Abandoned Explored: June 2013

Abandoned Prosperity

America, for all its supposed wealth and prosperity, has many abandoned places. From natural disasters, to foreclosures, to budget cuts, to rebuilding; I've seen quite a few in my short life-time. All across this vast country people are homeless, when there are many buildings and places that could be "repurposed" to house them. This blog is all about the places I've lived and explored, over the past 50 years. It also involves other things of interest to me, which will become apparent as I continue along. Most places and events I can only remember and have no photographs of them. Currently, I'm active in exploring the current state I live in, Tennessee, when time permits me to do so. Follow along in my foot-steps as I clambour over and sometimes into the abandoned debris of our society...from junkyards to cellars to my own mind.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

187 Greenwood Street

"I went back to Ohio...but the pretty countryside...had been paved down the middle...by the government that had no pride..."~Crissy Hynde & The Pretenders

One of many houses along and off of Greenwood Street in Worcester, MA. that fell victim to so called "PROGRESS". Seems a certain railroad company will be using the area for a storage yard for freight containers.

Most folks here in Worcester know who's involved.

If "progress" involves slapping tarmac over yet another part of the city then, what's the point? I don't mind a bit of progress, don't get me wrong but...another fucking parking lot for freight containers? The city already has enough of those. *SIGH*

The least the company could've done was to fence in the demolition area and put up warning signs. I mean...not that any curious kids in the neighbourhood would go exploring there, right?

Being as curious as I am and always up for a little "urban exploration", I drove by on the way home and spotted one of the local F.D. trucks parked out front in the street. Figuring they may be setting something up to watch (like say...a fiery end to the old house), I got home and quickly grabbed my camera. Returning, I parked on an abandoned side street, got out and ambled over. Mind you, there was nothing and no-one stopping me from doing so. No "DANGER KEEP OUT" signs...no fences, no yellow tape, no police...nothing. I actually got to chat with one of the fire-fighters who explained they were just doing some training, nothing more. A couple weeks later the place was quickly torn down by an excavator and the lot filled in. Oh well...what's one more house off the city's tax roll? *SIGH*

Wonder if Santa stayed to the end?

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Riderless

Have you ever been out for a walk and come across an abandoned article? Of course you have. It could've been an old shoe, a beer bottle, mattress, or even a pile of construction debris. Or a bicycle. What do you do when seeing it? Do you wonder how it got there? I bet some of you do. Take the bike below...who did it once belong to? How did it get into the flood-controlle canal? Who put it there and when? How long has it been in the water? Was it stolen and later ditched there? Or was it a piece of scrap that just happened to bounce off a truck as it went over the bridge? Who knows? Who cares? To some, it's just another chunk of our "disposable technology". It won't be missed.