Photographs and thoughts on photography and camera collecting
As is often the case I came across some ruins in the woods. I liked the patterns and the textures particularly in contrast to the fairly smooth green vines. Something about this reminded me of pictures I’ve seen of the discovery of pre-Columbian ruins in Mexico (not that I’m suggesting that these are pre-Columbian. Clearly they’re not). Maybe it’s the geometric patterns?
As long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by ruins. While I like derelict buildings I’ve always been particularly attracted to stone ruins covered by greenery. I don’t really know where this fascination comes from, but I suspect it’s from watching a movie (possibly something like ‘Jungle Book’) or seeing a photograph when I was a child. I’m also interested in all things “Romantic”: poetry (e.g. Keats, Wordsworth, Shelley), music (e.g. Wagner, Mahler, Bruckner), art (Turner, Constable, Friedrich) etc. so maybe it’s just something in me. These ivy covered remnants of stone buildings in the Leon Levy Preserve were “right up my alley”.
I’ve often seen this house on Route 6n right next to one of my favorite restaurants: ‘Holy Smoke‘ (one of the best BBQ places around here it also has a fine selection of craft beers). Yesterday I decided to stop by and take a closer look. At first glace I thought it was just a bit dilapidated, but when I got a bit closer I could see that a number of the windows were broken, vines were growing all over it and, a door to the basement was wide open. It was clearly abandoned. A sign outside said the the property was subject to a planning application (whatever that means). While it’s not the most spectacular of houses it would be a shame to see it gradually fall apart over time.
No it’s not somewhere a hobbit might live. It’s the former main powder mill building.
According to Wikipedia:
The Orange Mill Historic District…takes its name from the old gunpowder mill complex, built by Asa Taylor in 1816 and operated by the Laflin & Rand Powder Company after 1869. It is located along the unnamed Orange Lake outlet brook which flows through the park just above its outlet at Quassaick Creek.
While it primarily produced powder for local residents’ use in hunting and shooting sports, during the Civil War the Union Army procured some higher quality material. In the years before that conflict, local historian Edward Ruttenber claimed the mills were “the most complete and extensive works in the country” when they were under the ownership of a man named Daniel Rodgers.
After production stopped in the early 20th century, developers began building on houses on some of the property. Col. Frederic Adrian Delano (1863–1953), uncle of future President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, purchased the remaining land, which included the core of the manufacturing operation, for use as a public park.
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Today the historic district includes 14 of these buildings which formerly were the core of the manufacturing operation as contributing properties. It was designed to incorporate the old buildings as an essential feature, and many of the roofless stone structures still stand next to the park’s barbecue pits and picnic grounds. It is today the only remaining 19th-century gunpowder production facility in New York. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
Travelling north on the Taconic State Parkway you’ll come to an exit to Bryant Pond Road. Turn right and you’re on Secor Road. Go down a block and, almost opposite the Mobil Station, you’ll see this fine old house now abandoned and beginning to deteriorate. It’s a large house that must have been impressive at one time. I wonder what the story behind this is? Why is it being left to fall apart?
Front porch and door. Note the greenery now starting to grow all over the exterior.
Columns and vines.
Wider view of the front of the house.
Rear of the house.