City Gardens: Trenton's Lost Punk Rock Mecca

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The building seemed to sag against the Trenton sky, its walls leaning in a way that looked both tired and dangerous. I was driving, searching for a lunch spot after a morning spent exploring the city's industrial skeletons, when I saw it. A questionable choice, maybe, but curiosity is a powerful guide. I pulled over. Getting inside was one of the sketchiest entrances I’ve ever attempted. But once my feet were on the dusty floor, the danger faded. An enormous space stretched before me. It was sparse, cleaned out. My footsteps echoed where a stage once stood, a fact I’d later confirm in a NNKH YouTube video about the building’s past life as an underground punk club. The video showed a vibrant scene, an electric place. But the ghosts of that life were mostly gone. The long, rounded bar, where thousands of hands must have slapped down crumpled bills, had vanished. The dust-coated wine and shot glasses that once lined its shelves were gone, too. The club’s glittering crown jewel, a l...
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Documenting the Jumping Jack Pump Plant






For a long time, this venerable and formidable pump house has withstood the treachery and explorations of many urban explorers. Only a few have ever found its true location within the state lines of New York. Before, only well-researched urban explorers found this pump house long before it graced the pages of Will Ellis' Abandoned NYC's long-heralded and well-published website. It has stood for many years out of the gaze of any unsuspecting explorer travelling within the state who may, by happenstance, find it just by driving. Unfortunately, you cannot "drive" and see this pump house. This place is located deep in a mixed-use neighborhood encased in businesses no one unsuspecting would find for it to be located there at the end of the adjoining driveway.




























 















Once inside, the treasures to behold can be found. Inside, you will find old boilers, coal dust, century-old coal, a flooded basement, three entombed car frames, and an infinite supply of remarkable graffiti artwork. This place will not disappoint the most ardent explorer out there. But be forewarned, inside has become wildly dangerous as stairs rust and fall to the ground, and crumbling ceiling walls give way to the encroaching elements.





The reason why it is called the "Jumping Jack Power Plant" was coined by veteran photographer and urban explorer Will Ellis. Behold the coal feed machine. Do you see the resemblance?




















One of the most sought-after and most photographed has to be the remnants of the forgotten chop shop located on the ground floor. Based on historical findings by Will Ellis, the ground floor housed a vibrant chop shop before being sealed by authorities during the crime cleanup in the 80's and 90's. The one complete car frame forlornly sits on two bricks, leaning to one side. This Chevy Citation has now received three coats of paint on the side of the driver's store since its location has become more knowledgeable to other explorers and vandals.















A four-door 1980 Chevy Citation hatchback frame. This Chevy was equipped with the four-cylinder Iron Duke engine at the time, which allegedly got 41 miles per gallon.










Inside is a smorgasbord of incredible lines and old machinery tucked inside. This power plant was once a humming energy conduit for the nearby neighborhood, but has long been forgotten. I've spent countless hours trying to find the true name of this abandoned power plant, but all my research has pointed to future developments of a different type of modernised power plant for this up-and-coming neighborhood.

In addition, the plant holds some iconic and legendary graffiti artists such as Klops and other unknown artists I've yet to identify. If anyone out there knows any of the following, let me know so I can update this post so they can be recognised. You definitely know good graffiti from amateur, since many people respect it so well that they do not erase or cover up with their own works. Respect earns mutual respect.










Klops





A very weird piece, but very interesting.















Hello Jen!





Klops graffiti.












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