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Northern New Jersey Oil Corporation (Northern New Jersey Fuel Oil Co)

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  Investigating the site, I was greeted with a disheartening scene as I approached the fence. The telltale signs of a vigorous demolition effort were evident, signaling that the once desolate and overgrown area had been subjected to a thorough dismantling, nearing its completion. It was particularly disappointing for me, considering that I had frequented the site a couple of times, only to miss out on exploring its secrets during my previous visits. The once prominent oil tanks had vanished, leaving behind a neat pile of debris, a poignant reminder of their recent presence.  In its place, the earth lay leveled with grey gravel stones, where the four imposing oil tanks had stood for a considerable period. Undeterred by the setback, I wanted to revisit the standalone building that had eluded my curiosity until then, harboring an intriguing piece of alien-themed graffiti by a renowned artist. Alas, my hopes were dashed as I discovered the building had succumbed to the ongoing renovation e
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The WR Draw Bridge: A Hidden Jewel between Newark and Kearny, NJ

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Steeped in rich history and bearing the telltale signs of a bygone era, the Erie WR Draw Bridge, colloquially known as the "Cut Bridge" stands as a living testament to the industrial past of Newark and Kearny, New Jersey. This landmark, which once 'cut' a path between the former Maas & Waldstein Company and the Northern New Jersey Oil Corporation properties, is a fascinating piece of local history, which I endeavored to understand back in 2016, only to find my nascent research skills wanting. In the heydays of my urban exploration and my modestly viewed YouTube channel , the bridge was a mysterious entity that intrigued me. Initially known as the Consolidated Rail Corporation Railroad Bridge, it is presently recognized as the landmarked WR Draw Bridge, a name that bears testimony to its strategic location. Constructed in 1897 and subsequently modified in 1911 and 1950, this plate girder swing bridge, spanning over the Passaic River, is a unique architectural marve
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Crown Palace Hotel Razed For New Housing

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  About six years ago, I wrote a small piece on this mystery hotel building. At the time I could not really find any history or a name associated with the three-story building that was built in 1931. The property was mostly fenced off and used mostly as storage for school buses and other private vehicles. The building entranceways were always bricked off but occasionally I would see someone had busted through the lower cinder-blocked doorway probably looking for scrap metal inside. However, recently I came upon an entry in "The Jewish Chronicle Guide" listing the Crown Palace Hotel listed under the address 570-600 Crown St, Brooklyn. I always knew the structure eerily resembled a hotel based on its architectural facade and the wide swath of open land that goes back decades in the 1940s and 1980s satellite imagery. It also matches the demographic makeup of the Crown Heights neighborhood to have a hotel for traveling Jews in the area. Sadly, the building was demolished somet
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Location: 630 Crown St, Brooklyn, NY 11213, USA
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191st Street Subway Station Tunnel Murals (Lost Archives)

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  I vividly recall the striking murals that adorned the walls of the #1 191 Street Subway station tunnel. In 2015, a stunning array of graffiti art graced the walls, with plans to remain for a mere 11 months. However, much to the surprise of the local community, the vibrant artwork remained for an extended period of time, becoming a cherished fixture of the Washington Heights neighborhood. Sadly, in January of this year, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), which exercises control over the subway tunnel, abruptly painted over the murals and graffiti without any notice or announcement to the residents. The NYC DOT's dominion over the tunnel passageway, which is designated as a street despite its linkage to the MTA subway system, caused an outcry among the community. Yet, in a display of resilience, resistance, and creativity, graffiti artists rebuffed the nude tan-brown desolate walls with fresh artwork. While not equal in quality to the original graffiti that f
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Location: 191st St Station Entrance Tunnel & Elevator, New York, NY 10040, USA
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After Dark Sports Bar & Lounge

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A once-popular sports bar located in the bustling city of New York has had a tumultuous history with the Department of Buildings due to several building code violations. This establishment, which was erected in 1966 as a modest two-story building, with a second-floor cabaret and a first-floor restaurant, has been a beloved entertainment destination for many years, according to records. However, since March of 1992, the proprietors have failed to procure a Place of Assembly Certificate of Operation (PA), which is required by New York law for any venue that hosts gatherings of more than 75 people indoors or 200 people outdoors for various purposes such as recreation, education, religion, socializing, political activities, waiting for transportation, eating, drinking, or similar activities. Despite repeated violations, this trend persisted until March of 2012, before the establishment was eventually forced to shut down, likely sometime between December 2012 and May 2018. But what will bec
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Location: 1917 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA
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Colt Gun Mill & Allied Textile Printing (ATP)

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  The Patent Arms Manufacturing Company, one of Paterson, New Jersey's earliest industries, lies in ruins beneath the majestic Great Falls of the Passaic River. As tourists from all over the world flock to witness the Falls' breathtaking beauty, a monument to Samuel Colt, the inventor of the Colt revolver gun, languishes in a state of disrepair. Samuel Colt's newly patented repeating firearm became a vital tool on the American frontier, and the Patent Arms Manufacturing Company produced roughly 5,000 musket rifles and revolvers. The Gun Mill, a four-story structure, was erected on the original site of a failed nail factory and rolling mill. In a nod to its purpose, the Gun Mill property was adorned with wooden gun picket fences, and even a weathervane shaped like a gun capping the belltower. However, poor sales led to the company's demise around 1842, and it was taken over by partners John Ryle and G.W. Murray, founders of Allied Textile Printing (ATP), who began produc
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Location: Colt Gun Mill
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1969 Buick Electra 225

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Vacant Holdings #1

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   Starting a photo series showcasing the varying facades and abandoned real estate I come across on a daily basis. In the past year and a half, I have been documenting a good set of them and I wanted to showcase them since they are starting to collect dust in my photo archives. Here is the first one in the series and hopefully a continuing series well into the future.
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Trump Arraignment Day

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  Today was a very special day for the "Teflon Don" in New York's Lower Manhattan Court where he pleaded not guilty to 35 counts of felonies. Outside a mix of supporters and his critics held court across the street at the park milling about as news media personnel stood up under the lights and broadcasted live ad nauseam to their respective 24-hour news channels. Reps. Marjorie Greene Taylor and George Santos ran out of town when she forgot that a partisan crowd that leans left would not be socially amicable to right-wing conspiracies, idolization, and vitriol. We New Yorkers like substance just like our cream cheese and bagels. They soon hightailed it out of town to jeers and whistles. Inside and around the Manhattan building, people of all stripes, flavors, political leanings, religious zealots, and social media people looking for their five minutes of fame milled about and made their passionate statements and protests. You could find everyone under the sun inside and o
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