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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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,…[...]
Abandoned Americana, No. 21
Another vantage of the burnt-out dwelling.[...]
Abandoned Americana, No. 20
This shell of a farmhouse outside Galena, Illinois, shows the strength of stonework across the passing years.[...]
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…[...]
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…[...]
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.…[...]
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…[...]