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Showing posts from May, 2023

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...

Inside the Abandoned Neponsit Beach Hospital: Sun, Sand, and Secrets (Queens, NY)

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  While delving into the historical aspects of this place has been extensively covered by reputable news media, I humbly defer to their expertise. To explore its storied history and its significance as a safe haven for LGBTQ+ Riis beachgoers, please refer to the source material linked below. Neponsit Beach Hospital, also known as Neponsit Beach Hospital for Children, Neponsit Hospital, and  Neponsit Children's Hospital, Neponsit Beach Hospital, once a tuberculosis sanatorium, holds a rich history. Originally dedicated to children's treatment, it later served veterans during World War II. Located in Queens, New York, adjacent to Jacob Riis Park, it transformed into the Neponsit Home for the Aged and later the Neponsit Health Care Center. Discover its fascinating journey in the annals of healthcare, linked to the Belle Harbor district and cherished by the LGBTQ+ community at Riis Beach. The Past Comprising three buildings, two of which face the beach, Neponsit Beach Hospital boa...

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 ren...

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...

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 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 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 sometime earlier la...

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, 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 formed pa...

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