Center Stage

Awesome New pics! If I'm not mistaqken, I'm THE FIRST THE POST ON A PIC!!! wow. that was one cool feeling. I love your photo's Mr. Motts!

It is strange how the floor tiles came up yet the backdrop on the stage is still in fairly good shape.

Moisture, sunlight, heat/cold can do very unusual things to the glue that holds those tiles down. Ive layed tile for many people, and when its not taken care of properly, the corners start to turn upward and eventually the whole thing will just pop right off :) The warped corners are clearly visible in this picture.

I wonder what the backdrop of the stage is made of?????

By the way, Im new here. My name is Brian. Hello all!

Nice backdrop

I wonder what that backdrop is?? Some bucolic scene? Hi Brian.

the other buildings were pitch black and moldy to the point where it was difficult to breathe inside.... yeah and it most likely wouldn't have been good for the lungs.

Are those seats on the second floor balconies?

It detiorated that fast in just 13 years. Thats amazing

Odds are that this place wasn't in very good condition even before it closed. Heck, one of the local malls here built between 1981-83 has leaks in the roof, one so bad the drywall has peeled off the ceiling around the leak. And this is a high end California mall with a new roof applied late last year! Odds are the roof on this theater was already leaking even before this place closed.

I know what you mean Mathue, my house was built in 1909 and my friends in 1988. His house is a wreck and mine is perfect. Maybe they were just really bad builders in the 80s

I would LOVE that backdrop for my house. Dont want the floor though

It looks like the back drop is of a palm tree or beach scene maybe?

JOE AND MATHUE, I AGREE WITH YOU BOTH. I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND MY HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1989 AND ITS A PEICE OF CRAP. EVERYTHING FALLS APART OR BREAKS OR WHATEVER. AND JUST TO LET YA GUYS KNOW MY FAMILY AND I ARE NOT DISTRUCTIVE PEOPLE, THE HOUSE JUST FALLS APART ON ITS OWN. OH YEAH, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT THE THEATRES ARE MY FAVEORITE PLACES, I LOVE THE PICS OF THE THEATRES!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!

its almost like an arena, who would sit and watch.... and what would you watch....

Why oh why do they let these buildings sit vacant to the point of no return ? What a waste!

Solemn beauty at its best. This has to be one of my favorites. <3

this looks like a prison ! or kinda
thunderdome-ish...and it's true, in general things built after the 1970's
started to really suck bad in terms of durability, craftsmanship, material
quality, etc. the reasons are manifold..
old growth wood statred to become
more scarce, the mafia gained more control than ever over labor and
contracts, developers being shaken
down, official corruption began to
expand drastically, building inspectors
on the take, all these things add up to
inflate building costs, so guys cut corners, in materials, workmanship,
design, safety, ETC. it was [IS] the price
of doing biz at all in the trades....besides,
that slacker attitude was already infecting the culture, alot of work ethics
went out the window in the 80's...

Is that graffiti on the wall in there?

To The Dead:

I just went there recently and theres was a decent amount of sexual eloquence displayed amongst the back of the balcony and alter. Such catchy slogans as "Suck my tit bitch", "I love the cock" and my personal favorite "Worship my asshole" can be found there.

Grr. Part of my comment was cut off, but to The Dead, yes thats grafitti.


To Motts: Did you happen to see the alter?

To Motts: You may not have recognized it as an alter, I just guessed it was an alter. Its graffitied with "Worship my asshole" was written in spraypaint on it.

I just went there yesterday and I'm just curious if you saw the basketball court, bowling alley, locker rooms and such in the sub basement of the building? And if so, if you purposely chose not to photograph them?

heh I was there on Saturday (17th) and ran from the theatre like a coward after i heard a loud crashing sound just seconds after entering. I want to go back but probably not alone next time. how do you get into the subbasement???

yesterday and today me and a group of friends went up there today and went threw that building. that backdrop is still there! but it looks alot worse now then it does in that picture!

To Brian: If you want to know how to get to the sub basement then e-mail me at lxlstarxnoxstarlxl@yahoo.com. I'd tell you via comment but I think Sir Motts prefers us not to talk about getting into locations.

I grew up in Granby and my mother worked for a company affiliated with BSS.I remember playing on that stage during a tour when I was 5 years old in 1976. In the 80's we would go to the school on Haloween and freak ourselves out. Dumb kids

I was just glancing through your wonderful selection here and this one stuck out, if you have ever seen the movie "Shackles" this reminds me of a scene from there.

My mother worked here in the late 70's and said it was a very sad place to be. I recently heard that they are turning the property into a spa/boutique shopping area to be called "Cold Spring Resort" or something like that. I believe the paperwork has been approved and parts of it will be torn down - not if all of it.

my dad had to work there by him self he even said that he herd nowies in the basment and i went in there and it gave me the creeps even when i went to school in berkshiere and tadgell it was so creepy i would origanz my desk then i would go out to resses or to lunch or go some where then it would be messy again some times i would go home sleep go to school and my pappers where towrn off the walls and dooprs in all girls bathrooms would slame shut mirros would be off walls

Hey is this in Massachusetts?

On halloween me and a couple of freinds checked out the state schools...not to vandalize but to explore...we are all very facsinated by what went on in there....

we went in that building and the whole thing looked just like this picture...except in color...the tiles underneith the cealing tiles are so shiny it looks like your gonna fall into alake of water

I went there on Saturday; it's amazing. I can't believe that the state allows people to get into the buildings so easily, and that there is no security, nor is it blocked off. Also, I was really surprised to see the amount of furniture and paperwork left behind. It looks like everyone left in a hurry.

I just finished a bowl of cereal that I ate with a spoon stamped "B.S.S". So there. I took a spoon. Does that make me bad?? Then what about the bowling pin, or the hanger stamped "Belchertown State School"? Pics of them to be posted on photobucket...Meg - I was there last Saturday, from 10-3, the day before the fire. You're right tho - it's weird how open it all is. I for one would prefer they block it off and try to keep us out - that way it might survive a while longer. I hate vandals/arsonists. HATE.

Wait - I took those souvenirs - does that make me a vandal? Do I need to hate myself? I'll give them back if you all think I should, but can I keep the spoon? It's great for cereal...

yall ares tupid everyone knows its all a joke o such thing as ghosts and this place aint haunted ive been inside all the buildings ive even see the alter and the bowling alley

I'm a Belchertoiwn resident who is pretty aware of the situation at the State School. I noticed that some people had suggestions of why the tiles had come up. They were right. There are large holes forming in the roof where rain and snow constantly enters. Weede and saplings are begining to eneter through the floor holes. Paul McDirmit the developer ofthe proposed futre Quabbin Resort and Spa has proposed a renovation of the building. A new roof is schedualed to be installed sometime in late 2006 or 2007. The interior and exterior will be renovated soon after the old Auditorium will become a up scale banquet hall and meeting room

I think that the alter used to be used as a place for Catholic mass on Sunday Mornings. The priest at the church in town used to serve the residents of the school

the doors are creepy onthe side of the stage and everything is messed up but the backdrop is in perfect shape. thats wicked wierd!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good place to have a band pratice.

They let it sit there remaining as it is because there some chemical in the walls i forget what but its cancer causing thats also why they closed it

I volunteered to work with the retarded at the Belchertown State School while I was a college senior in 1981/2. The school even then was in the process of closing down. I think It was down to three filled dorms at the time with the promise of being closed all together soon. We would take our clients on walks or just visit with them, many were profoundly retarded, almost all were lonely. The campus was huge, sad, place filled with forgotten people, many had been dumped there by their family. The management tried to make the best of things though. There was rumored to be a carousel on the property as a joyous space for the clients but that was abandonned as being age-inappropriate. Thanks for your shots, they were very evocative and brought a lot of memories back.

Back in the early 80's we played music there with a local dance band. It was amazing to see how music instantly affected the "clients". Within seconds everyone was dancing and whirling and having the greatest time! I remember one young fellow screaming in my face "PLAY JINGLE BELL ROCK, NOW!" So we did. I think it was July. We did a few gigs at the school before it completely closed down. I'd do it again in a second.

In 1956 I was a college student who took an Abnormal Psychology class at a nearby college. We had a field trip to Belchertown to observe the "feebleminded" which included a visit to the theater where some students entertained us with a musical review. I remember every detail of the trip and experienced a shock of recognition looking at this picture.

I am familiar with most of the asylums in Massachusetts, and can tell you that even speaking their names invoked terror back in the 40's and 50's. My family came from Springfield ,and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Alzheimer's patients were sent to the state hospitals. I had many relatives that ended up in Northampton. My mother was terrified of "being sent to Northampton" and I admit that the pictures of the old asylums strikes fear into my heart.

Your pictures are stunningly beautiful and I am enjoying your web site very much.

I love Belchertown,
too bad that all the times I've been their that backdrop was a. destroyed b. stolen

I am in the room with several people who grew up at the school.Their opinion is that it should burn to the ground!

This was the called the school building. Theatre is so graceful knowing what it really was. One of the clients that I knew was actually waked there after I no longer worked there. This site is amazing.

very neat picture .

i love the striking difference between the backdrop on the stage and the grody tiles and deteriorating state of the theater .

great shot Motts .
(:

Again going back over the archives one night of insomnia, the tiles in here look like thousands of abandoned play-bills from theater productions scattered behind after the show was over.

I can feel the crunch of the floor tiles through the picture.

its so freaky i wonder why they never took the backdrop down

I always remember from theatre class in high school being scolded to handle all of the backdrops carefully, especially the older ones nearing replacement or refinishing, because they were so hellishly expensive (especially for our little high school) and were not easily or quickly replaced. We tended to reuse the few that our school actually owned quite often, and when we did order one in for a play or musical, a select few of us were allowed to handle the backdrop and help put it up. Seeing this backdrop hanging here, obviously disused and unloved, makes me think of high school - and how, if my teacher were to walk in there, he'd probably have a heart attack.

I explored the belchertown state school grounds last night with my boyfriend. We didn't have any flashlights and didn't go in any of the buildings. However while exploring the outside of one of the buildings, my boyfriend swore he heard a loud "thump" coming from inside the building. I also thought I felt someone playing with my hair. Not to mention the entire time we had a feeling we were being watched and followed. Probably one of the creepiest experiences I've ever had.

Interesting to think that all our high schools- which BTW, are state owned and run- will fall into disues and become abandoned in the future. Some are already becoming defunct.

i was there tonight beneaath the stage or aka under ground thers also a full be ball court and a bowling ally and there holes in the roof of the theater so maybe that why its decaed so fast

I knew someone who used to work here at Belchertown-she was a Physical Therapist. Cool theatre!

I am very interested in any information anyone has about belchertown state school, I've been taking pictures there and researching it for a while. I'd love to know more about the place from former patients and employees if possible. Or any suggestions on how to get more information, please contact me at http://www.facebook.co...p?id=100000074927432

but please leave a message telling me if you're interested in talking or seeing my photographs, I don't except random adds.

This picture prety much depicts everything about my life right now. Empty. I love this website and all the pictures are awesome. I admire the obvious dedication you have to your photographs. ^ ^

i actually went there yesterday with my father (who is also a photographer). very interesting place! i have some pictures of this same building and it has decayed much since you went (05 i think it said on the pic info) i saw the bowling alley, its right underneath you. its similar to the one at dever state school except in the basement. i love the hobby of urbex photography. unfortunately, i didn't get into it until about a year ago at the young age of 29 lol. i'm actually putting a book together on the subject and hopefully have it published soon! it will have pics and history of every place from Concord state (NH) to medfield to belchertown and the rest of new england!