Alameda Naval Air Station

"Influx"

The Alameda Naval Air Station closed in 1997 due to the Base Realignment Closure Act, but it was once one of the largest, most complete Naval Air Stations in the world. She was commissioned in 1940, a little over a year before the United States became involved in World War II. During the war, the air station was a fully operating base with patrol plane squadrons and an Overhaul and Operations Department.

"Trailer Trash"

During the 56 years of service, the base had a population of 45,000, employing thousands of workers specializing in approximately 250 different trades in over 300 buildings.

"Zephyr"

Today, some of the old hangars and buildings have been repurposed by a few businesses, but most of the former base sits abandoned.

Photo: "Creep"

Building 93 at Kings Park Psychaitric was constructed in 1939 and was designed as a geriatric infirmary and drug treatment center. The design was such that the building had a very small footprint to allow for light to enter each room as well as the hallways.

Photo: "Dislodged"

      Inside the auditorium of the former Heritage Inn on Rough & Ready Island.

Stockton's Rough and Ready Island went into operation in the early 1940's as an auxilary depot to the Navy Depot in Oakland. A few years later, the Heritage Inn was built to house the officers, families and visitors to the island.

Photo: "Sea Air"

Construction of the New York Sanatorium began in 1913. It consisted of eight pavilions, four men and four women's, arranged around an Administration Building, a Children's Hospital (shown here), a Rehabilitation Center, power plant, laboratory and Nurse's Buildings.

It was here at this hospital that the first treatment for Tuberculosis was discovered. 

Photo: "Secured"

The Kings Park Psychiatric Center in Long Island, New York operated from 1885 to 1996. As patient populations began to grow in the early 1900's, the hospital began to expand. In the 1930's, the 13 story building, Building 93, was constructed. Upon opening in 1939, it became an infirmary for the geriatric patients and patients with physical ailments.

Photo: "Mammoth"

The St. Nicholas coal breaker once produced 12,500 tons of coal per day, but for the last 48 years she has sat abandoned.

Photo: "Beautified"

Left over beauty supplies inside the beauty salon at the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, the first of the Kirkbride's established in 1848.

Photo: "Countryside"

Peeling paint and wallpaper found inside a recreational building at Hudson State Hospital.

Photo: "Dolled Up"

Found near the lower level dressing rooms at the Grossinger's Indoor Pool.

Photo: "Escape"

In 1931, the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company's constructed the Saint Nicholas coal breaker in Gilberton, PA. The breaker was one of the largest in the world, with over 20 miles of track and 1.5 miles of conveyors. Each half of the building operated independently, but together they produced a combined total of 12,500 tons of coal per day.

The breaker operated for a number of years before closing in 1963.

Photo: "Rigor Mortis"

Photo: "Spare"

Upon opening its doors in 1904, Norwich State Hospital admitted 95 patients in one single building. Within a few short years patient numbers grew dramatically, causing the hospital to expand. Norwich quickly became a self-sufficient institution, with a power plant, farm, bakery and laboratory as well as a theatre and bowling alley for recreation.

Grossinger's Resort Indoor Pool

Years ago, the Grossinger's Resort in Liberty, NY, was booming with guests. During the summer months, Jews would congregate here as an escape from the big city and come to Grossinger's, a place they felt accepted. All the food that was prepared was Kosher and the ammenities provided were spoke highly of. Celebrities such as singer Eddie Fisher and boxer Rocky Marciano frequented the resort.

The indoor pool was designed by Morris Lapidus, who was also known as the "architect of make believe." It was one of the grand masterpieces of the resort. The pool was adorned with lounge chairs, a diving board, beautiful wood beams, brass orb lighting fixtures and two viewing windows which gave guests a submarine-like feel as they viewed the underwater activity in the pool.

Since the resort closed in 1986, many of the lawn chairs have gone missing, ferns and moss have began covering the tiles and the wooden beams have begun to rot, but the pool is still a marvel.

"Poolside"

"Bronzer"

"No Diving"

"UFO (Part II)"

Photo: "Triple"

Inside a triple patient room at the South Mountain Sanatorium in Pennsylvania.

This four story building at the Mont Alto State Sanatorium opened in 1940 and was a Children's Preventatorium until 1956. At that time, the building became a home for mentally retarded women. And then from 1965 until it closed in 1985, it housed geriatric patients.

Photo: "Depths"

Dry dock #4 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard

On September 16, 1854, Mare Island Naval Shipyard became the first permanent US Navy Shipyard on the West Coast. By 1941, the third drydock had been completed and this dry dock, number four, was in the process of being built.