Morgue From Side

now im sry if i offend anyone with this that wasn't my intention i am just courious, but by any chance could someone tell me why everyone has to go in there and tag on just about every inch of this place. im mean no matter how many time you tag it, or where you tag it regardless of letting people know that you have been through bassically the whole place Nothing you write (once again no offense to anyone) anywhere will thrill anyone else . for instance the stories behind the history of this building, walking around and checking out byberry is what brings ppl to want to explore it not seeing writing all over the walls . (and if i offended anyone i apologize not my intention but byberry facinates me like no other but i dont want to look at tags and peoples drawing's all over the walls)

thats my point if no one started all that shit then it wouldn't be so tight on security and possible free to hang out in but then you those who go and destroy a really neet place to visit

Archeologists asked the same questions when exploring the Egyptian pyramids. Plunderers tore through them all hundreds and thousands of years before. That's why King Tut's tomb was so special, it was untouched...until Howard Carter and the boys got to it!

Some people are just sh*ts, whether in 1000 BC or 2005 AD!

"Fool's names and fool's faces always show in public places."
My Mom raised us with this saying, explaining that graffiti was what ignorant people did, because that compensated for their inadequacies. That explanation made an impression on us. Others should have been raised with the same sensibilities...

Actually, from firsthand knowlege, the graffitti at Byberry was created to relieve boredom, show others that you've been there, and as a freedom of expression for the more artistic works. It really has more to do with relieving boredom though, than anything else. You have to realize, some of us have been hanging out here for over a decade.

Na Na Na Na! nanny nou nou!

Buying a six pack and hanging out at Byberry for over a decade.
Must make an individual proud.
Yeah.

Maybe it is all due to longing .......a longing to belong, or brooding over the one love that they allowed to get away from them? Here, in their minds eye, they can be King, if only for some stolen moments.
To speak of one's true feelings and emotions was and is more terrifying then sitting in this place with the murkiness of it all with or without a six pack?
But what would I know?

I KNOW NOTHING, NOTHING I TELL YOU!!!!!!

I haven't been to ol' Byberry in many a years. Well over a decade ago.
I have never 'tagged' the place, myself, and it didn't ever occur to me to do so when I was there.
It only seems to me to stand to reason that there must be something missing in one's life to hang out in such a dismal place for so many years. I am not trying to say that I have any of you 'old timers' figured out, hell I don' t even know any of you, only drawing assumptions from posts, nothing more. If any of you wish to enlighten me, please do, I am quite curious as to the reasons why.

because its there ???

I have to admit once my friends and I went into an abandonded state hospital and almost got lost it was the scariest moment of my life I really didn't think we were going to find our way out. There were hallways going left and right straight ahead and it was pitch black in there. The next time we went in we did bring a can of spray paint but we just made small circles so we would know how to get out. We did not spray an entire wall or anything like that.

~Me,
I've been going to Byberry for 3 years now, the first time it was out of curiosity, everytime after that, it was an unexplainable draw... its very hard to describe, but it almost feels like "home" when I'm there, I don't live close to Byberry but if I did, I'd be there more often!

I figure Motts has an education, regarding photography, be it through a University or through trial and error.
People who just "hang out" at these venues, don't exude education at all, especially those who put graffiti on the walls.
Leave it to Byberry to be graffitied.

ive only been going since about nov 04, the graffitti sort of helps you remember the way... i occasionally scribble an "eddie" here or there nothing to big...

Um, Mr. Wondering...
Your comments are baseless and unfounded. When you know each and every *visitor* of Byberry personally, only then can you pass judgement.
Until this improbable event occurs, kindly cease insulting your peers.
The obvious education you *exude* from your past utterances is questionable at best.
Judge not, lest ye be judged.

No insult intended, just an observation made.
The photography is breathtaking. The graffiti and painting shows too much free time.
By the way, it is Miss Wondering.

Let's be honest....I think we all have a fascination with our own mortality and the edge of sanity. To go to a place like this is to be able to confront our fragility and vulnerabilities. There's a finer line than we realize between sanity and insanity, and the folks visiting here all these years are exploring it very bravely.

I've never even driven by Byberry... I've only lived in NE Philly for about I dunno, 7 years or so now. I'm actually getting an MSW now to work in the mental health field and worked this last year in an acute psych unit at another hospital in Philly that, thank God, is nothing AT ALL like Byberry. I got interested in this place after working on a paper about the history of the hospital where I was interning... Now part of me actually is seriously interested in checking out Byberry myself. Why, I don't know, I mean, I've actually had patients who were there as kids, dead serious. They went through total hell there. But I'm grateful for these photos cuz they're the only way now that I'm going to have any idea at all what they went through. And I kind've want to know, too, since I actually am someone who has a psychiatric illness myself. I look at this place and realize how lucky I am that psychiatry has improved like it has and that as a patient I actually have rights-- like the right to refuse treatment, something that could have actually saved some of the people at this place. As for graffiti and fires, as far as I'm concerned, go ahead and do whatever you want. I'd make my mark, too, to be honest, to prove I was there. I know this isn't where other people are probably coming from, but for me, I'd want to make it known that I was in there and made it out alive. Too many other people didn't have the chance to. I'd be doing it for them. And if it's desecration, what, is this the Louvre?? Get real! Come on now. Breaking the crap out of this place would probably be karmic retribution at this point. If that's the case, think of Anna and all the other patients who went through sheer hell in there day in and day out and beat the living daylights out of every inch of those buildings. Sorry for ranting, but I had to say all this. Anyway, thanks again for the great photos, Ed. They rock.

You can thank the incredible Mr. Motts for his wonderful pics Cowgirl. I just post so much on his site about Byberry because it's one of my hobbies, plus I live nearby. Motts is the talent behind these pics. I was just along as a combination guide / comedy relief.

Hey Cowgirl; I'm completing my MSW - actually all I have to finish is my thesis. I have completing an internship at Evansville State Hospital and worked in a Children's state hospital for two years. Photography is a wonderful hobby and way to relax; in addition to adding a historical perspective to clinical practice. Good Luck with your Education.

Amen to the incredible Mr. Motts and his photographic abilities. Just fucking awesome.
And thanks to all who post supplemental URLs. The supporting material is fascinating.
Also, thanks to pioneers like Radical Ed for your insights. I can imagine that you must feel some sense of ownership since you've spent so much time here. It's true generosity to share that with the rest of us.

I have a LiveJournal that will eventually have info about Byberry on it. When I get around to it, I'll post the link. Oh, and it's not just my journal, it's other peoples too, so if you see a post with "bad" things on it, not my fault, blame my friend that has a twisted sense of humor. Not giving names. Oh, and if you post, NO FLAMING, m'kay?

I'm glade that this spot is on the first floor you know how it is climing through that window with all that broken class and shit all over the window sill

the door that says matt on it has never been open me and my boys tried to open it , it won't budge thats a spot you don't have a picture of ?

Motts doesn't have pictures of MANY things, that's why he needs to make another trip.

Climbing through the window MJ? That's FUCKED.
I walk right in through one of the multitudes of open DOORS and take a hallway to the morgue.

i went to byberry for the first time lastnight me and abuddy it sucked we searched for 3 hours looking for this morgue can someone tell me were the good shit is

yeah i did always want to know what was behind that door

All you kids are starting to annoy me.
dont set fires
dont tag
dont break shit
just have fun .

having fun doesnt mean u go and fuck the shit up.

if noone started fires and shit byberry wouldnt be so security tight and prolly wont be deomplished for a little while longer

all you idiots screwd stuff up.

Bleek,

I assure you, VERY FEW of us who frequent this website would dream of vandalizing these places or stealing from them. Hell, I've never even been inside any of them (unless inside the fence counts!).

Check your insults at the door. That's not the purpose of the site.

And really, the only idiot here is one who can't spell and needs to curse in every sentence. You're in a glass house, dear.

dude it sucks that they are knocking it down. i was just there yesterday. bird shit was still fun.. the cement couch was cool but i wish i had a chance to see it all

Hey, I'm 14 years old and I know from experience that setting things on fire and tagging is great fun. Until some years ago I did these things in a bunker where the local youth hangs out (and which was trashed already, so I'm glad now that I only did it there). Then I found this site and realized how great a place can be when it's untouched. I am now an urban explorer myself and try explaining to all my friends why they shouldn't trash abandonments (and just any public places for that matter). Most of them say: Why not, nobody cares about an abandoned place. Usually, if I know them good enough, I take them on a serious exploration to a thrilling/untouched place, and until now all of them changed their minds.
So I never trash any place anymore, even if it's trashed already. In fact, I usually don't even touch anything because I think it takes away from the atmosphere (I hate being at a location and seeing stuff being moved by other explorers). But because I still think tagging and setting fires is fun, I sometimes tag at the local skatepark (it's some sort of tradition tagging there, and without the graffiti it would look boring as hell) and I sometimes light a bonfire at the beach at night with some friends and drink some beer and have fun.
So to all youth who reads this: Think twice before deciding to vandalize a place. I know far too many places which would be so nice if they weren't vandalized.

PS: excuse me if I made some spelling mistakes, I'm from the Netherlands.

Motts, whats the largest morgue youve been in?

Remember the story with this one?

http://info.detnews.co...p;category=locations

Wouldn't THAT be one heck of a find! =8-o

Motts any photos of the English morgue?

By: Why? Buying a six pack and hanging out at Byberry for over a decade.
Must make an individual proud.
Yeah.......... that would make me proud its like a place that you can be yourself and relax with freinds away from public scrutiney and you have a hellofanice place to walk round and explore

Dear Why,

I love the intolerance towards others' lifestyle choices. Its people like you who made homosexuals cower into private to be themselves; same goes for people who like to unwind and have a beer someplace.

Don't cop and attitude.

Go to Youtube.com and they have videos of Byberry

Did vandals take the trays and break the doors off?

almost looks like a garage

Wow, this place is really something. Thanks to all of the people here who hang out at Byberry and tell the rest of us what it's like --it has it's own subculture, way more than other places. Thanks Motts, its awesome!

I had a picture of the members of Godbox posing in the trays. Not sure what happenned to it.