This morning, I ended up waking up to a great story published by The News-Herald, written by Devon Turchan, on the restoration of The Steele Mansion along with my photography inside its walls over the years! I want to thank Carol and Arthur for making this project what it is, and putting so much amazing effort into saving this historic mansion, built in 1863. Most of the original pieces, all of the fireplaces, wood work, etc. have carefully been saved and I can't wait to see this amazing structure come to life once again!

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10293730_762503737122867_6204433329874779329_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

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where is the fire by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

I remember seeing this structure without a ceiling, without floors in places and mold growing up through the walls while moss and nature started taking over areas. I remember having to cautiously walk across the second story and climbing to where there used to be a floor, where the stairs had then ended at a tall drop off to the ground.

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10387160_762503213789586_100556351414057501_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

My friends and I had spent many nights wandering the halls of this mansion, and it has now turned into easily one of the best restorations I have seen. I can't wait to frame and hang the skeleton key on the wall Carol and Arthur are so generously granting me to display my photography. This house will forever have so much connection to my work, including pulling me in even further to the subject of urban exploration (before I even really knew it was a "thing".)

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10339525_762503637122877_8344104438167922115_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

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10272651_762503197122921_641967517615522463_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

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10258175_762503640456210_1492432458698752351_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

Without this mansion, I'm not sure my interest in urban exploring would have went full force into my chosen subject of photojournalism. As much as I miss the eerie, quiet and beautiful decay of this place, I love seeing it restored as it should be. Thank you to EVERYONE who is making this project happen.

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10259168_762503180456256_8804038521828088682_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

Great pictures!

Really cool. Glad to see a decaying building get a second chance to shine again.

Oh fantastic! Great documentation of the place, and glad to see the old girl getting a facelift.

Keep us updated!

Sweet! I remember seeing this place, good to see this happen it's quite rare to bounce back from so much decay.

Great that it's being saved, but comparing sterile #6 to haunting #5, I can't help but also think of what's being lost...

Posted by Tenebrae Great that it's being saved, but comparing sterile #6 to haunting #5, I can't help but also think of what's being lost...

They saved all of the original wood!

Congrats on the positive media coverage. I've actually been to the school mentioned in the article.

Glad to see there is hope for a change. Too bad they didn't keep all the original architecture (or maybe they are, too early to tell).