While Ganesha and I were at the old Northern State Hospital farm areas a few weeks ago, we also swung by the collapsing cannery buildings there. These structures are in what is now a public park, and although there are a few signs warning people to stay out of the buildings, there didn't seem to be any evidence that this rule is enforced. Although they are well known and easy to access, I still thought they were pretty neat.
We found that the cannery has been mostly surrounded by thorny berry bushes and apple trees that have gone untended for a long time. A few of the buildings are all but inaccessible from the front, but by moving through the inside of one of them we were then able to access the rest from the rear. The roofs were gone save for their supports, which were covered with mossy tree branches pressing in from all sides.
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As we moved through the structures, we discovered that they were full of small apples, first red and then yellow. The cloying scent of their decay filled the air. Ganesha mentioned that we might call this post "The Cider House," but said that it might also lead to confusion as to the purpose of the cannery. There was a small collection of overturned carts, rusting agricultural equipment, and of all things, a toilet that appeared to have dumped inside (we didn't see any water hookups for it).
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In the last room of the final building, we came to a dead end. Turning around to retrace our steps, we were surprised to find a small mural we hadn't previously noticed, just inside the entrance to the room. It appeared to be a squid, or perhaps a Cthulu-like creature, guiding our way.
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We discussed possibly returning in the spring, both to get more shots of the cannery and the dairy farm, as well as to look for a few other old agricultural buildings that are rumored to be in the area. I'd encourage local explorers who haven't seen these farm areas to check them out, despite the fact that they are easily and publicly accessible. There is plenty to see, especially for folks who like to photograph decaying wooden buildings.