Margie,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I walk my dog through the park that is now there. I wanted to look up the history because I could feel a presence and it peaked my curiosity. Your brother is still in that school and I’m pretty sure he’s not the only spirit there. What was his name if you don’t mind me asking?
wow, amazing. Thank you Felicity for your documentation. I am just a bit confused, the entire building IS down now? Obviously it is mostly gone, but I am surprised the chimneys were left standing. Seems like they would be unstable unsupported by the frame of the building. I venture they must have SOME plans for preserving at least the bases of them? And it appears the stone base and arches are to be saved as well?
I see among the salvaged items are a balustrade [that seems in amazingly good condition] I'd guess it was from the portion that was enclosed within the auditorium of the 50's era portion, for it to be in that good shape, the rest had been splintered and rotten for years.
I see some exterior carved brackets, as well as a portion of scrollwork from the inset half timbered panels that centered each gable. This appears from the courtyard portion, the front facades lost the lathed portion years ago. I am quite surprised they are salvaging anything at all, there is [was!] so little 'fabric' left intact here. And that does appear to be the skylight from the elevator, but maybe from the 1920's wing.
You can see atop the brick elevator shaft, which was installed c. 1908, where it's skylight sat. The actual elevator itself is from a much older era than Halcyon, it was an antique black iron "birdcage" style. It actually looked kind of sinister, not to mention hazardous as hell. Wonder if they fished that elevator out of the shaft, or will? Anyway, all of these components should be saved if possible, for posterity, and perhaps incorporated as part of an interpretive history that might be part of this parcel's conversion. But they may just end up being sold, or whatever. No great loss, the real gems of this place were brazenly stolen years ago. There is certain superb fireplace in particular from here that mysteriously graces a nearby property. But I guess possession is 9/10th's of the law, eh? Then again at least it was saved, I suppose.
In any event, it is a little heartening that someone at least saw a bit of value, historic or otherwise, in a small few architectural details left to save on her dying day. Hope it bodes well for the conversion to parkland, and that as much care is taken about it.
It cost HJ Davison Jr. a million dollars to build Halcyon Hall. Much more is now being spent to raze it. Unconverted dollars, of course, but it just underscores the poetically stupid disregard we have had for many historical resources in our country. I do think it is changing, however, the loss of a place such as this is the illustrative example that convinces, alas much too late to save. That it's passing allows Millbrook's other major landmark to live on restored is a good degree of consolation, certainly the best under the circumstances, but it does not lessen the regretful shame of it's disappearance collectively for Millbrook. I'd say it is a lesson learned for sure, and is demonstrated by this entire project's RESOLUTION, at least, to carry through, and on. But it is certainly bittersweet, and poignant, for just about everyone I'd say, probably even many of the gentlemen actually taking the wrecker to it, I'd venture.
I love that it didn't go down easy, both in demolition, and in its 45 years of splendorous abandonment. For that, I toast: Hail Halcyon Hall.
Thank you so much for doing this for us all. So sad to see her end come, even though we knew it was coming, just hard to see it still. She stood proudly for a long, long time & now, she rests in peace. We'll always have galleries of photos & videos to look back on her with, just won't be the same knowing she is no longer with us.
That was Saturday. I went down on Friday, expecting to see that, but I guess I was a day early. I took pictures anyways, and met a Bennett alum who stopped by as I was leaving. I planned on taking a drone video, with a different one, since my first is still in pieces. However, the exact same thing started happening, in the exact same place. When I got it back, it appeared to be perfectly functional, aside from not responding to any outside input. All I can do is shrug, and tell you that I'm sorry there's no video this time, but some force has decided that for me, Bennett is a no-fly zone. Anyways, here are Halcyon's final pictures.
Knowing that these pictures belong to West, I'd love to be able to use them on my interactive map. Alas you have something that blocks the copying of your pictures, I respect that though.
Ok, yeah this is definitely West, it lines up almost exactly with a picture that I know is in West.
Fyi, I have put countless hours into researching this location, this is my specialty when it comes to my research into mental institutions.
Tramadol is a unique compound with both a moderate mu-opioid effect (when compared to classic opioids) and a moderate monoaminergic effect (when compared to tricyclic antidepressants). Tramadol has a more acceptable side-effect profile in comparison with tricyclic antidepressants and antiepileptics.
are you looking for full night enjoying with me or my top class model girls rina rawat i have lots of girls like housewife, collage girls, model girls, and many more your dream girls avl. are you... (continued)
I’m so sorry for your loss. I walk my dog through the park that is now there. I wanted to look up the history because I could feel a presence and it peaked my curiosity. Your brother is still in that school and I’m pretty sure he’s not the only spirit there. What was his name if you don’t mind me asking?
I see among the salvaged items are a balustrade [that seems in amazingly good condition] I'd guess it was from the portion that was enclosed within the auditorium of the 50's era portion, for it to be in that good shape, the rest had been splintered and rotten for years.
I see some exterior carved brackets, as well as a portion of scrollwork from the inset half timbered panels that centered each gable. This appears from the courtyard portion, the front facades lost the lathed portion years ago. I am quite surprised they are salvaging anything at all, there is [was!] so little 'fabric' left intact here. And that does appear to be the skylight from the elevator, but maybe from the 1920's wing.
You can see atop the brick elevator shaft, which was installed c. 1908, where it's skylight sat. The actual elevator itself is from a much older era than Halcyon, it was an antique black iron "birdcage" style. It actually looked kind of sinister, not to mention hazardous as hell. Wonder if they fished that elevator out of the shaft, or will? Anyway, all of these components should be saved if possible, for posterity, and perhaps incorporated as part of an interpretive history that might be part of this parcel's conversion. But they may just end up being sold, or whatever. No great loss, the real gems of this place were brazenly stolen years ago. There is certain superb fireplace in particular from here that mysteriously graces a nearby property. But I guess possession is 9/10th's of the law, eh? Then again at least it was saved, I suppose.
In any event, it is a little heartening that someone at least saw a bit of value, historic or otherwise, in a small few architectural details left to save on her dying day. Hope it bodes well for the conversion to parkland, and that as much care is taken about it.
It cost HJ Davison Jr. a million dollars to build Halcyon Hall. Much more is now being spent to raze it. Unconverted dollars, of course, but it just underscores the poetically stupid disregard we have had for many historical resources in our country. I do think it is changing, however, the loss of a place such as this is the illustrative example that convinces, alas much too late to save. That it's passing allows Millbrook's other major landmark to live on restored is a good degree of consolation, certainly the best under the circumstances, but it does not lessen the regretful shame of it's disappearance collectively for Millbrook. I'd say it is a lesson learned for sure, and is demonstrated by this entire project's RESOLUTION, at least, to carry through, and on. But it is certainly bittersweet, and poignant, for just about everyone I'd say, probably even many of the gentlemen actually taking the wrecker to it, I'd venture.
I love that it didn't go down easy, both in demolition, and in its 45 years of splendorous abandonment. For that, I toast: Hail Halcyon Hall.
Thank you so much for doing this for us all. So sad to see her end come, even though we knew it was coming, just hard to see it still. She stood proudly for a long, long time & now, she rests in peace. We'll always have galleries of photos & videos to look back on her with, just won't be the same knowing she is no longer with us.
R.I.P. Halcyon Hall. Goodbye, Ms. Bennett.
https://tinyurl.com/mrxrnhn9
That was Saturday. I went down on Friday, expecting to see that, but I guess I was a day early. I took pictures anyways, and met a Bennett alum who stopped by as I was leaving. I planned on taking a drone video, with a different one, since my first is still in pieces. However, the exact same thing started happening, in the exact same place. When I got it back, it appeared to be perfectly functional, aside from not responding to any outside input. All I can do is shrug, and tell you that I'm sorry there's no video this time, but some force has decided that for me, Bennett is a no-fly zone. Anyways, here are Halcyon's final pictures.
https://imgur.com/a/pdnCB0e
Fyi, I have put countless hours into researching this location, this is my specialty when it comes to my research into mental institutions.