The walls, halls, doors, and windows of these ruins tell stories that people never could. People are rarely factual; They'll always throw in a hero or a villain, just to make things interesting. Ruins don't lie... They tell the tales exactly as they were meant to be told. These stories come from a combination of research, articles found on the premises, and the ruins themselves. These stories are finally the truth.
*~School for Girls~*
The school was founded in 1890 in a small town in New York by May F. Bennett. In 1907 it moved to its current location and had an enrollment of 120 students and a faculty of 29. Originally called a school for girls, the course of study was 4 years of high school and 2 years of higher study. In the early 20th century the school became a junior college only. Many generations of young women from prominent American families attended the school within its 90 year history. With the growing popularity of coeducation in the 1970's, Bennett fell from favor and at the time of its closing in 1978, enrollment was around 300 students. The main building of this college, Halcyon Hall, was originally built as a luxury hotel in 1893. The mostly wooden structure was scheduled to be demolished in 2012, but now stands with a distorted grace, damaged by the elements and issues with the pipe system internally, causing significant water damage.
These walls speak volumes of its years. The architecture though weathered is still stunning. The themes of the rooms and color schemes protray a calm, peaceful environment. The victorian staircase explains without words the fiscal status of those whom had attended this school. Even the windows, which once gave a beautiful view of a luscious green landscape still tell stories of beauty. Sadly, this building is in an awful state structurally. The floors are all giving way, under the weight of the mostly collapsed ceiling. It is quite literally falling in on itself. I do not feel many more will ever get to hear the stories it can tell, or see the beautiful history behind it. This is one of the stories that will stay with me forever.
*~The House of Nathaniel White~*
These walls spoke of his personality. The rooms were all quite small and confining, as well as the location being barren. Though it is visible from the highway, there is only one other house on the road, at a far enough distance where there could easily be no relationship between neighbors. The attic, by far, was the biggest space in this house, and told a dark tale. It's floor, sinking into the second floor, did not grant me safe access, but that did not stop me from seeing that this was most likely the area the bodies were hidden. There was a very dark feeling in the air as I ascended the crooked stairs, which left a noticeable degree as I descended back to the second floor. The second floor held several rooms maybe big enough for children. The closets were abnormally small, and one room may have held only a bed. The first floor was also dipping down into the ground, and half of it had already been demolished by the elements, but it was regardless a disturbing sight. These walls told me indeed a tale of darkness.
I've done some research on Nathaniel White after finding this house. Born July 28, 1960, he is an African American serial killer centralized in Goshen, NY. Active in the early 1990's, White beat and stabbed 6 women to death while on parole, sexually abusing some of them. White claims the inspiration for his first murder derived from Robocop2, explaining, "The first girl I killed was from a 'Robocop' movie... I seen him cut somebody's throat then take the knife and slit down the chest to the stomach and left the body in a certain position. With the first person I killed I did exactly what I saw in the movie.". Juliana Frank was the first victim on March 25, 1991; She was pregnant with her third child. Her naked body was left on a set of abandoned railroad tracks in Middletown. Next was Christine Klebb, just 14 years old. The niece of White's girlfriend, Jill Garrison, she was reported missing July 1, 1992. Her body was found off of Echo Lake Road on August 4th. Laurette Huggins Reviere was killed July 10th at 34 years old. A close friend of Garrison, she was murdered in the midst of packing to visit her family. A few weeks before her murder, her children stayed over at White's home. Cousins Angelina Hopkins and Brenda Whiteside met White at the Blue Note Tavern in a nearby town on July 20th, 1992. This is the sight they were last seen alive, and also the sight where White was later recognized and arrested. They were found in the house left barren on August 4th. The cause of death was severe blunt force trauma to the head and face in both cases. Lastly, Adriane Hunter, 27, was stabbed to death on the morning of July 30, 1992. Her body was discovered later that day in the charred remains of the burnt-down Hillcrest Manor Restaurant. His 150 year to life sentence began May 27, 1993 at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility. His crimes were deemed so heinous that his case was cited in governor Pataki's push to reinstate the death penalty in New York State. When questioned, he said he was listening to a voice that told him to kill them.
In addition, an article from that time can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/06/nyregion/6-victims-and-a-suspect-the-mysteries-endure.html
*~The Springs Hotel~*
The Springs was located on a natural mineral spring in New York; The water was thought to be incredibly beneficial to one's health. The hotel opened in 1927, but got off to a rough start due to the Great Depression. After WW2, the town was again bustling and the hotel flourished, in it's prime. A NYS mayor bussed tables at the hotel during this time, long before his well-known career. Unfortunately, slow decline took its toll, and the town eventually became something of a ghost town. The then-barren land caused the hotel to finally close it's doors in 2004. Plans were made to renovate the high-fashion hotel in 2012, and the property was purchased, but today the building still stands alone and vacant, a beautiful reflection of the past. From inside, it's walls tell stories both casual and intimate. They tell stories of lovers' past, and business trips otherwise drab-turned-pleasant. The lower quarters reveals a place of relaxation and enjoyment, with a stage that seemed well-used during it's time, and an equally used bathhouse. Pamphlets scattered across the floor reveal pricing and attractions, showing off it's beauty and elegance, while still capable of luring in the middle-class. Cards strewn across tables, and chess pieces gone awry tell tales of many men and women casually passing time at the resort, and perhaps meeting for the first time. Everything from the paint and wood, to the chandeliers hanging from the main entrance, still to this day give off a sense of beauty, and tell countless tales of days long since passed.
*~Limestone Caverns~*
This place particularly called out to me as I explored it. Through the stains along the walls, you could see signs of past flooding (possibly from the previous years' hurricanes). The fully-living calcite tells me that few have ventured into this cave before me, and not to touch it (as if it wasn't clear enough). Though at points I was over a hundred feet underground, in total darkness, there was still flowing water; Yet there were no fish. There was no sustenance this far into the Earth for anything to survive, and as I crept through the twists and turns closer to the surface, it dawned on me that I was deep inside a quite live, growing, and indeed surviving environment like no other. The bacteria and calcite formations were the only other living thing than myself. These walls truly told a story of life and evolution in the most unique way possible.
*~Camp Eureka~*
Built by a Ralph Wurts-Dundas in the very early 1900's, a nearby castle had been passed down several generations before the entrance of Camp Eureka. By the 1950's, the castle was retrofit as a fishing and hunting resort. In 1964, the property was expanded and Camp Eureka was finally established as a summer camp for inner-city youth. In 2005, an agreement was made to protect Camp Eureka and the castle property. Today, Camp Eureka has a new location, and the original, as well as the castle and property, all are being well kept and preserved by dedicated caretakers whom live on site. The campsite itself tells tales of happier times for children, may it have been out by the playground or by the campfire circle. Celebratory banners hang clumsily from the main building, tattered over time. This place reveals to all who view it a sense of happiness, and a place where children could once be carefree and at peace. Of all of the places I've been, this one still has given me the most heartwarming tales.
*~Otisville Bioprocessing~*
In July of 1906, NYC opened a tuberculosis sanatorium and kept horses on site for their blood, which was used for vaccinations. Though the sanatorium is gone, the building continued to hold retired NYPD horses until more recently, in the late 80's. The Antitoxin lab was associated with the sanatorium, but was a separate entity. They developed vaccines for Diphtheria and Tetanus, as well as antitoxins, for the soldiers during World War 1. In 1983, the land was sold, but it was in agreement that the buyer, BioTech Inc., would continue to care for the horses in return for drawing their blood for research. The company planned to create a synthetic blood substitute, but were unsuccessful in doing so. In addition to increasing debt, they began neglecting the horses, eventually resulting in lawsuit. The company finally folded, with a near-2 million dollar debt, according to documents hidden at the site. The location itself reveals the chemicals used, the tools used to implement nothing but pain on the animals, and even countless large syringes used to take their blood. It shows tests done to not only horses, but mice and fowl as well. This building holds no secrets for it's prior owner; This story was one that ended because of greed. The workers' overwhelming urge to continue onward caused them to make some less than reputable decisions, ultimately causing the downfall of the BioTech Inc.
*~School for Girls~*
The school was founded in 1890 in a small town in New York by May F. Bennett. In 1907 it moved to its current location and had an enrollment of 120 students and a faculty of 29. Originally called a school for girls, the course of study was 4 years of high school and 2 years of higher study. In the early 20th century the school became a junior college only. Many generations of young women from prominent American families attended the school within its 90 year history. With the growing popularity of coeducation in the 1970's, Bennett fell from favor and at the time of its closing in 1978, enrollment was around 300 students. The main building of this college, Halcyon Hall, was originally built as a luxury hotel in 1893. The mostly wooden structure was scheduled to be demolished in 2012, but now stands with a distorted grace, damaged by the elements and issues with the pipe system internally, causing significant water damage.
These walls speak volumes of its years. The architecture though weathered is still stunning. The themes of the rooms and color schemes protray a calm, peaceful environment. The victorian staircase explains without words the fiscal status of those whom had attended this school. Even the windows, which once gave a beautiful view of a luscious green landscape still tell stories of beauty. Sadly, this building is in an awful state structurally. The floors are all giving way, under the weight of the mostly collapsed ceiling. It is quite literally falling in on itself. I do not feel many more will ever get to hear the stories it can tell, or see the beautiful history behind it. This is one of the stories that will stay with me forever.
*~The House of Nathaniel White~*
These walls spoke of his personality. The rooms were all quite small and confining, as well as the location being barren. Though it is visible from the highway, there is only one other house on the road, at a far enough distance where there could easily be no relationship between neighbors. The attic, by far, was the biggest space in this house, and told a dark tale. It's floor, sinking into the second floor, did not grant me safe access, but that did not stop me from seeing that this was most likely the area the bodies were hidden. There was a very dark feeling in the air as I ascended the crooked stairs, which left a noticeable degree as I descended back to the second floor. The second floor held several rooms maybe big enough for children. The closets were abnormally small, and one room may have held only a bed. The first floor was also dipping down into the ground, and half of it had already been demolished by the elements, but it was regardless a disturbing sight. These walls told me indeed a tale of darkness.
I've done some research on Nathaniel White after finding this house. Born July 28, 1960, he is an African American serial killer centralized in Goshen, NY. Active in the early 1990's, White beat and stabbed 6 women to death while on parole, sexually abusing some of them. White claims the inspiration for his first murder derived from Robocop2, explaining, "The first girl I killed was from a 'Robocop' movie... I seen him cut somebody's throat then take the knife and slit down the chest to the stomach and left the body in a certain position. With the first person I killed I did exactly what I saw in the movie.". Juliana Frank was the first victim on March 25, 1991; She was pregnant with her third child. Her naked body was left on a set of abandoned railroad tracks in Middletown. Next was Christine Klebb, just 14 years old. The niece of White's girlfriend, Jill Garrison, she was reported missing July 1, 1992. Her body was found off of Echo Lake Road on August 4th. Laurette Huggins Reviere was killed July 10th at 34 years old. A close friend of Garrison, she was murdered in the midst of packing to visit her family. A few weeks before her murder, her children stayed over at White's home. Cousins Angelina Hopkins and Brenda Whiteside met White at the Blue Note Tavern in a nearby town on July 20th, 1992. This is the sight they were last seen alive, and also the sight where White was later recognized and arrested. They were found in the house left barren on August 4th. The cause of death was severe blunt force trauma to the head and face in both cases. Lastly, Adriane Hunter, 27, was stabbed to death on the morning of July 30, 1992. Her body was discovered later that day in the charred remains of the burnt-down Hillcrest Manor Restaurant. His 150 year to life sentence began May 27, 1993 at the Great Meadow Correctional Facility. His crimes were deemed so heinous that his case was cited in governor Pataki's push to reinstate the death penalty in New York State. When questioned, he said he was listening to a voice that told him to kill them.
In addition, an article from that time can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/1992/08/06/nyregion/6-victims-and-a-suspect-the-mysteries-endure.html
*~The Springs Hotel~*
The Springs was located on a natural mineral spring in New York; The water was thought to be incredibly beneficial to one's health. The hotel opened in 1927, but got off to a rough start due to the Great Depression. After WW2, the town was again bustling and the hotel flourished, in it's prime. A NYS mayor bussed tables at the hotel during this time, long before his well-known career. Unfortunately, slow decline took its toll, and the town eventually became something of a ghost town. The then-barren land caused the hotel to finally close it's doors in 2004. Plans were made to renovate the high-fashion hotel in 2012, and the property was purchased, but today the building still stands alone and vacant, a beautiful reflection of the past. From inside, it's walls tell stories both casual and intimate. They tell stories of lovers' past, and business trips otherwise drab-turned-pleasant. The lower quarters reveals a place of relaxation and enjoyment, with a stage that seemed well-used during it's time, and an equally used bathhouse. Pamphlets scattered across the floor reveal pricing and attractions, showing off it's beauty and elegance, while still capable of luring in the middle-class. Cards strewn across tables, and chess pieces gone awry tell tales of many men and women casually passing time at the resort, and perhaps meeting for the first time. Everything from the paint and wood, to the chandeliers hanging from the main entrance, still to this day give off a sense of beauty, and tell countless tales of days long since passed.
*~Limestone Caverns~*
This place particularly called out to me as I explored it. Through the stains along the walls, you could see signs of past flooding (possibly from the previous years' hurricanes). The fully-living calcite tells me that few have ventured into this cave before me, and not to touch it (as if it wasn't clear enough). Though at points I was over a hundred feet underground, in total darkness, there was still flowing water; Yet there were no fish. There was no sustenance this far into the Earth for anything to survive, and as I crept through the twists and turns closer to the surface, it dawned on me that I was deep inside a quite live, growing, and indeed surviving environment like no other. The bacteria and calcite formations were the only other living thing than myself. These walls truly told a story of life and evolution in the most unique way possible.
*~Camp Eureka~*
Built by a Ralph Wurts-Dundas in the very early 1900's, a nearby castle had been passed down several generations before the entrance of Camp Eureka. By the 1950's, the castle was retrofit as a fishing and hunting resort. In 1964, the property was expanded and Camp Eureka was finally established as a summer camp for inner-city youth. In 2005, an agreement was made to protect Camp Eureka and the castle property. Today, Camp Eureka has a new location, and the original, as well as the castle and property, all are being well kept and preserved by dedicated caretakers whom live on site. The campsite itself tells tales of happier times for children, may it have been out by the playground or by the campfire circle. Celebratory banners hang clumsily from the main building, tattered over time. This place reveals to all who view it a sense of happiness, and a place where children could once be carefree and at peace. Of all of the places I've been, this one still has given me the most heartwarming tales.
*~Otisville Bioprocessing~*
In July of 1906, NYC opened a tuberculosis sanatorium and kept horses on site for their blood, which was used for vaccinations. Though the sanatorium is gone, the building continued to hold retired NYPD horses until more recently, in the late 80's. The Antitoxin lab was associated with the sanatorium, but was a separate entity. They developed vaccines for Diphtheria and Tetanus, as well as antitoxins, for the soldiers during World War 1. In 1983, the land was sold, but it was in agreement that the buyer, BioTech Inc., would continue to care for the horses in return for drawing their blood for research. The company planned to create a synthetic blood substitute, but were unsuccessful in doing so. In addition to increasing debt, they began neglecting the horses, eventually resulting in lawsuit. The company finally folded, with a near-2 million dollar debt, according to documents hidden at the site. The location itself reveals the chemicals used, the tools used to implement nothing but pain on the animals, and even countless large syringes used to take their blood. It shows tests done to not only horses, but mice and fowl as well. This building holds no secrets for it's prior owner; This story was one that ended because of greed. The workers' overwhelming urge to continue onward caused them to make some less than reputable decisions, ultimately causing the downfall of the BioTech Inc.
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