Tag Archives: abandoned places

Top 10 Photographs of 2016

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Combing through all of my photos from this past year has been a trip. I’ve been to so many incredible places, have met and spent time with equally incredible people- and have been fortunate enough to occasionally just be in right moment at the right time to catch a perfect shot. Narrowing down hundreds of photos to just ten, and then ranking them proved to be quite a challenge- but this is one of two year-end traditions here on ‘Legally Redhead’. The other, my “In a Nutshell” post that will summarize 2016 in it’s excruciatingly long entirety- will be up tomorrow! I wanted to do this the right way, after all!

All but two of these photos were taken by me (and the two in question have me in them and were taken by other people)– and most are from my travels around New England and across the country this past year. It’s been a lot of fun re-visiting those moments and memories as I organized these pictures for this post- and I hope everyone enjoys them as much as I do!

Without further delay, here are my ten favorite photographs from 2016.

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#10: Coney Island (July 5th)

In the early, sunny morning hours following the 4th- my best friend Sean and I hopped a train bound to New York City for a day out together. The original plan had been to try and get a crazy elaborate milkshake at Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer and maybe hang around Central Park for a while- but we ended up riding the subway all the way to Coney Island, instead. I had never been- and Sean hadn’t been since he was a kid.

On the agenda was riding the famous and historic Cyclone roller coaster and strolling the boardwalk for a couple of hours. The weather was perfect, it wasn’t too crowded- and I snapped this quick photo of the Cyclone before we headed back to the subway so we could catch a quick dinner near Grand Central Station before our train departed for home. This is a nice memento from such a beautiful day.

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#9: Negan(ette) & Eugene (July 30th)

Some of the most fun I had in 2016 was cosplaying as Negan from ‘The Walking Dead’, and when you combine that aforementioned fun with the hilarity that Josh McDermitt (who plays Eugene on the show) brings each and every time he’s in town- you’ve got the making for a pretty epic photo- even if the roles are reversed and he’s the one holding Lucille! This phone selfie, taken by Josh, was taken at the ‘Walker Stalker’ convention this past Summer when it rolled through Boston for a long weekend. It was my first time wearing my Negan costume- and it was a big hit.

There were a lot of photos from that weekend- but this is by far my favorite. It never fails to make me grin. I had so much fun and I can’t wait to go back next year if it returns to Boston!

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#8: Last Night in The Chelsea Apartment (July 23rd)

I swear, not all of my favorite photos are from July of this past year- but a lot was going on then- including saying goodbye to the beautiful apartment in Chelsea following some unforeseen circumstances with the landlord selling the place and booting all the tenants out per the buyer/developer’s request. After a “moving out” party, which involved my friends and I eating way too much pizza and drinking way too much alcohol- I snapped this photo at sunset from the balcony that overlooked the Mystic River, the Tobin Bridge, and the Boston skyline. It had been unbelievably hot out that night- and a thunderstorm was blowing in from the West- making the sky explode with pinks, purples and oranges.

It was a bittersweet scene, really- and I couldn’t think of a better send-off to a place my friends and I hung out hats for years and years.

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#7: “Didn’t they film The Shining here?” (April 23rd)

Back in the beginning of Spring, Sean and I decided to take a weekend road trip up to the White Mountains in New Hampshire and spend a couple of days at the (allegedly haunted) Mount Washington Hotel- which eerily resembled The Overlook Hotel from “The Shining”. The history of the hotel is fascinating, and the entire place was stunning inside and out- complete with a former speakeasy-turned-fully-functioning-bar, restaurants, a cafe, movie theater, arcade, indoor swimming pool, spacious conference areas, etc.- and Sean and I opted to stay up all hours to explore as much as we could in-between zip-lining over and repelling down huge trees in the still-snowy mountains.

This photo was taken on our last day at the resort, from across the road that leads up to the hotel. I thought it was such a beautiful scene with the mountains looming behind it. I’d love to go back in 2017!

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#6: Overlooking The Atlantic (January 1st)

I spent last New Year’s Eve and this past New Year’s Day on the island of Nantucket- drinking champagne, dancing the night away, and then trekking through the quiet cobblestone streets and taking in the views of the big, beautiful houses and the ocean until it was time to catch a ferry back to my car in Hyannis. Sean captured this photo of me by one of the lighthouses on the island and I think it sums up the “aimless wanderer and avid traveler” part of my personality perfectly- beanie on my head and backpack stuffed with my belongings.

Even though it was January, we were on the waterfront, and it was cloudy out- the weather wasn’t too chilly or windy that day- and it felt nice being outdoors. I miss Nantucket, and since it’s technically the off-season for tourists, I think I’ll head back for a visit soon!

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#5: Stop & Enjoy The Foliage (October 11th)

After a stressful Summer and a long return flight home from San Diego a few days earlier, it felt nice to take a day to stroll through the pretty, picturesque New England Autumn scenery- which always brings me so much calm and comfort. I stopped to take this photo on a cloudless, brisk afternoon hike through Sudbury, Massachusetts before heading to a friend’s apartment for dinner plans we had made. While most of the trees were only just starting to turn various shades of oranges, reds and yellows- this one was already in full-blown Fall mode- and I thought it looked gorgeous against the blue sky.

When I eventually leave New England- it’s days like that one that I will miss the most.

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#4: San Diego After Dark (October 5th)

On my last night of my Fall vacation in San Diego, during one of my usual “but I don’t want to leave!” bouts of sadness at the prospect of having to return to chilly Massachusetts the following morning- I went for a late night stroll around downtown and The Gaslamp Quarter and came across these illuminated palm trees not far from the convention center (where San Diego Comic-Con is held.) There wasn’t another single soul around apart from me, so I basked in the light and their leaves and snapped this photo with my cell phone to look back on whenever I got homesick for the West Coast.

It was a lovely night and an unexpected find to wrap up my trip.

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#3: The Most Bizarre Snowstorm Imaginable (February 5th)

Growing up in New England, I’m no stranger to unusual and unpredictable weather. Blizzards? Heat waves? Tornadoes? Hurricanes? I’ve seen just about everything- but the freakish snowstorm that blew through the area in early February and covered EVERYTHING with a heavy blanket of snow that stuck to the trees like glue was something new to me. I captured this photo in my mother’s driveway, where literally INCHES of snow clung to every single part of every single branch instead of simply falling to the ground- making her neighborhood look like a weird, cartoon version of a Winter wonderland.

High winds blew all of that snow off the branches that very same night- but it was really neat looking as the sun began to set and this is one of my favorite photos I took of it as I was losing daylight. It really was something to behold.

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#2: “I see London…” (September 30th)

What can I say about my Vegas trip at the end of September, apart from that it was incredible? Seeing one of my favorite bands perform one of my favorite albums at the venue it was named after was just surreal- and sharing the experience with people I simply adore and cherish and who have become lifelong friends and family made it all the better. I couldn’t resist taking a photo of the Sam’s Town sign with the marquee advertising The Killers weekend performances there. I completely had a fangirl moment the very first time that I saw it (I had never been before!) and needed to commemorate the occasion.

Side Note: Don’t ever drink too much whiskey in Sam’s Town. Yikes. I’m still feeling that one.

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#1: “The Echoes They Left Behind…” (October 18th)

Leave it to me to have something completely morbid and maybe a little depressing at the top of the list- but I’m still not over this discovery of discarded grave markers Sean and I found thrown away in the woods on the outskirts of what was formerly the Danvers State Hospital/Asylum. Each marker represents a person with a past, a life, a family somewhere- and their death- and to see these things just heaved into the woods like trash was a sobering moment for me. I’ve been photographing abandoned buildings and places for years- and sometimes you see some pretty messed up stuff- but this admittedly got to me and made me a bit emotional.

I took this photo not only because I couldn’t believe what I had seen- but as a reminder that those who lived and died within Danvers’ walls shouldn’t be forgotten.

And there they are- my top ten photographs from the year. Looking back, I really did travel to some gorgeous and exciting places- a tradition I hope to continue well into 2017 where I plan to take even more pictures and make it even harder on myself to narrow them down come the New Year’s Eve before 2018 starts- but I shouldn’t get ahead of myself.

Here’s to documenting the finer moments of 2016 and keeping the memories they’ve left in my heart and mind forever!

xx

The Echoes They Left Behind….

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My fascination and appreciation for abandoned buildings is well documented by now. Apart from the photos I take of food or my dog- abandoned buildings comprise most of my photography- and the Holy Grail of abandoned places (up until it was converted into condominiums a few years ago, anyway) was Danvers State Hospital in Danvers, Massachusetts- birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy and the source of some of the most chilling tales of questionable- if not just plain unethical- medical experimentation on patients, overcrowded and deteriorating conditions, and pretty gruesome deaths over the years leading up to the hospital’s closure and eventual abandonment in the early 1990s.

While most of the hospital was demolished to make room for modernized studio apartments and spacious high end condos- the main administration building remains standing (and is now the lobby/leasing office, I believe)– a testament to the Kirkbride-style architecture frequently seen in mental institutions in the late 19th century- and sadly a dying breed of building now that more and more places are being razed or renovated.

Last week, while out for brunch with Sean- we were heading North on the highway when the former Danvers State Hospital came into view in the distance- not as ominous as it used to be when it was a gigantic and sprawling series of boarded up decaying buildings- but still pretty impressive on the horizon. Sean admitted to never having seen the place up close, so we took a quick detour so he could catch a glimpse of the administration building and take in the breathtaking view from the top of the hill.

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While there, we opted to take a stroll on one of the many trails throughout the property. It was on one trail in particular that we stumbled on the sign pictured above. Turns out, the bodies of the deceased patients at Danvers were never moved- simply given some updated headstones, a memorial plaque with a bench- and left alone so the elements could reclaim the clearing after what looked like weeks (if not months) of not being tended to adequately.

The mood in the cemetery was already somber and unsettling- Sean and I both admitted to each other that we felt like we shouldn’t be there- but things went from simply uneasy to downright creepy when we stumbled across a stack of numbered patient grave markers piled and thrown in the edge of the forest. I’d never seen anything so eerie in my life. There were just so many- and each one represented a person who had lived and died in God only knew what kind of conditions on the very spot that people were now living and raising families.

It was so surreal.

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And for you ‘Session 9‘ fans (a 2001 horror movie filmed on location at Danvers when it was still an abandoned hospital)– unmarked grave #444 does exist in the farthest corner of the cemetery- all by itself. Sean and I took some time to clean it off of leaves and weeds before we left- but we were both pretty floored it was there and hidden away from the rest of the cemetery.

As creepy as the place was- I do still feel compelled to go back with some flowers or something to pay proper respects. The cemetery is pretty unkempt- with high grass and broken fences- which makes it all the more depressing given how luxurious the nearby condominiums are by comparison.

And I have no doubt in my mind it’s haunted. None at all.

xx

Day Off Date!

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It’s not very often that my BFF4Eva Sean and I get the same days off during our presently hectic schedules, so when we do- we try to make the most of them- especially now that Spring is in the air and spending a significant amount of time outdoors doesn’t feel like a punishment anymore. Case in point? This past weekend where we had a lovely Sunday afternoon driving through small towns en route to Medfield State Hospital (including a pit stop for coffee at Jasper Hill Cafe & Bistro in Holliston.) Sean, in all his travels across the globe, has actually never been- so I thought it would be a nice surprise for him to see it in all it’s spectacular and spooky glory.

Needless to say, he wasn’t disappointed.

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Every time I return to Medfield, I always seem to find something new. In this case- spotting a three-legged chair just randomly propped up outside one of the buildings along the perimeter and a fenced in and dilapidated bench-swing near what I assume was a recreational area caught my attention- previously unseen during my last handful of visits. The place is always a mystery- and seeing Sean experience it for the first time was truly a lot of fun. We stopped every ten feet so he could marvel at the buildings or take photos. I didn’t mind, of course- since I was snapping many of my own along the way!

I do have to say that the recent rule changes to the grounds have me a little concerned, however. While foot traffic has always been allowed and encouraged (permitted those visiting don’t enter the buildings- since the floors and roofs have been left untouched and unattended to the mercy of the elements for YEARS and the amount of asbestos still lingering in the wards poses a serious health hazard)– apparently vehicles are allowed on the property now, as well. While Sean and I were walking around- we had to move out of the way for more than one car as clumsy drivers struggled to maneuver themselves over the long-untended roadways- avoiding potholes and other visitors.

Apart from the obvious threat this poses to pedestrians- I’m worried about the property itself, too. Medfield State Hospital is already in delicate condition as it decays. It seems adding vehicles to the mix is just a recipe for disaster and some extensive property damage when someone isn’t paying attention to where they’re going.

Oh well.

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Continuing with the rather morbid/macabre theme of this installment of ‘Day Off Date’- I spent Tuesday morning and most of the afternoon running some errands before Sean and I (in another rare instance of having the same day off!) took a stroll around the apartment on one of the many beautiful walking paths along the Mystic River. I cannot stress how lovely the weather has been lately- especially when compared to last year when we were still attempting to shovel ourselves out from underneath mounds of snow around this time. I don’t want to jinx it when I say that it feels like Mother Nature is finally showing New England just a little mercy.

I digress. While passing through Medford en route back to the apartment- I spotted this little memorial for ‘The Black Dahlia’, Elizabeth Short. For those not familiar with the famous unsolved murder, you can catch up HERE (a strong stomach is highly advised.) Elizabeth grew up in the area prior to being murdered and buried in California, and this little stone monument- hidden between an apartment building and a very busy rotary where her home once stood- was an unusual find. Not pictured were the long since dead flowers someone had left by the stone, which I thought was a nice gesture- especially for something that so many people pass by everyday and may not notice. It’s kind of sweet that people remember these sorts of things- no matter how much time has passed.

I swear, next week I’ll try to do something a little more upbeat and less grizzly/dreary during my next days off.

xx

April 2015: In a Nutshell.

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BethelApril20151“I’m going to camp out on the land. I’m gonna’ try and get my soul free.”

You’ll have to excuse my whimsical demeanor in this post. I’m still coming back down to Earth and re-adjusting to city life after a beautiful and sunny few days in quiet and quaint Bethel, New York. This past weekend- spent re-visiting the 1969 Woodstock Festival, hiking through a portion of the Catskills, photographing just a few of the breathtaking abandoned buildings throughout different counties, and enjoying some of the local cuisine- was the perfect way to round out what was overall a pretty good month. Some of my photos can be viewed in the album below!

I’d love to go back this Summer with more appropriate hiking and photography gear, since some of the long since emptied houses and businesses were a little tricky to get to due to their altitudes along the hillsides and the fact that they have been overtaken by the elements growing around them. I had packed ankle-length flowing skirts and boots with little to no tread on them this last time around- so I kept getting snagged on things every few steps! Lesson learned.

April was a busy month at work, which kept me on my toes- and between Boston juries returning GUILTY verdicts on both Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and former Patriots’ star turned murderer, Aaron Hernandez- it was an excellent month for the justice system in general, too.

This past month also kicked off the 2015 convention circuit for me. I had a blast at the New England Super MegaFest a couple of weeks ago, and I’m excited for the upcoming events in my area where I can get my geek on and wear some of the costumes I’ve been working on in my free time.

Not only that- but “Avengers: Age of Ultron” finally opens tomorrow! If that’s not the perfect way to start the comic-con season, then I don’t know what is.

So what’s in store for May? Definitely a little more traveling if I can manage it, some in-depth posts I’ve been drafting about fun things to do around my city, healthy recipes (that don’t taste like chalk- I promise!) and another “Inspired By” look that pays homage to the greatness that is the movie “Almost Famous.” I’m also doing some re-decorating in the coming weeks, so be on the lookout for a peek at the newest developments unfolding in my bedroom and bathroom. I love to paint, so it’s going to be fun (I’ve been watching a lot of HGTV lately and getting a TON of ideas. Someone stop me. Please.)

‘Til next time!

xx

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Return to Medfield State Hospital.

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In January of last year, on what I can only describe as one of the coldest days I think I’ve ever experienced, I made the crazy decision to go and photograph some of the beautiful buildings left behind at the former Medfield State Hospital. Since then, I’ve been up to visit a few times- but with Halloween just a few short days away, I stopped by this past weekend as the sun was setting to snap some more photos while the weather was still nice and the changing leaves- many of which have fallen from the trees- gave the scenery a little more color.

During my last photo session there, I had been the only one on the grounds- but this time there were quite a few people wandering about. Some were walking their dogs, others showing their small children around- and still others were taking pictures like I was- which made the afternoon and evening a little less eerie since I wasn’t all by myself in the ruins of what used to be a rather depressing place.

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What I liked best about this trip to the area, however, was that without the snow blanketing the grounds- I was able to see a lot more than I’d previously found during my last trek there to take photos- including old signs, discarded shelving, an overgrown recreational area, etc. It was pretty neat. I took nearly 100 photos, the ones I’m sharing here just being some of the best in the bunch- in my opinion- but this one:

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– That’s my favorite shot.

xox

A Day in the Green Mountain State…

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The final weeks of September through mid-October tend to be the most beautiful here in New England, with the leaves changing brilliant colors before they tumble off the branches and onto the ground. It’s a transition that can be easily overlooked in all it’s breathtaking glory when you- say- work in the city, for example. Not content with missing a moment of foliage and having this past Sunday freed up of any specific plans or errands that needed to be taken care of- I hopped in my car, selected the “Scenic Route” options on my GPS- and made a four hour journey along the winding back-roads heading North to Vermont. My destination? A covered bridge tucked away near Rutland that I had hoped to photograph- but I found myself stopping (on more than one occasion) to check out various farmer’s markets, stunning views of the mountains, and lots of abandoned places along the way.

While there’s still plenty of greenery to be found- I did catch a glimpse of bright red and orange leaves showing themselves along mountainsides, in fields, and on farms. The drive was so relaxing that when I lost cell service and couldn’t locate the covered bridge for the life of me (and my GPS was rendered useless when trying to do so-) I didn’t even mind. Instead, I stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at Mr. Darcy’s Bar and Grill in Ludlow, Vermont (I loved their name- and their soup!) as well as a country store on my way home where I picked up some chocolate fudge as a surprise for my mother and some of my personal favorite- maple cotton candy- for myself.

I’m planning another trip to Vermont- more than likely this coming weekend- since there were plenty of places I had wanted to stop this past Sunday but couldn’t because of time limitations. I’m looking forward to pumpkin and apple picking, snapping a few more photos, and of course grabbing some more maple cotton candy.

xx

A Sample of Summer…

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It’s been chilly and rainy outside for most of today, so to keep myself occupied (as well as warm and dry,) I’ve been going through some of my photos from this past Memorial Day weekend. The photos above were taken off of a sleepy, winding road in Rhode Island on Saturday. The house, which had caught my eye early last year when I drove by it after photographing another abandoned location- has been left to be claimed by the elements and the plants growing around and into it. The small barn/garage next to it, which had been standing the last time I’d seen it- has since buckled and somewhat caved in- presumably under the weight of all that snow we had this past Winter.

What I hadn’t noticed my last time in the area, however- was the old, abandoned bus-like vehicle tucked away in the woods across from the house- hidden behind some tall grass and trees. That was a pleasant surprise.

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On Memorial Day, I layered my most patriotic (and adorable) crop-top and headed up to Hampton Beach to kick off the 2014 Summer season with an afternoon by the sea. The actual boardwalk was a mob scene, with bumper to bumper traffic and pedestrians everywhere- so I headed North along the coast and found a nice little spot a few miles away where I could park my car, climb over the rocks, and have a peaceful and spectacular view of the water.

I know it feels like Spring only just got here not that long ago, but I’m already excited for Summer. I’m a total beach bunny at heart- and this past weekend was enough of a tease for me to want to go back and just dive right into the ocean instead of sitting on the rocks above it!

A Haunting in Connecticut…

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It’s no surprise that I find beauty in abandoned, decaying buildings. They’re what I typically photograph the most. When I stumble upon the most beautiful of forgotten structures, however- my appreciation is matched only by my sorrow that such a fine piece of architecture has been left to rot from the elements.

Such was the case yesterday while I was going for an aimless Sunday drive after running some errands. I somehow ended up in Thompson, Connecticut- where I found the above-pictured house near what I believe was the center of town. The empty and dilapidated building, which a little bit of research has taught me was formerly The Mason House (built in 1845,) is apparently up for demolition due to long-term neglect, which is a shame- considering how much potential it could have with the proper amount of attention and renovations.

I admired (see: fell in love with) The Mason House from the road, just beyond it’s broken and peeling white front gate- and would love to go back to take more photos when the last of the snow has melted. It’s a stunning building. It’s another one of those “I would love to turn this into an old fashioned and cozy inn/bed & breakfast” type of places.

“When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang…”

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This past weekend was cloudy and rainy- the perfect weather for long drives with no real destination in mind. On Saturday, I ventured out on the back roads to Western Massachusetts. After taking a wrong turn, I ended up at the Winsor Dam. I’d never been before, and climbed out of my car to stretch my legs, take a stroll, and check things out. The view was breathtaking, and that’s putting it mildly. I was awestruck. At one point, as if on cue, the sun broke through the clouds, giving me an opportunity to snap some of the above photos.

The others were taken at Quabbin Park Cemetery down the street later on that afternoon. It was such an unusual mix of very old headstones (1800s,) some so faded you couldn’t read a word on them, to not-so-old ones with fresh flowers resting beside them. I was the only one in the cemetery for quite a while, which made it rather nice and peaceful.

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On Sunday, I once again found myself heading back to Western Massachusetts, this time to visit a friend for the afternoon. On the way, I stopped at a house resting quietly on a busy main street in West Brookfield that caught my attention almost immediately. Looking long abandoned and in need of more than a little TLC, I think it’s safe to say it’s my dream house. It’s so, so beautiful, a fixer-upper for sure, but beautiful.

I stood out in the rain, happily taking photos of the faded stained glass and the curtains that were still visible in the top windows. I’m in love. The only thing I kept thinking, apart how dreamy it would be to live in it, was how great it would probably be as a bed & breakfast or something.

A girl can dream.

Lazy Days.

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Sometimes the weekends where I have absolutely no plans whatsoever turn out to be the most incredible. Having run all of my errands earlier last week, thus freeing up my schedule, but I hadn’t really come up with any specific place to go or any specific thing to do. My long-time friend Troy, currently living in Western Massachusetts- and in a similar predicament as me- got together with me in Northampton yesterday to spend the afternoon and evening just hanging around town. Our first stop was Paradise Pond at Smith College, and while Troy went for a swim, I was perfectly content with dipping my toes in the water and sunning myself on the dock for a while.

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Troy and I have known each other since my Freshman year of high school, so about 12 years now, give or take- which is more than enough time for him to figure out that I love finding new places to explore that are off the beaten path or are considered strange and unusual (as Lydia Deetz from “Beetlejuice” once said: “I, myself, am strange and unusual,”) so he knew I’d appreciate his leading me to the Montague Book Mill, which is exactly what it sounds like- a large mill, converted into a book store, art gallery, and café- located in the middle of nowhere. I was floored. I don’t know how much time I spent wandering from room to room until I finally took a seat in the photography section and skimmed through book after book while a very calming stream flowed below the window that was next to me, but it was so neat.

The books vary between new and used, and the entire building smells like old wood, so it was just sort of this appealing sensory overload. I got lost in it all until Troy found me, hiding away in one of the many nooks of the place with my nose buried in a book about photography in the 1930s, and took me to dinner downstairs at the Lady Killigrew Restaurant, where he introduced me to the concoction known as Maple Milk (ridiculously easy to make, and also ridiculously yummy,) and where I ate a really fantastic brie, apple slice, and apricot jam sandwich.

It was just a really nice, relaxing, sort of spontaneous day spent in good company in beautiful scenery. I really enjoyed myself.

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Earlier today, I went for a long drive with no real destination in mind. I stumbled on some old cars that were up for sale on the side of the road (I want the Buick!) and an abandoned antique shop hidden away on a turn-off. I stopped to snap a few pictures before I headed back home to veg out, watch some Netflix, and prepare for the work week ahead.

Such a lovely weekend.

xox