New England Oddities

Exploring the Forgotten

There’s something about a forgotten space that holds a definite appeal for many people, be it the look into the lives of those who have gone before us, the raw emotion evoked by an abandoned locale, or simply just the thrill of the forbidden, of being somewhere one really should not be.

The word “urbex”, which is a shortened form of the phrase urban exploration, is defined by Wikipedia as the “examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities”.  In the face of the myriad dangers native to urban exploration, such as asbestos inhalation, tetanus, falling through floors compromised by flooding and rot, transient encounters, and in some cases a ticket for trespassing, there is a growing segment of photographers and other artists who can’t resist the siren song of abandoned spaces.   They see the beauty in the way the light from a broken window hits a rusting  hinge or a strip of peeling paint and they find art in a solitary chair in an empty room.   They see the symbolism in grass sprouting up through the cracks of a forgotten highway or in the way the forest quickly begins to reclaim the stones of an abandoned foundation.

I have always been one such photographer.

As we consider ourselves to be journalists as well as explorers here at New England Oddities, we have not trespassed or otherwise compromised our principles to get these photos.  We have always obtained permission where necessary.  We bring these photos to you with the recommendation that you not compromise yours, whatever they may be.

An Abandoned Factory – Easthampton, Massachusetts:

 

An Abandoned Train Station – Holyoke, Massachusetts:

 

The Hudson-Chester Quarry – Becket, Massachusetts:

 

Sideling Hill Tunnel on an Abandoned Stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike

Ok, so this isn’t actually in New England, but I’m going to share it anyway!  If  you find yourself in central PA someday, definitely check this out.

 

Post Apolcalyptic Suburbia – Somewhere in Western Massachusetts

(This location is rare, as it is not just one abandoned house, but 13! This is an entire development in varying stages of completion, just left to rot. I’ve not had any luck discovering the exact reason why, and no, I’m not going to tell you exactly where it is. But I’m sure you can find further information elsewhere on the internet.)