From the 2007 archives
Inside one of my favorite churches on Woodward Ave in Detroit. This house of worship was constructed in 1911 and closed in 1993.
Photo: "Octagons and Curves"
Image taken in 2009
The Woodward Ave Presbyterian Church in Detroit opened in 1911. The facility, designed in an English Gothic style, also contained classrooms for Sunday school in the rear. The church closed in 1993 and has been abandoned ever since.
Photo: "Chapel Ceiling"
Chapel inside the Administration Building at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Morris Plains, New Jersey.
Greystone Psychiatric Hospital was constructed along the Kirkbride plan and admitted its first patient in 1877. The outer portions of the male and female wings were abandoned in the 1970's, but most of the remained in operation until 2008 before fully shutting down. Sadly, this massive, gorgeous hospital will be demolished later this year.
Photo: "Attic, St. Joseph's Church"
St. Joseph's Church in San Francisco, California was reconstructed in 1913 after experiencing significant damage from the 1906 quake. This attic in the West steeple has the original stained glass from construction.
Being in this small space was pretty remarkable. The stained glass windows were shining beautifully in the sunlight, casting yellow hues around the room.
Photo: "Light Inside"
I had the opportunity last week to make a return trip to the beautiful St. Joseph's Church in San Francisco.
In 1906, an earthquake and fire destroyed this building. It was reconstructed in 1913 and remained in operation until the 1989 quake when it was deemed structurally unsound. The church has been vacant since.
(Print - http://smu.gs/16K169Z )
Photo: "Always Take the Backroads"
Antioch Baptist Church, Georgia
While on road trips, I like to avoid the major freeways and take backroads when possible, because most often, the best finds are off the beaten path.
While cruising through Georgia, in between shooting abandoned asylums, +ed roppo and I stumbled upon this church. It appeared to still be in use, the front door was open, but it was a great fine nonetheless.
(Buy a print - http://smu.gs/1720KXF )
Photo: "Romanesque Curves"
St. Joseph's was re-constructed in 1913, after being completely destroyed in the 1906 quake. San Francisco architect John Foley was hired to design the building and chose the Romanesque Revival Style, which was not very common for this time period, as it was primarily utilized many years prior.
To read more about the church, please visit my historical essay:http://bit.ly/StJosephsChurch
Photo: "1914 Organ and Historical Essay"
I recently had the opportunity to photograph the St. Joseph's Church in San Francisco, a beautiful, magnificent church, in use from 1913-1989.
Read my historical essay here: http://bit.ly/StJosephsChurch
Pictured here: The 99 year old church organ.