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a month or so ago i got a call from a friend asking me if i was interested in shooting inside what he called a "sunday school" here in fort worth. when he told me where it was i immediately knew which building he was talking about and i couldnt say yes fast enough.
the building is a 3 story, red brick building located in the near southside of fort worth, just off magnolia avenue. it began as the college avenue baptist sunday school recreation building. the top floor was a gymnasium and the bottom floor contained the first indoor pool in the city. in the 1950s the church sold the building and the southwest ballet center was created. many of the top ballet dancers of the southwest and the entire country were trained there. the school was in operation until the late 1990s when it went belly up and the doors have been locked since then. the caretaker opened the front doors for us and said "have fun!" to his knowledge we were the first group to photograph the interior of the school and it was a pleasure doing so.
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when the ballet school took over they covered up the indoor pool with wood floors for the dancers to train on. about 10 years ago the floor just gave in and fell into what was the swimming pool. the rest of the floor was surprisingly stable. there is about 5 feet of the most putrid, blackened, disgusting water i have ever seen just out of view.
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pro-abortion, anti-christ |
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Wow, too awesome! Would love to be able to go in there. Loving pic 2, great photos, thanks for sharing! Would like to see more.
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nice set, I'm really digging the old lamps in #5
instagram
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Great photos! I really, really want one of those blue chairs.
If I lived near here and had easy access, I would be tempted to set up a reading corner near those windows
[last edit 5/10/2013 2:44 PM by undercontrol - edited 1 times]
Wilderness: where man himself is a visitor who does not remain. |
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My father was pastor of that church, long after they stopped using (and sold) that building.
The swimming pool was floored over because one of the previous pastors was afraid that after he died that someone would allow boys and girls to swim together...and that was wrong for some reason. College ave was a huge church in it's day, then a series of terrible decisions (like this one) drove down the membership. The original church building was this big awesome looking place that they tore down to put in the little "modern" one.
Anyway, Thanks for posting this.
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Nice set! Thanks for sharing.
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Aw man, good hookup! Excellent shots.
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...every time this thread shows up, I am more and more eager to make the 4 hour drive!
Flickr: https://www.flickr...9156858@N05/albums |
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nice pics! i like the viewpoints 
show me your peeling paint and I will love you forever |
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Great photos, what kind of camera did you use?
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these were all shot with either a pentax K20 or K10. thanks for the kind words!
pro-abortion, anti-christ |
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Amazing find and awesome photos. I love how the shoes are still hung up and everything looks untouched and settled into the space. What all has this space been repurposed for?
[last edit 8/5/2013 6:52 AM by crownand - edited 1 times]
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it hasnt been - its been sitting just like that since the early 90s. they have been trying to sell the place for ages - but there is extensive flooding in the basement level and the asking price is pretty high. its in a prime area and would serve as a perfect bar/music venue but due to the 6 feet of standing water that has been there for years most investors have stayed away...
pro-abortion, anti-christ |
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Epic!
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Stellar fuckin' job, Guy! Holy shit, that was a sweet set!
"Are you happy now with all the choices you've made?" "Are there times in life when you know you should've stayed?"
"Will you compromise and then realize the price is too much to pay?" "Winners and losers... which one will you be today?"
***Social Distortion*** |
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Posted by W8712
Great photos, what kind of camera did you use?
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She said what I wanted to ask ha-ha.
Such perfection on your photos! Great exploration you did there as well.
May I ask what software you used for the editing of the pictures?
"It's just a dance, not romance." |
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Posted by Radical_Ed
Stellar fuckin' job, Guy! Holy shit, that was a sweet set!
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thanks ed! as soon as i can get my shit together i'll be coming back up to drink a sixer with you again...
pro-abortion, anti-christ |
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Posted by A_Through_Z_Explorations
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She said what I wanted to ask ha-ha.
Such perfection on your photos! Great exploration you did there as well.
May I ask what software you used for the editing of the pictures?
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i use lightroom and CS6 - thanks for the compliments man!
pro-abortion, anti-christ |
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I will look into that software...
Thanks, man.
"It's just a dance, not romance." |
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#2's composition is fantastic!
Adventure is out there. |
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