That is one seriously evil looking device...

I have to say I have mixed feelings about the demolition of some of these sites.

On the one hand, it will be a shame to lose them. On the other hand, however - many of them have outlived their usefulness.

I think the true sin in this isn't the demolition of abandoned and decayed buildings - but the abandonment to begin with. Allowing such treasures to rot away until there isn't much left that can be done aside from tearing them down is the true "crime."

Mr. Motts - once again, you have outdone yourself. Well done, and thank you - not only for the pleasure I get from looking at these incredible shots, but also for preserving these bits of history.

Wow - it would be cool to use that windowframe as a frame for a mirror or photo.

All of you people get out of my room!!!!

(Actually, I want the padded one...)

I donno why, but the first thing that cam into my mind was the words of "Suite Madame Blue" from Styx:

Time after time
I sit and I wait for your call
I know I'm a fool
But what can I say
Whatever the price I'll pay
For you Madame Blue

Once long ago
A word from your lips and the world turned around
But somehow you've changed
You're so far away
I long for the past and dream of the day
With you Madame Blue

Sweet Madame Blue
Gaze in your looking glass
You're not a child anymore
Sweet Madame Blue
The future is all but past
Dressed in your jewels
You made your own rules
You conquered the world and more
... Heaven's door

Now THAT is creepy....

I think the saddest thing about the passing of these places is that we don't build anything that has a soul anymore. Everything now is hideously sterile and square - the old craftsmanship is gone, and now even the memorial to the great craftsmen are gone as well.

I would imagine it was of Catholic affiliation -= being a Catholic school and all... :D

Yeah - after growing up in 914, it was really weird to dial an 845 when calling Mom. We had the same phone number from the 70's until Mom and Dad sold the house and moved to Tennessee...

It's definately steam....

The insulation on the piping and such isn't so much to keep the steam from being cooled as it is to prevent the surrounding area from getting too hot - and to prevent severe burns in case of accidental contact...

Chris,

Steam can actually go well above 212 degrees - and normally does in power plants. J is probably right...

At the risk of sounding redundant - yet again another awesome collection. When I see things like this, that are so long forgotten, I am grateful to people like you who document them so they won't be forgotten.

Many of these places were people's dreams, creations, nightmares, workplaces, etc. etc. etc.

Motts, I wonder something. When I used to "explore" old buildings, there was this feeling almost like I could feel the remaining presence of the people who once worked (or lived, or whatever as appropriate) in those places, and sometimes, I would almost see them still in operation. Do you feel the same things?

Yeah - that's the manufacturer's name, cast into the casing of the pump...

My guess would be a plastic trash bag....

Well done, RedDragon!

One small thing of note tho - in actuality the steam would be vented around the tubes - the tubes would carry the cooling water.

Is it a boiler or a condenser below?

In a lot of typical power plant designs, there's a condenser under the turbine - steam is exhausted to the condenser, and the water is returned back to the boiler to be made to steam again....

720 is actually not all that hot for steam plants. When I was running marine plants, we commonly used superheated steam at 1200+ degrees...

Actually, Serrena, it looks to me like something that either fell or was put there. I've seen "hats" over gageboards before - but usually they kinda match and have lights in them.

But I'm just guessing :)

I have to say that I am constantly amazed by the design of some of these older industrial buildings. In a modern era where buildings are chrome, steel, concrete, and soulless - to see something as mundane as a power plant, with this much beautiful design is awesome. It's like a church of technology (albeit old, old technology).

Incredibly beautiful. I imagine that nicely set off the office when it was in it's prime. I can picture those hardwood floors all shined up... The trim awould the kickboards and doors was probably unpainted and stained....wow...

Wow...just...wow....

eerie, but beautiful at the same time...

...in a really eerie way...

I gotta agree with some other sentiments - I would have had a darn tough time leaving that thing there...

Hmmm - so that's where I left them....