Ball & Socket Manufacturing Co. | From Civil War Buttons to an Arts Complex

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This one stings a little. Not every location hands you a story worth telling and then slams the door before you can photograph it, but the Ball & Socket factory had other plans for J and me that day. The cold was the first thing I remember. A sharp Connecticut chill that had absolutely no interest in our ambitions. We worked our way into the inner courtyard, feeling reasonably optimistic, and then hit a wall literally. Locked doors on every side. No entry points that weren't either sealed or watched. The only building we managed to get inside looked less like a historic factory and more like a very long parking garage that had given up on itself. Even the boiler house was off the table. We circled, debated, and eventually made the call that every explorer has to make when a site is still secured and possibly still monitored: we walked. Some days you document. Some days the building wins. We never went back, and before we got a second crack at it, word came down that the complex...
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2024 Year in Review





This year, like the last, has been a whirlwind of challenges in my personal life, finances, and mental health. It all started on a hopeful note in January—things felt like they were finally falling into place. But by February, life threw me a curveball, sending everything into a tailspin that felt impossible to control.



Year after year, it’s been the same relentless cycle of setbacks, leaving me wondering if the light at the end of the tunnel is even there. For over two and a half years, I’ve been working tirelessly to pull myself out of a tough situation. Just when it seemed like I might catch a break, February came crashing in. It took months—three and a half, to be exact—before I could even sit down and take stock of where I was, and even then, there were no clear signs of improvement.



But amid all the chaos, one thing has remained steady: my hobby. It’s my one true constant, the small bright light that keeps me going when everything else feels dark and unmanageable. I won’t dwell on the negativity—there’s already enough of that to go around. Instead, let me share what I’ve been up to over the past year, the little things that have helped me keep moving forward.



Sometimes, it’s those simple, grounding moments that remind us life isn’t all storms.










Despite a rocky four months that brought much of my exploring to a halt, I’ve managed to uncover some fascinating places this year. One standout is a hidden gem right here in New Jersey, a find that left me in awe of the history lurking just beneath our feet. On a personal front, I’m still working on exploring a spot in a highly sought-after building in the Bronx. If I manage to pull it off, it’ll be the crowning achievement of the year—a dream realized after months of effort.  



As I write this, my thoughts are already turning to the future. I’m researching and drafting posts about some incredible places I’ve encountered. From abandoned mills to forgotten theaters, derelict churches, and crumbling warehouses, these sites tell the stories of industries, businesses, and communities left behind. Many of these buildings are now facing demolition, thanks to grants and initiatives aimed at revitalizing economically depressed areas. It’s a bittersweet reality—good for progress, perhaps, but a loss for those of us who see beauty in the decay.  



Here’s to another year of discovery in 2025. Wishing you all the best as we continue to explore what’s left of the past and look forward to what’s ahead!










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