Red, White and Blue Freedom






The symbol of freedom, pride and perseverance.

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National Silk Dyeing Company Valley Works

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The first time I set foot here, it was clear: this place was home to those with nowhere else to go. A worn dirt path led me from a nearly abandoned street into what remained of an old brick building. A makeshift shelter—pieced together from boards and tarps—stood neatly in the hollowed-out front, right beside a waste bin. The building had been gutted by fire long ago, leaving behind only a shell.   I moved carefully, not wanting to disturb anyone who might be inside. The path led me up a weathered wooden plank, serving as a walkway where stairs once stood. Stepping into what had been the main room, I found myself surrounded by scattered belongings—broken bicycles, old tools, and household items left in disarray.   To my right, a large blue tent was set up snugly against the wall, a stark contrast to the chaos around it. Someone lived there. This wasn’t just a forgotten space; it was a home, however fragile.   Alone, carrying an expensive camera, I felt the ...
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Inside the Old Remington Munitions Factory

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Over the years, I have had the opportunity to visit the Remington Munitions Factory three times, each visit a unique experience. The first time, I ventured there alone, driven by curiosity to explore what remained of the once-bustling industrial complex. Back then, the neighborhood was far from welcoming, and my solo exploration felt risky. However, the allure of the factory’s history and its remnants was too strong to resist. Upon arrival, the decay was evident. The complex was a shadow of its former self, ravaged by time and neglect. Scrap metal scavengers had stripped the buildings of valuable copper, steel, and iron. Every surface was a canvas for graffiti, a mix of juvenile doodles and more elaborate street art left by local kids and adventurous visitors. A fire in 2017 had already claimed part of one building, and the area had a reputation for violence, with frequent assaults and shootings on Barnum Avenue. Despite the deterioration, the factory had a certain haunting beauty, esp...
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Queens Parkway Hospital

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The long-abandoned Queens Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills is finally set for demolition, marking the end of a saga that began over 15 years ago. Nestled in a bustling residential neighborhood off the busy Grand Central Parkway, near P.S. 196 elementary school, the hospital served the community for roughly four decades before shutting its doors in 2008. The closure was part of a broader initiative led by the New York State Commission on Healthcare Facilities in the 21st Century, also known as the Berger Commission. The commission identified Parkway as one of several hospitals with an excess of unused beds, prompting the state’s Department of Health to mandate its closure. Despite a series of legal battles by the hospital’s owners to keep it open, the courts ultimately upheld the decision, sealing Parkway's fate. The hospital's troubles were further marred by scandal. Robert Aquino, Parkway’s CEO, and former State Senator Carl Kruger were both imprisoned after investigators reve...
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St. Michael and St. Edward Church: A Cornerstone of Fort Greene

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For weeks, I had been orbiting the perimeter of the impending demolition of the Church of St. Michael and St. Edward, a once revered church in the heart of Fort Greene, like a moth drawn to a flame. The neighborhood, a patchwork of tight project housing, seemed indifferent to the fate of this historic edifice. The intel I had received suggested that entry was as simple as scaling a wooden fence, yet the timing had never felt right. Until one day, it did. With a mission in New Jersey looming, I knew it was now or never. The demolition was advancing at a startling pace, the church's twin steeples already reduced to rubble. The skeletal remains of timber beams and rusted steel frames peeked out from the ruins, a testament to the relentless march of progress. Summoning a surge of courage, I seized a moment of quiet in the bustling housing project and vaulted over the fence. My heart pounded in my chest as I slipped unnoticed into the church grounds. The once grand entrance now stood as...
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The Former Fusion Paperboard Plant (Part 2)

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  Welcome back to our journey through Fusion Paperboard. In this second part of the series, we dive deeper into the lower level of the cardboard recycling plant, where a maze of pipes crisscrosses every corner. Water, steam, and colorful conduits weave through the facility, each one carrying energy, waste, or essential materials to keep the plant running. The sludge ponds were one part of the property I never explored up close. Tucked away in the upper left corner of the site, far from the main facility, they never felt like a must-see. They were too far out of the way during my visit. Upstairs, two large stainless steel machines caught my eye—massive steam cylinders. Unfortunately, I never got a good shot of them. I remember taking a photo, but when I reviewed my archives later, I realized the image was ruined by overexposed light from the midday sun. I meant to retake it, but at the moment, it slipped my mind. It’s easy to lose track of time when you're surrounded by the endless ...
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