This stairwell in the Wingdale Wards at Harlem Valley State Hospital, like many asylum stairwells, has a metal fence to protect patients from intentional injuries by throwing themselves over the railing to the floor below.
Photo: "Golden Corridor"
Corridor inside the Wingdale Ward at the former Harlem Valley State Hospital in New York.
Photo: "The Last Red Door"
Corridor inside the Wingdale Wards at Harlem Valley State Hospital.
During my visit last year, I discovered the owners had begun illegal abatement of the property. The State of New York shut down the work being done on the property, but the damage had already been done. Just months before, this building showed evidence of natural decay. The floors were covered in moss and many rooms contained artifacts such as old telephones.
Photo: "Dormitory Blues"
Patient dormitory at Harlem State Hospital.
Sadly, a few months prior to visiting this hospital, the owners began to illegally abate this building, but the glowing blue from twilight still filled the room with beauty.
Photo: "Broken Glass"
Blue hour inside the Wingdale Wards at Harlem State Hospital in New York.
Last November, the company that purchased the property began performing illegal abatement on many of the buildings. Sadly, what remained for years after the hospital was abandoned, was removed during that process.
Photo: "Sun Porch, Harlem State Hospital"
Sun porch inside the Wingdale Wards at Harlem State Hospital in New York.
Photo: "Patient Ward Kitchen"
Kitchen inside the Wingdale patient wards at the former Harlem State Hospital in New York.
The former Harlem State Hospital property was recently purchased by a religious university and state of New York caught the new owners performing illegal abatement on many buildings in November 2013 and put a hold on the construction process but not before this beautiful building was stripped. This kitchen is one of the few rooms in the building that was still in tact.