I wish the fdny would do something about the losing of their nautical history, they have a museum and restoration volunteers for the land based engines found and recovered.

I am suprised that the FDNY historical society does nothing to recover and restore the Hewitt

Back in '96, friends and I stumbled onto the property. We had no idea of its existence. We walked all around it, realizing it clearly was an institution of some kind, but not until we happened past the entry sign, did we realize it was a mental hospital.
What scared me the most were the slightly newer parts which had glass block windows high up. The kind that let light in, but you can't see through. Above the windows were ventilation hoods. I couldn't help but think that these were the operating rooms where lobotomies and worse were performed.

I had no desire, well sane desire, to enter the building. But i was fascinated with the size and scope of the place, along with the magnificent architectural styles. It really impressed me like no other place, especially after we simply stumbled upon it, while walking around the pond at Smith College, and taking a trail up the hill.

It's really sad that they are removing it. I didn't know that was occuring, though, I assumed it would happen eventually. Prime location. Plus, from what I read here, they've had to patrol it constantly.
FWIW, back when we were there, we walked around it for hours, not a soul ;) was in sight. No security, no police, no one. Broad daylight. So, apparently, the visitors to the place expanded exponentially and created the security issue. Too bad.

ohhhhh, scarey

now this is really scary, id crap myself if i went anywhere near this door.

franko b lives here.

its a......................TOILET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

for some reason, i find this image really, really frightening. I suppose it brings home the fact that these buildings were once busy, active places with people in really bad states of mind, probably not being cared for the way they should of been. Its a sad piccie.

i thought these were toilets!!!

wow! this shot is amazing! pretty surreal too.

grim grim grim my dears!!!

all those tiles, god dammit!!! i love those suckers but they sure do freak me right out!!!!!!!

somehow the expectation of whats behind those doors is probably worse in my head than in reality....

this looks a bit like a joseph beuys exhibition i went to in berlin.

its a killer rubber worm!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hate to tell you this kiddies, its still there.......

this is just soooo horrible, to think people had to be incarcerated here....

uuurgh...what the hell is that in that darkness? old toilets???? Arrrghhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fancy a perm anyone?

god.............how really horrible, i think i want a beer.

come and geddit prisoners!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christ, it looks just like belsen.

funnily enough, this puts me in mind of my bathroom.

nevermind the bucket, look at that bath type thingie!!!!!!!!! that is petrifying! (yes, i realise i have somekind of bath/loo/old tile phobia)!

now i really am scared. :(