A project I worked on a while back involved this lovely old school which needed a condition assessment. The building actually dates back to the 1850s but the school has existed since the 1890s. It used to be a prestigious school with many famous alumni. It's been abandoned for less than a decade, but the school board has purposefully left most of the windows open and the roof/gutters have not been maintained for a long time...classic demolition by neglect.

By the time I was there, most of the place was empty save for the library which was a disaster: student's papers, homework, report cards all over the floor. I got to go into the attic which still shows vestiges of the original 1850s exterior cornice which was sealed up by an addition in the 1920s. Took a lot of searching the find the attic door key...turned out it was literally left under a pile of papers on the library floor! Unbelievable.

The place now is currently being renovated and retrofitted.

1.
Vestige des enfants by M R

2.
Tout seul by M R

3.
Pantères oubliés by M R

4.
Not the mama, not the mama! by M R

5.
Asseyez Vous! by M R

6.
Ancient Magnavox by M R

7.
Bleu Charmant by M R

8.
Inachevée by M R

9.
Mettre au coin by M R

10.
Lumière de Dieu by M R

11.
Enfants Prodèges by M R

12.
Rouillé puanteur by M R

13.
Dat Stank by M R

14.
Entrez by M R

15.
Ombre pensive by M R

I wish I had more time to take better shots, since this was a work-related visit I needed to spend more time measuring and taking documentary photos instead of working to get the best shot I could!

Thanks for looking!

Very nice shots! Interesting background info too

Great set of photos! and thanks for the info as well! Did it still have the "School" smell?

Like the black and white touch on the second one.

11. Love the Keith Haring art, any idea who did it?

Posted by Dimitalus Great set of photos! and thanks for the info as well! Did it still have the "School" smell?

The library and another room that still was fully stocked with school supplies and textbooks did. Everything else smelled of rotting wood, there was extensive termite damage in the walls and floors of almost every room!

Posted by UberDan 11. Love the Keith Haring art, any idea who did it?

I loved it too. It was in a small room that looked like it was once a bathroom but converted into a small art room; students decorated many of the tiles with famous works of art, I assume as a class project. Definitely a cool find.

Really like these shots. The Magnavox tv was the exact TV they had in my old Community Center back in the 90's! Always reminded me of the TV from Nightmare On Elm St 3