860 Comments for Old Essex County Jail

Oh, perhaps that's why the stairs moved out. The wall was caught with lipstick on it's collar (so to speak)

It's a kiss.

I wonder what spot it is that X is marking.

Really, really, late to comment on this, but "Up the river" was a refrence to Sing Sing Prison which is right on the Hudson river and hence "up the river" from New York City.

Yeah, who says they were doing coke? Trash like this makes me think of a meth lab, but it's a mini bar rum bottle, and food dye tops if you look. I see teenagers doing dumb crap..... not drugs old or new. This site is my "official" favourite, but it does seem to make people's imaginations run wild. maybe that's part of the "fun" of looking?

I think that jails today should be like that at least for convicted criminals.

who says they were doing coke/

most likely people use the area for safer housing at night they probably dont stay long , stll i agree its very sad.

I can only imagine the utter sadness and fear as prisoners were brought here.

Love the photos Motts. Well done!!!

Do you think that maybe these people had no where to turn? No family or friends? Not all places have homeless shelters, and once you get into a rut, it is VERY hard to get out of. I have a few friends that when I met them they were homeless, it takes a lot to get out of that rut, and if you have no one helping you, showing you the way, you are more likely never to get out of it.

I for one have done coke. I have done it quite a few times, at parties and what not. Kinda like some people are social drinkers, I was a social coker. I never bought it, it was always supplied, and never did I ever feel that I NEEDED it to keep going. I have done it, walked away for a few days, months, years... and gone back and done it again. It is a fun drug, but you have to know your limit. If you dont know your limit, then that is when you become addicted...at least thats how I see it. But I guess it is different for many people.

But what I'm wondering is how the topic of discussion here is become addicted to drugs. Why not just recognize the irony of the drug photo and get back to seeing this place for the beauty within it?

I've never been homeless, but I think I can understand why people would want to live here. It isn't just the fault of the government (although they do own a small portion of blame) it's a number of contributing factors that lead to a person losing their home. When you can't make rent or mortgage (which has happened to me and it's a scary thing) and if you have no family or friends to turn to (which thankfully I do have) then you can find yourself homeless with no place to go. And it's all a downhill struggle from there. It's very hard to hold down a job with no bed to get your 8 hours in, no shower to keep yourself clean, and probably crappy food cause you have no means of refridgerating or cooking said food. So you lose the job and have a very slim chance of getting another one. Which means affording another place to live is out of the question. So in this situation, if given the choice between staying in a shelter, where there are dozens of people breathing down your neck, or staying here in the relative peace and quiet...I'd probably choose to stay here too. It isn't just mentally ill people or former patients that frequent these places. Sometimes it's people who, a few years ago, probably had all the luxaries and conveniences we have today. It's sad but it doesn't mean they're mentally ill.

It's not a Motts set without a chair shot...well done Motts, well done!

Absolutely stunning...if my bedroom lit up like that every morning I don't think I'd ever have a problem waking up!
=)

No one commented???

Ok, cool, here we go...

First I love the pattern on the wall, the soft aqua and pink really compliment each other. And what looks to me like peeling paint or wallaper arching down toward the floor reminds me of a lightening bolt.

Very nice shot.