For almost a full year, I was afforded the opportunity to catalog the interior and exterior of the Allentown State Hospital. I did this with fellow photographer Dave Rehrig. We just completed a joint exhibit that ran from November 2011 to February 2012 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, PA. Several people from outside of the area that were not able to come to the exhibit, have asked me to post some of my images. The following are some of my images that were in the exhibit. For those of you who are not familiar, the Allentown State Hospital was a psychiatric facility located at 1600 Hanover Ave. in Allentown PA. It served the counties of Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe and Pike. It was one of seven remaining psychiatric hospitals in Pennsylvania. The Allentown State Hospital was planned as early as 1901 but the opening was delayed until October 3, 1912. The hospital cost $1,931,270 to build. The population hit its peak in 1950 with 2,012 patients. Now 100 years later, the facility is closed. If you would like to see additional images click HERE.
Posts Tagged ‘E-5
Lehigh Valley Dairy
Earlier this week we were looking for some structures near the proposed hockey arena in downtown Allentown to photograph. Our thinking was we should try to capture some images before the demolition starts. Well it looks like we might have been about a week or two to late. Many of the areas have already been fenced off. So we decided to leave and started heading up (north) on 7th Street. As we were heading towards Route 22 we noticed some construction equipment at the former Lehigh Valley Dairy. I didn’t want to also be to late for this location. So the decision was made to stop and capture some images. This building was the old processing headquarters for the dairy. This place brings back memories when my dad would take my brother and me for ice cream (if we promised we would not fight with each other in the car on the way over). The facade is made up of some beautiful art deco tiles.
A little over a week ago I had the opportunity to shoot at the National Museum of Industrial History (NMIH) located on the former Bethlehem Steel property in Bethlehem, PA. This was an incredible experience. The staff was extremely helpful during the couple of hours we were shooting. Their web site indicates their purpose is to tell the story of America’s Industrial achievements and the accomplishments of its inventors, managers and preserve the record of industry’s development and advancements from the middle 1800’s until present time.
Das Awkscht Fescht
Graffiti Alley, Philadelphia, PA
Laurel Hill Cemetery
As part of the photo shoot I did with the photogs at Eastern State Penitentiary, we also went to Laurel Hill located in the North section of Philadelphia. Laurel Hill is one of the few cemeteries in the nation to be honored with the designation of National Historic Landmark, a title received in 1998. Numerous prominent people are buried at the Cemetery, including many of Philadelphia’s leading industrial magnates. General Meade and thirty-nine other Civil War-era generals reside here, in addition to six Titanic passengers. Laurel Hill celebrated their 175th anniversary this year (1836-201).
Last month I was invited to do some photography with a group of photographers from around the country. Our focus was on Eastern Pennsylvania. Our first stop was at the Eastern State Penitentiary, located in Philadelphia. I have photographed this location in the past & always enjoy the opportunity to shoot here.