Yesterday we went to see some photographs made by my wife’s friend. They were on show at a local fitness club (Club Fit, Jefferson Valley), which my wife frequents. The show was entitled “Souvenirs from our industrial past and was described as follows:

January 2019
Photography by Nancy Faulds

Souvenirs from our industrial past.

Most of the images in this show were taken on excursions with Abandoned America, a photography group dedicated to the exploration and preservation of spaces that have outlived their former usefulness and have not yet developed their future potential.

The Scranton Lace factory in Scranton PA was in business from 1987 to 2002, and at one time employed 1,400 people. Sadly, when business decisions led to the closure of the plant, the announcement occurred in the middle of a shift; the workers left so abruptly that there is still lace product visible in the loom. Over the years that this huge structure sat empty, it became a sitting target for vandals and scrappers. The metal roof drains were stolen, leading to advanced decomposition as the roof could not keep out the rainwater.

The Klots Throwing Company in Lanaconing MD was a silk mill that opened in 1902, a torn calendar on the wall has the end date of 1957. Much of the equipment is still in place. The mill workers were mostly women, for the most part the wives and daughters of coal miners. Raw silk was imported from China and Japan to be spun. The market for silk was severely affected by the availability of rayon. This is another huge building that has been affected by rainwater damage through holes in the roof.

Lansdowne Theater, Lansdowne PA. was built in 1927 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. This Spanish Revival interior is a little different than the factories since although the signs of neglect are clearly visible, it has been purchased and is in the early stages of undergoing renovation. It is quite unusual to get into one of these spaces and find that the electricity is connected and the lights, while rough, are working.

The photographs were wonderful: moody pictures of abandoned buildings full of atmosphere.