As with many urban decaying structures in Rhode Island, the crane will be in the river for the foreseeable future. The top half of the crane can be seen from the edges of the Providence River as it is only a few dozen yards off-shore. Ginalski passed away in 2020 and the sunken crane barge still remains in the Providence River. Mark Ginalski had a history of maritime violations since 2005 including operating a tug-boat without a license, causing gas leaks, and damaging vessels. The owner of the crane barge, Mark Ginalski, refused to take action and avoided all fines in regards to maintaining and removing the crane barge. The barge and part of the crane did end up sinking in 2017. In 2014, the Coast Guard inspected the barge and reported that it needed repair and had the potential to sink. The 114-foot crane barge stood in the Providence River for many years but was not well cared for. The Providence River Crane is one of the newest abandoned structures in Rhode Island. Norwich State Hospital is a chapter in my book, Abandoned America: Age of Consequences.īuy a signed copy via this link or get it on Amazon using the link below to read more!A post shared by Jason Allard Town: Providence To view more of this site click on an image in the gallery below use arrow keys to navigate. I was happy that for a little while I could shut out all the noise and anxiety and problems and just feel my footsteps crunching in snow and appreciate the way the veins in the ice formed in puddles on the floor, and that was all that was left of the universe was at that point. I was tired and wet and cold but I was happy about that. When I think of it now, I remember images of the places I went through but mostly I remember the way it seemed the rest of the world was gone forever, like I'd never have to return. I was glad for the chance to reshoot old areas and visit some new ones. It was a peaceful day, and one of great and much needed solitude. All the while outside, the snow steadily fell, as though it would just keep going until we were buried inside. There were old gurneys in them with restraint straps still attached, broken asbestos-covered pipes that became unfastened and jutted off at odd angles. Later they would collapse areas of the tunnels to make it impossible to travel the campus underground, but they were helpful that day. We covered a lot of ground that day, sticking to the tunnels to go between buildings as much as possible. Norwich State Hospital's auditorium was one of its most distinctive and significant spaces, and I'll always regret not visiting it more than once. It was perfectly silent save for the wind, and snow was drifting in through the windows. Once we were inside we went to the enormous theater and looked out over the campus. Leaving footprints that the security could follow was a concern too. Waking up to find nearly a foot of snowfall and more accumulating quickly, the drive was tense due to bad roads and the hike was more arduous than normal. My last visit to Norwich State Hospital was a dreamlike experience. Though first selectman Rob Congdon is quoted in the above article as saying, "It's sad to see this incredible architecture come down, but there really is no choice," there is no evidence that any alternatives other than demolition were ever considered for the site or that any effort was made to preserve it whatsoever. The haunted houses and trails locations can help with all your needs. Though the property is on both the National and State Historic Register, and despite the fact that as of this writing no finalized plans have been reached for its future, the Preston Redevelopment agency started demolishing the buildings in 2011 using state grant funding, a wasteful and ignominious fate for a series of beautifully built and culturally significant structures. Plans to build a theme park, hotel, performing arts school, and movie studio onsite fell through in 2006, and while the property was patrolled by police and security, the deterioration of the buildings and the toll taken on them by vandals was severe. Since then it has sat abandoned, a popular destination for urban explorers/vandals. The closure of the buildings began in the 1970s and when the facility was completely shut down in 1996, only two of the buildings were still in use. Though it was built for the mentally ill and criminally insane, it also housed the elderly, patients with chemical dependence issues, and tuberculosis patients. Originally built in 1904, Norwich State Hospital consisted of one building, but rapidly grew in a little over a decade there were 16 buildings, and it continued to expand to over 20 in the 1930s including laboratories, doctors' and attendants' housing, a greenhouse, a barber shop, recreational facilities, and more. One of the overgrown wards at Norwich State Hospital, grand even in decay.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |