Comments

This was a "secure center", not like a federal long term prison, more of a juvenile detention center.

The light fitting is a late 60s / early 70s Scandinavian design. It looks quite out of place with the pastel colours and cheap sofas. I can imagine this place as a real Austin Powers pad at one time complete with leather couches, shagpile, and every shade of brown under the sun :-)

It does always amaze me how you get into these places though, especially as I'm assuming you're carrying heavy photographic equipment too. It's one thing to slip into an abandoned hospital in the dead of night with a digital cam in your pocket but another to access a well-guarded building on an active campus - in broad daylight and with lights, tripods, lenses etc hanging about your person! I'd almost be more worried about being nabbed by a guard, or worse, a cop, than most of the things the building itelf could throw at me once inside...

And your stance on not publicising these places is absolutely the right one. I'm sure Byberry provides a lot of enjoyment to those who hang out there but it would be a tragedy to see *that* fate befall Pennhurst, for instance. Plus surely half the thrill of UE is doing the research and finding places yourself.

last february my friend and i uncovered that ladder from the rubble and put it up against the projection booth, and cut my hand in the process.

Y'know Stacymarie, I'd never even thought of that! I'm sure here in the UK, and depending on the security level of the facility, inmates wear slip-ons or occasionally sandals...

And I can't imagine they were for the staff - screws in Chucks - doesn't quite work somehow!

No, I didn't see The Astoria; it was most likely scrapped

This whole place looks fairly "insitutional" for a resort and hotel. I wonder what the plan was for that, or did all the resorts look like this back then?

cindy - I will try my best to answer your questions

I do not work for a state agency nor anyone affiliated with Glendale. As to how I acquired these photographs is of my own business and something I do not make public. I am not special in any way, believe me.

I don't know what information you are referring to, but I do not own the property, nor do I have any say in what is to be done with the hospital since I am not a state official, contractor, or even a Maryland resident. I am opposed to almost all demolition and redevelopment of these places on my website, but I do not have the resources to petition or file lawsuits against every developer trying to demolish a historic site.

The purpose of this website is to show people the beauty and history behind the walls of these incredible buildings that have been abandoned and neglected by society, as well as to showcase my own photography and experiences inside - NOT for helping people trespass onto private property.

This site is interactive since you are communicating with the world by posting your comment and others can reply, or perhaps I am not understanding you. Anyone can contact me via e-mail, admin at opacity.us

I'm suprised they let prisoners have shoes with laces, I thought that was a no-no!

Good on ya, Bean! :-)

thats a great shot, kinda creepy arn't the graves over where the fog is?

wow!!!! thats all i can say

great pics, i use to work down the hill at hogan for 5 years and was all fascinated with the old hospital

eric, it takes a special kind of person to appreciate the beauty in the mundane, but, imo, this is the furthest thing from it. it takes a thoughtful (and, i daresay, reasonably intelligent)person to appreciate a forgotten history, the story of a life far different from one's own. and it takes a true artist, like motts, to be able to combine the 2 in such a dramatic and compelling way. but i wouldn't expect someone like you to understand that concept, so i apologize if my rationale is beyond your comprehension. i really should know better than to always expect civilized behavior , but i'm still so invariably taken by surprise. i do not normally surround myself with people of your particular caliber or mind set, so i am unable to understand your inability to appreciate the nature of this medium, the detail to composition (yes, these aren't merely snapshots, there is an art to taking a good picture, haven't you ever admired ansel adams' work? or is that beyond your scope of creativity and the appreciation thereof?), or your blatant contempt for something that you, frankly, have no concept. if you can't tell the difference between "patronising" (sic) and genuine regard and appreciation, i suggest you look it up. also a course in human behavior (along with a class in etiquette!) might not be such a bad idea. why in the world would ANYONE waste their time on a web site just to patronize someone we don't even know??? hello!?! think about it.
~a~

Silkster, I wonder if this ship has been burnt out at some point - if so that's probably what it's doing here in the boneyard. Looks as though the fire went right down to the waterline - the paint work above would have peeled and melted exposing the superstructure to rapid corrosion, whereas the part that was once underwater was spared and is only now visible because the vessel is being cut up for scrap...