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UER Forum > UE Photography > The Old Riverside Hospital (Viewed 4829 times)
UrbexUS 


Location: Cleveland
Gender: Male
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The Old Riverside Hospital
< on 1/5/2015 8:36 PM >
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Stationed only a block or so from the local police department in downtown Toledo remains a forgotten and fragmented structure formerly known as The Riverside Hospital. The hospital was opened in 1883 as a home for unwed mothers in the Northern Toledo area, welcoming them in under the supervision of the Sisters of Mercy. The hospital had operated under their supervision until 1983, when it had changed hands, becoming part of Mercy Health Partners.

DSC02788 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

At the time of its full closure in 2002, nearly 270 beds remained only to now collect dust as time faded life away further and further. Local urban legends suggest that ghosts of former doctors and patients now roam the tunnels beneath this structure, but nothing is for certain. The hospital is now owned and monitored by the Toledo Public Schools; information bestowed upon us quite unwillingly and uncomfortably.

December 29, 2014 – the day we would personally meet the entire Toledo Police force. Our day started just like many others, with a journey towards Detroit, Michigan, where we were headed to photograph the Packard Plant; a place that surprisingly none of us have ever photographed, seeing as everyone and their uncle has. It was soon realized that a quick detour would take us to a lesser-explored hospital, so with a quick shift of our GPS, we were en route to the old Riverside Hospital.

10896333_871502362870065_4009469941722094797_o by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02876 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

Upon surveying the area, traipsing hospital grounds back and forth, we had finally secured an entrance. It was decided that one of us would make our way into a second story window near the decaying smoke stack, and like a wild monkey who had just downed 8 pots of coffee, he was up and in. It was soon discovered that the building held one very important piece the rest of us needed…a ladder. Legs clanged against a metallic top, as the ladder was lowered from an adjacent second story window onto what seemed to be an old power generator. Thus, we began our sketchy and rattling climb toward our window entrance.

DSC02871 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

Stepping into this hospital was like being submerged in a world that humans had vacated in such a blind hurry that all was left behind. Blood sits in vials as the glass collects dust, patient files were left rotting in the stale, stagnant air and like a bomb had gone off, windows are blasted out remaining in shattered piles scattered across the grungy lab floors. Lower floors were littered with surgical and examination rooms where water has begun to make its way in, leaving the air sour with an odor of water damage. It truly makes you wonder, when you see something as strange as a surgical table where they seemingly left mid-surgery never to return. Surgical implements remain placed atop a rolling tray cart beside the operating table. Needles and blood soaked first-aid materials sit alone while year after year passes by. Standing at the counter, my feet became partially submerged in a small level of water that had made its way in from busted pipes. The room was pitch-black dark, quiet and cold; these are moments that I love. There is something so intriguing about feeling like the world outside has absolutely no clue where you are, while at the same time feeling that all life has vanished. I know all is alive and well just outside these walls, but we are seemingly alone in this world. This was almost the case today.

One wrong turn up one wrong stairwell, a motion alarm was tripped and we were headed for the exit with no more chance of success than you have at seeing a sober parent at Chuck E. Cheese’s. As I mentioned earlier, the police station sat only a short block away, and it was at this moment as we ran through the trashed, destroyed halls that we knew we had to either give up, or find an alternate point of exit. The alternate point of exit seemed like a very slight possibility for only a moment, until 5 or 6 cars were lined up with the only possible exits being blocked. As we sat quietly tucked away inside of a room, we exchanged escape plans, contemplating what would be the best route. One member of the group had become separated from the 4 of us, and while wondering where he may have wandered off to, the rest of us journeyed to the lower floors in very small hope of making any positive progress. We began to hear a group of officers talking in the distance from the first floor, which sent us scurrying straight back upwards, trapping us once again in the cramped corner room of a hallway where it had all begun.

DSC02777 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02851-4 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02853 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

Slowly peering from the edge of a nearby window, a member of our group had heard officers entering a passcode in, gaining entrance to the building. As we stood silently toward back of this corner room debating our next move, a loud thud filled the silence, shaking a floor of the structure. We figured there was absolutely no way it could have been our friend, considering he would for sure be remaining quiet, though we were not quite sure where else it could have come from. Moments later, the footsteps of approaching officers became audible and it was at this second we knew it was just about time that we should give ourselves up. So stuck between nothing but a short hallway and stairwell leading to nothing but our inevitable failure at an escape, we rounded the corner with hands up, cameras around our necks and multiple guns pointed at our faces by 5 different officers.

“Hands up, remove your backpacks and hands against the wall. Now!” Difficult to tell which officer was talking to whom at this point, as everything had instantly fluttered into a chaotic mess. We were all quickly put against the mold-coated walls with hands up and searched for weapons.

DSC02847 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02805-2 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

After this wonderfully casual introduction, we all began talking about the building, learning that the Toledo Public Schools were the current owners and had actually boarded the entire place the day before; but they left the second story open. According to an officer, we were lucky to show ourselves when we did, considering the dogs were en route to the building from nearly 2 minutes away. Upon finding our friend who had wandered by himself, an officer who had found him before the rust of us had been discovered, tackled him to the floor causing the aforementioned thud.

DSC02834 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02818 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02832-3 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

In the end, we had a good chat and even a couple of laughs between the officers and our group, including one great exploring tip – “next time, pull up the ladder.” The next day, we would visit and attend court for our charges, along with the famous tip once again by both judge and court-appointed defense lawyer – “make sure you pull up the ladder next time.” Within hours of the hospital adventure, we enjoyed a sunset from Detroit’s Packard Plant; a great end to the evening.

In conclusion, they WILL catch you if you attempt to explore this building, and number two…court is NEVER fun. Oh, and make sure you pull up the ladder.

Thank you to Jacob Bacon for the photo of Ryan climbing into the window.

DSC02839 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

DSC02879 by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr

10893336_4926762985024_1852676844_n by ArchitecturalAfterlife, on Flickr






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Radical_Ed 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 1 on 1/5/2015 10:07 PM >
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Dag, how much is THIS gonna cost?




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relik 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 2 on 1/5/2015 11:02 PM >
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Damn. Great story. Sucks you guys had to do the whole court thing, but at least you managed to get some fantastic photos!




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IceBurgess 


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"Not all those who wander are lost". Goin' where you wouldn't... on a life of adventure

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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 3 on 1/5/2015 11:40 PM >
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Awesome story, and amazing photos. Hope they didn't charge you too much...




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MisUnderstood! 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 4 on 1/6/2015 1:16 AM >
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Enjoyed your narration of the whole situation and cracked up over the wild monkey. To be able to scale walls like that... Loved the photos. I recognize the Cefuroxime/ Ceftin, which is an antibiotic, but don't understand the blood backing up like that during administration unless the person was already bleeding profusely or someone didn't know what they were doing. Which is extremely likely So Sorry you guys got caught. Hope they don't go to hard on you.




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JasonJacksonPhoto 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 5 on 1/6/2015 5:35 PM >
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Awesome photos and awesome write up to go with them! Sorry to hear you got busted! Hopefully you can get it dismissed with some community service




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TunnelRunner33 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 6 on 1/6/2015 6:46 PM >
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Thanks for sharing your adventure, sorry to hear about your luck.

I guess next time, pull up the ladder! Heheheh JK




If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire... Tunnelrunner33!
Raymond 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 7 on 1/6/2015 9:51 PM >
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Great photos and spectacular narrative of events.
Hope it doesn't hurt too much.




PowSkierNH 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 8 on 1/9/2015 5:12 PM >
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Great story and photos, thanks for sharing. Nice that the cops were relatively cool about it.




PSYS 


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i like to photograph stuff.

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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 9 on 1/9/2015 6:26 PM >
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Phenomenal photos and narrative!




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macgruder 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 10 on 1/9/2015 10:32 PM >
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Too bad you got caught. Cool pics and place.




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Greg 


Location: Canada
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How is this even 'exploration'? It's a loving house you've already been in you weirdo!

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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 11 on 1/28/2015 7:36 AM >
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Oh Man! This place is so totally worth the trip to court! Luckily where I live trespassing such as this is just a fine no different then getting a fine for walking with your dog in the wrong spot or open liquor.



[last edit 1/28/2015 7:36 AM by Greg - edited 1 times]

puddlejumper12 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 12 on 1/28/2015 11:47 AM >
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This is great! Sucks about getting caught. I can't imagine how you were feeling as things played out. I'd be freaked. The narrative was really something though, nice writing.




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Lost Photographer 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 13 on 1/28/2015 2:57 PM >
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Great story and narration to go with the awesome pics! Hopefully that ticket doesn't cost you too much, but I'd say it was worth the trip to see that place in such pristine, untouched condition. And well I guess that thought will always be in my head now... Pull the ladder.




"Live out your imagination, not your history." ~ Stephen Covey
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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 14 on 1/28/2015 5:51 PM >
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Thanks for the tour, really enjoyed it.




Freaktography 


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Freaktography

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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 15 on 1/28/2015 5:58 PM >
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Awesome write up and great pics!




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CatAndTie 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 16 on 1/29/2015 5:54 PM >
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Damn, dude. That room with the group shot is epic! And I love the part about your friend literally being tackled by a cop and you actually hearing the thud from it. lol

I am also curious to know what the resulting fine was?




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JasonJacksonPhoto 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 17 on 1/30/2015 5:25 AM >
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This may sound like a stupid question.... but what's the point in putting a motion detectors in a building like this? Could the motion detector be set off by an animal or bird gaining access to the building?

UrbexUS - What happened with the court proceedings?




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mookster 


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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 18 on 1/30/2015 8:47 AM >
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Posted by JasonJacksonPhoto
This may sound like a stupid question.... but what's the point in putting a motion detectors in a building like this? Could the motion detector be set off by an animal or bird gaining access to the building?


For added security, and as a deterrent to people going inside. Granted it's not foolproof and there is a chance of false alarms but in general it stops the place being so heavily hit by idiots and vandals and thieves if a big loud shouty alarm (or sneaky silent one) goes off while they are inside which guarantees someone will come and reset it and investigate why it went off.




Dark_Aaron 


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901 urbex it

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Re: The Old Riverside Hospital
< Reply # 19 on 1/30/2015 9:14 AM >
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Awesome pictures!

I'm always worried about accidentally tripping motion detectors the first time I explore a location. Hasn't happened yet, but have had some scares. Especially when the location is next to a business with an alarm on the gate that sounds when it's opening and closing.




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