The Wasting
At the turn of the 20th
century this tuberculosis sanatorium was constructed upon a knoll
overlooking miles of rolling forests and glades. Even today the
fieldstone facings of the architecture seem at home within these
rural surroundings. The facility operated in its initial role - as a
sanatorium, for many years, eventually turning into a state-operated
hospital center. By the mid 1960's however, the building was no
longer needed as a hospital and underwent a dramatic transformation,
reopening as a reform school for young men. Some years later the
school underwent changes once again, becoming a state juvenile services center. The complex still
operates today, though it has long since vacated the original buildings, for a home elsewhere on the grounds. Left without a
purpose, this old hospital administration building continuously falls deeper and
deeper into disrepair.
Though the stone which
adorns the exterior of this old institution seems to have well stood
the test of time, they belie the frail state of the building's
neglected wood and plaster interior. Like many abandoned structures,
some areas within these walls have fared worse than others, and the
difference is as varied as night and day. One minute you may be
walking confidently down the hallways of an upper-level ward, the
next you may be searching for footing on a section of flooring more
akin to wet cardboard than lumber. It is here, during these
instances, that one truly understands just how powerful something as
mundane as rainwater can be. Given time, it will claim even the most
imposing of structures and return them to dirt. Some find this
concept frightening - As nothing we create, regardless of effort or
importance, can truly last forever. Still others find solace in this
cycle.
Though difficult to tell in this photo, the floor of this room has collapsed into the basement.
This furniture is not burnt, but strangely rotten.
The wind continuously blows in through the broken windows, sweeping away debris on the floor.
There were a lot of light patterns to be found.
This old postcard image shows the grounds with the original cottage-style accommodations.
