…
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Rolling, rolling, rolling …
Driving around Freeport, I found plenty of interesting spots, including a yard with a variety of vehicles that have been sitting around for decades. North American Van Lines, which still operates as a moving services company, was owned by PepsiCo at one point. Behind the trucks sat this project car. The building to the left…
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Real Deal Mistake
See how long it takes you to find the typo in this photo. Just a few blocks from the abandoned factory is this defunct convenience shop. Nearby is a beautifully renovated former railroad depot that is now owned by a private business. Across the street from the convenience store is this billboard. (top) Real Deal…
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Rawleigh’s Plant
My last image of the former Rawleigh’s factory in downtown Freeport, Illinois. One of the most striking aspects of this building is the space that has been cleared from around it. Nearby Rockford has a similar abandoned building, although revitalization is starting to encroach upon it. Rawleigh’s Plant, March 6, 2024. Freeport, Illinois.
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Rawleigh Skybridge
I love the architectural elements that are common among factory buildings of this era (1890s–1910s). Common among buildings that I’ve seen is this skybridge, robust and adorned with the company name. Again, there’s more broken windows and lots of glass on the sidewalk even though the attached building at right remains in use. On the…
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Factory windows
Here’s another interpretation of the factory windows, this time in B&W. I can’t help but think of all the potential business the Freeport Glass Company could have. Around the corner (at left), we see an open window and screens (far left) that protect the open window. (top) Factory Windows and (left) Fresh Air, March 6,…
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Save me
In this stylized photo (B&W with a fade to color), we get a fuller view of the Rawleigh’s abandoned manufacturing building in downtown Freeport. The company still exists and has an online presence at https://www.wtrawleigh.com/. They have a slogan, “A Friend of the Family Since 1889.” According to their website, the company is now based…
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Bricks & Glass
Warnings on the exterior doors tell of asbestos and health hazards. Through these shattered windows. you can see a tree growing, metal tanks used for production, and lots of broken glass everywhere. Bricks & Glass, March 6, 2024. Freeport, Illinois.
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Exit
Today, we’re leaving the hotel, and tomorrow we’ll explore downtown Freeport. Even though it was the middle of the day, this hotel weirded me out. Mattresses were discarded in the dumpster, most of the lower-level windows were boarded up, and the back door was propped open. I wasn’t (and still am not) brave enough to…
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Atrium
The Atrium Restaurant and Lounge offered a variety of per person event options, such as a $28pp “Cocktail Party – Cold” menu that featured Eggplant Caponata, Endive Spears stuffed with Dungeness crab salad, mushroom caps, spiced and seared rare ahi tuna on a cucumber wheel, imported and domestic cheeses, and Norwegian salmon tartare on crostini.…
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Banquet
Today marks the first image in a series focused on Freeport, Illinois. Entering the city along U.S. 20 takes you past a condemned and abandoned motel and banquet center. Unfortunately, it served as a sight of things to come … Banquet. Freeport, Illinois. March 6, 2024
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Abandoned Americana, No. 21
Another vantage of the burnt-out dwelling.
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Abandoned Americana, No. 20
This shell of a farmhouse outside Galena, Illinois, shows the strength of stonework across the passing years.
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Abandoned Americana, No. 7, on Exhibit through Oct. 10
Earlier this year, I unveiled my “Abandoned Americana” series, and No. 7 earned a spot in the “Voices of the Midwest” exhibit at the Fine Line Creative Arts Gallery in St. Charles, Ill. The exhibit runs now through Oct. 11. I also filmed a brief artist’s statement that will be included in their virtual kickoff…
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Sentinel, No. 3
Here’s another photo from the archives and one I’ve published in a few iterations of my website. Known as the “Ruinas del Faro de Guánica,” the abandoned Guánica lighthouse, pictured above, dates back to 1893. I’ve named this photo “Sentinel” in honor of Robustiano Rivera, who served as lighthouse keeper and alerted the local mayor…
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Abandoned Government No. 7
A police trailer sits inside the secure area and appears to offer video surveillance of the property. Even though it closed seven years ago, the area still feels recently abandoned. Eaves, Chris (March 16, 2020). Abandoned Government No. 7 [Photograph]. Dwight, Ill. Shot on a Canon 6D at 24mm, 1/320 sec., f8 at ISO400.
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Abandoned Government No. 6
The Dwight Correctional Center, which was also known as Oakdale Reformatory for Women and the Illinois Penitentiary for Women at Dwight, closed in 2013 after a round of state budget cuts. The facility first opened in 1930. Eaves, Chris (March 16, 2020). Abandoned Government No. 6 [Photograph]. Dwight, Ill. Shot on a Canon 6D at 25mm, 1/320…