steveb leatherworks: the blather

This was a big hospital for the mentally ill. It was open for about 63 years . It is not far from the secret location and over the years I have seen all sorts of things take place there. Movies have been shot, buildings have been knocked down and some buildings have been rehabbed and others are in the process of being rehabbed.

As those who know me will attest, back in the day I was an avid urban explorer and recorded my exploits in photographs, although I didn’t know thats what i was doing (urban exploration). I just liked weird, lonely and desolate places. I visited the Love Canal’s, the Bethlehem Steel’s, The Dunlop Rubber and Goodyear Plants, the grain elevators that pepper upstate NY, abandoned hotels houses and movie theaters, I dig ’em all.

So, i had a bug – i wanted to see this place – front the inside – only that isn’t allowed. I asked, they said no.. ok.  So with some improved digital mapping tools to get a sense of the site and the layout of the campus and information from another local photographer about access – I went a visitin’ Fairfield Hills. This type of exploration is not for the faint of heart

As it happens this was one jamming place back in the day with 4,000 patients. Lots of action here. Lots of horror here. I have been in so many weird places over the years that I feel kind of immune to the bugginess of these environments for the most part – but just recently a few places have gotten my attention and under my skin a bit. Pleasure Island was once such place, as is this former mental institution.   This house of horrors finally shut its doors in 1996, the last building was locked…but i can tell ya’ll the ghosts have not gone away. For real, there are some mighty strong vibes in this place. I would NOT want to spend a night here… no sireee.

Exploration of the institution is totally prohibited and visiting its many buildings requires great knowledge, stealth, cunning and “balls”. The “in’s” are not easily spotted and the “out’s” are even more sketchy. Many of the buildings have been lightly vandalized, and for the most part the buildings are devoid of contents like furniture.  If it wasn’t for some help from a fine Photographer who has captured this site on his own in the past, I’d have been a wasting time in a  big way and might not have ever cracked the nut. Thanks Rob.

To see more of this adventure, click here.