I'm totally with you on that one, Tony. I completely avoid those grated sections on city sidewalks...just like I try to avoid those open-back stairs *shiver*
Alexandra P.Clarke, Yes, there is an archive for Bennett and I would be happy to share my info if you'd like to email me: wrddreamer@comcast.net
Your pictures sound amazing and I too would love to see them. I grew up less then a mile from Bennett and have always loved this place. It defies description. My mom worked there in the late 60's-early 70's and I am an avid collector of Bennett memorabilia. This is the first time I've seen inside this awesome building however, so much appreciation to Mr.Mott for the incredible collection of pix.
I second researcher here. I find it disrespectful not only to the current owner of the property, but also to the many that lived and worked here, and to the building itself. It is said, "Let sleeping dogs lie." I am not saying there aren't exceptions however, such as in the case of Radical Ed's buttons. There was a mass quantity of them lying about, and it certainly didn't deplete the stock. Of course, if everyone took a few they would eventually be gone, but Radical Ed spends so much time there he should be able to take something like that. Taking a chair or something would be going too far.
I give props to all those that are restoring these structures, I've seen the main website and seen some of the transformations which is really cool. I never went to the Enchanted Forest but I did go somewhere like it about the same time this place closed - it was in Wisconsin Dells and was probably called something like "Storybook Land." They had a lot of similar things, so its really neat to see that this is being restored.
Yup, I had one of those in my crib. I actually distinctly remember playing with it - the noise would wake up my parents and tell them to come get me out of my crib lol.
I want one of those old-fashioned phones! I want one of the really old ones, like from the '20's (sort of candlestick style). They sell ones like that nowadays, but their touch-tone. I want the old-fashioned dial. I would guess this particular phone is from the '70's?
I was thinking...how old do you think this coffin is? I mean, its been awhile since they've been made of pine like that, hasn't it? For some reason, hearing the word "pine box" always reminds me of the Civil War era. This certainly can't be that old, but it certainly doesn't seem recent, either.
Motts, what kind of survival rations were down there? Sounds interesting.
All I know is that those are some damn big knives! And that cleaver really creeps me out. This looks practically straight out of a horror movie...
What's perhaps even more creepy is that someone has gotten into the cabinet and taken them all...
Sorry, Motts, I hope you don't mind me answering this question 8-)