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UER Forum > UE Photography > The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum (Viewed 4351 times)
mookster 


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The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< on 6/9/2016 6:08 PM >
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I'm sure plenty of you will recognise this place, just as I'm sure plenty of you have spent many a happy day exploring it. EsseXploreR describes it as the 'best explore New Jersey ever had', and to begin with I was doubtful that in a state seemingly full to bursting with abandoned hospitals and asylums it was possible to pick a best one.

On entering though, I completely understood. I said at the time that it was like taking the three asylums often said to be the best by the UK exploring community (and now all sadly missed) - West Park, Hellingly and Cane Hill - and rolling them all into one massive facility.

I couldn't have picked a better bunch to explore here with either - EsseXploreR, his girlfriend and his friend (who is also on here and I can't for the life of me remember the username he goes by) must have explored the place near on a thousand times between them since it closed in 2007 so they knew the place like the back of their hands.

This is by far the best asylum I have ever explored, so it breaks my heart even more to think that by the time I got there, about 1/4 of the place had already been demolished. Some of the parts I photographed are probably now gone as well, such was the pace they were going through it. We spent a good few hours wandering around, I took loads of photos and I think I saw all the best bits of the place.

When the final building falls it will truly be the end of an era for my friends in New Jersey.

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The old dining hall below - this was right on the edge of where the demolition crews had got up to. Probably gone now.

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Thanks for looking



[last edit 6/9/2016 6:09 PM by mookster - edited 1 times]

Freaktography 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 1 on 6/9/2016 6:11 PM >
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fucking shit this is so fucking good!!!




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leafloving4x4gal 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 2 on 6/9/2016 7:14 PM >
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A++

I am speechless....great photos !!!




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EsseXploreR 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 3 on 6/9/2016 7:18 PM >
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I'm sure that plenty of people will disagree about it being the best. But it will forever be my favorite spot. By the time many got to see it, a large majority of the buildings were gone. The whole western side of campus, with the TB pavilion, library, laundry, and other buildings, the Fairview ave buildings, etc... What was left after all of this was still enough to draw the interests of thousands of visitors. With this came more vandalism, more scrapping, and inevitably more police presence. But there isn't a single second of my time spent here that I would say I regret.

It has been rough to watch so much get demolished so callously around here. The Essex Jail Annex, Greystone, Marlboro, I could go on for days. But nothing stings quite as much as seeing the place I've called a second home for half of my life get bashed down and ground up for fill. By now, any sort of reuse would seem impossible. This, thanks to the county stripping the dormers and flashing off the buildings in 2008. But it certainly signals the end of an era. One that will never experience again.

Great set Mooks, truly fantastic work. So glad we were able to get you in here before too much was gone.

Essex County Overbrook Hospital by EsseXploreR, on Flickr




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BreezeZ 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 4 on 6/9/2016 7:39 PM >
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What Camera are you using, and great photos btw!




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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 5 on 6/9/2016 7:57 PM >
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Damn, there really was a lot of stuff left there.




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flySparro 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 6 on 6/9/2016 8:45 PM >
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Posted by BreezeZ
What Camera are you using, and great photos btw!


The best camera is the one in your hand ;)

If that doesn't persuade you, I've said "WOW" to photos and then found out that they were shot with the camera that I had before I upgraded to the camera I upgraded from two years ago.

--

Great photos Mookster, I like 11 & 23 a lot. Sounds like the floor would go "crunch" with every step.. ^.^



[last edit 6/9/2016 8:47 PM by flySparro - edited 1 times]

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Ground State 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 7 on 6/9/2016 8:52 PM >
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A breath-taking set; thank you so much for not limiting this gallery to your dozen best shots. Posted many times before or not, your photography gives it a whole new injection of interest.




[last edit 6/9/2016 8:52 PM by Ground State - edited 1 times]

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Radical_Ed 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 8 on 6/9/2016 8:55 PM >
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Fantastic coverage, Mookster!

I remember a near-pristine hospital when I first started going there back in '08. It amazes me what only eight years of having the heat shut off can do to a place. Here's a few snaps from my first couple of visits so you can see the contrast through the years when compared to Mookster's awesome set.

Thanks for the memories, Mooks.

(photos unprocessed and small so as to not derail the genius of Mookster's epic post)

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mookster 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 9 on 6/9/2016 9:06 PM >
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Thanks guys and girls. It was my favourite location of the trip so I felt I should do it justice on here. You are still lucky to be living in a time where there are many asylums left to explore, here in the UK it all came to a crashing end in 2009 when the real clearance of derelict asylums began, and now I can count on one hand the amount we have left.

Radical Ed I cannot believe how clean it looks, that is amazing.

As for my camera, it is a slightly damaged six year old Canon 550D with five year old Sigma 10-20mm lens. That combination has never put a step wrong other than a couple of self-inflicted drops.




DescentOnARope 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 10 on 6/10/2016 4:34 AM >
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What an absolutely amazing location. I'm sad to hear it's gone, but at least it was well-documented photographically by you and others like you. Thanks for the set.




CatAndTie 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 11 on 6/10/2016 1:33 PM >
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Posted by mookster
Thanks guys and girls. It was my favourite location of the trip so I felt I should do it justice on here. You are still lucky to be living in a time where there are many asylums left to explore, here in the UK it all came to a crashing end in 2009 when the real clearance of derelict asylums began, and now I can count on one hand the amount we have left.

Radical Ed I cannot believe how clean it looks, that is amazing.

As for my camera, it is a slightly damaged six year old Canon 550D with five year old Sigma 10-20mm lens. That combination has never put a step wrong other than a couple of self-inflicted drops.


That is currently happening over here right now




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mookster 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 12 on 6/10/2016 6:12 PM >
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Posted by CatAndTie


That is currently happening over here right now


So I hear - count yourselves lucky they lasted as long as they did! There will never be another place quite like an asylum that closed in the 80s/90s, they are totally unique beasts. Just be glad you got to see them at their derelict prime.

The people just starting out their exploring adventures in the UK have no idea the scale and calibre of places that they missed. I just did a tally in my head and there are currently six of the 'old' asylums left with most of their structures still standing. Of those, two are being prepped for demolition, and two may as well be demolished as they are completely ruined dangerous deathtraps. There are of course quite a few that had the vast majority converted/demolished but have the odd building or two left here and there.

There have been a couple of asylums closed in recent times but they are modernised, sterile, boring and hold no interest to me other than maybe a nice auditorium and mortuary.



[last edit 6/10/2016 6:13 PM by mookster - edited 1 times]

Leo Neblung 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 13 on 8/3/2016 6:54 PM >
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This asylum was my first major explore. I went twice with my main exploring friend, and then they put the fence around it and started demolition... Though its not my favorite place I have explored, its likely my favorite explore ever. I remember the first trip so vividly. These are a couple of the first pics I took on the first trip (I used an iPhone back then)

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blackhawk 

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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 14 on 8/3/2016 8:53 PM >
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Mookster great shooting as always

Radical Ed, wow that is unbelievable how rapid and rampant the decline was.
Thank you for posting those images. It fascinates me to look at your images after seeing the predemo ones.




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Radical_Ed 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 15 on 8/3/2016 9:30 PM >
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The pleasure was all mine, Mr. Hawk.


Rest in peace, E.C.H.





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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 16 on 8/4/2016 12:32 AM >
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Bummer that it's gone.

I need to finish editing my pics from here. Those arched hallways were really cool. I wish I returned in the same way I wish I returned to Greystone. But time flies!






































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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 17 on 8/4/2016 1:24 AM >
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The most amazing places the majority of us Southeastern folk will never get to see we see through the lens of your cameras!!! Thank You Guys! Bravo Mooks for Blowing me away with your fine set of photos, and also to RE. for Wowing us with before shots. You ALL make me so darn jealous




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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 18 on 8/4/2016 1:49 AM >
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Posted by MisUnderstood!
The most amazing places the majority of us Southeastern folk will never get to see we see through the lens of your cameras!!! Thank You Guys! Bravo Mooks for Blowing me away with your fine set of photos, and also to RE. for Wowing us with before shots. You ALL make me so darn jealous


Well, I spent several summers of my youth in Texas and Louisiana visiting relatives, but now I'm out of luck! So don't think we New England-ers aren't jealous we can't take a trip down south anytime soon!




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MisUnderstood! 


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Re: The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum
< Reply # 19 on 8/4/2016 2:31 AM >
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Posted by General Zod


Well, I spent several summers of my youth in Texas and Louisiana visiting relatives, but now I'm out of luck! So don't think we New England-ers aren't jealous we can't take a trip down south anytime soon!


Awwww! Thanks Zod. Cool that you have relatives Down here in the Swamplands. There is a Southern Charm 'round these parts that you find no where else. Oh, and i must say that i appreciated your addition of pics as well.




A place of Mystery is Always worth a curiosity trip!
UER Forum > UE Photography > The Last Stand for an Iconic Asylum (Viewed 4351 times)
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