Tag: Out and About

The Hunt for Treasures of Years Gone by

     My husband and I are about as far apart on the spectrum as you can possibly be when it comes to certain things, but it’s those other more important things that keep us together and contented most of the time.  Our love of family and our sense of -home- , the land and beauty of nature are on the latter list.  Treasure hunting through antiques stores and old barns and outdoor markets is up there too.

      Along the shoreline not far from our farm and seaside cottage are quite a few treasure troves – two of which we visited yesterday.

    First we browsed the Essex Old Saybrook Antiques Village –

   We didn’t find the small black table he was looking for to go in his office, but I did score these Bunnykin bowls –  Vintage 1936, small bowls that were part of a children’s mursery dining series by Royal Doulton, England.  I’m a firm believer in using the good china, using the antiques that make their way into This Old House.   One day, when we are hopefully graced with grandchildren,  I’ll use these bowls to serve up ice cream or oatmeal or baby food  when they visit.

    I love to search for information on the pieces that catch our eye.   According to Wikipedia – Introduced in 1934, Bunnykins tableware depicted Mr. and Mrs. Bunnykins and other rabbits dressed in human clothing, in colorful rural and small-town English scenes, transfer-printed on white china. The earliest pieces, signed “Barbara Vernon” (Sister Mary Barbara Bailey), are quite rare and highly prized. Bunnykins china was used by  Princess Elizabeth and  Princess Margaret and thus became a popular present given as christening and birthday gifts in middle-class English homes. The chinaware line originated with artwork by Sister Mary Barbara Bailey, the daughter of Cuthbert Bailey, general manager of Doulton during the 1930’s.  Unbeknownst to the public, Mary was not a professional illustrator, but a nun in the Augustinian Canonesses of the Lateran. 

     Since we hadn’t found what we actually went out for – we drove down the road to the Old Saybrook Antiques Center.

   This antiques center carries some of the very finest pieces, some dating back to the early 1700’s.  It’s clear the dealers who sell their wares here know the value of what they find – and carefully preserve it.   The details in the woodcarved chairs and desks are amazing – a toddler’s 1800’s highchair below…

     The photograph below by well known photographer J.A. Beal depicts a scene in 1870’s New York City…  If not for the price tag, I would have loved to bring it home.

     This mirror is just stunning in it’s detail… 1900’s – Gold gilt
pardon the ugg’s slip-ons… comfort first 🙂

     The bowl below was large and well worn – still in beautiful,  functional condition.  It is described as an Early American lathe turned pine kitchen bowl with original forged iron hanger – circa 1800.

     

   
     This horse caught my eye –  an 1850-1860 era horse that has acquired a leg wound.

If you’re a long time reader here you might remember my rocking horse restoration project.   The price tag on the one above means  if I bought it I wouldn’t bastardize it with a renovation –  but the one I found a few years ago had already been messed with quite a bit and was a real bargain, so I gave him a facelift.

 The find…

    My finished project….

       I’m not sure how old my horse is…. but he’s very similar to the one we saw yesterday – so quite possible he is  an 1800’s horse.  I didn’t repaint the base, as it looked original.

A few more treasures I would have loved to take home if I won the lottery…

   After browsing this market we still didn’t find the piece we were looking for…. but…  I did find an 1800’s original pencil sketch of a farm house that reminds me of  Gracie – what I call This Old House because I also call our home Saving Grace, Gracie for short –   with trees and fields and a person with chickens and a dog in the front yard and a horse in the field on the left.  The price was fair and they accepted our offer,  my birthday is around the corner, sort of anyway…. So… I picked up another treasure and we call it the early birthday present. 
 I placed it above the mantel in the keeping room because it reminds me so much of This Old House –  They are about the same age, don’t you know.   And although we aren’t convinced it belongs in quite that spot – scale and all that – I love it too much to put it anywhere that it won’t be seen often.  I imagine A. S. Bailey sitting in a field in front of the house, perhaps under a shade tree – sketching the scene in front of him/her? ….. admiring the shiny coat of the horse grazing in the field, the man tending his flock of chickens, with beloved dog by his side… the charming house in the background – the attention paid to the roof shingles, the fencing…  the chimney at the peak.   Simpler times…. 
  Speaking of which – it’s time to go do the not so simple chore of feeding the horses and chickens and tucking them in for the night –  Thank you for tagging along- 
Till soon – 

The Christmas House

      If you’ve been visiting my blog for a while, you know about Stella – our little cottage on the cove.  We learned about that vintage coastal community through a dear friend who lives just down the road from us here at This Old House.  She and her husband raised their kids during summer months in their cottage near Stella –  It maintains the same rustic 1930’s seasonal cottage charm as ours, partly because of her loving touches just about everywhere, and her husband’s beautiful artwork to compliment it. So, we are neighbors both here and down at the shore.

      I need to tell you just a little about “Mrs. F” without giving away her personal information. She is a real dynamo! Having already lived most of her 90th decade, she continues to maintain two households with a little help from her children and grands,  still volunteers for several organizations, still creates, gardens and bakes for family, friends, and the causes she supports.  I have several perennial plants in my cottage gardens now that come from her garden, they will always remind me of her, and my gratitude to her for having helped us find a cottage of our own.

    I stopped in a few days ago to see the bird carvings her son had created, and was just blown away by the Christmas decor she had absolutely everywhere in her charming home.   An observation I’ve made regarding “Mrs. F” and a few other people I’ve been lucky to know who have lived well into their 90’s…  despite heartbreaking events like illness or  the passing of a spouse,  they all share something vital – and that is to live fully with purpose, intention, keeping up with family and friends, nurturing their creativity and being active in causes they believe in throughout all of their days. 

    Browsing all the decorations and artwork and treasures around her home, the warmth of the place and the person  and the people she holds dear surrounds you.  I told “Mrs. F” her home reminded me of a Christmas House… and she said that is exactly what her grandchildren call it.

     The ornaments on her tree are vintage, some she made out of copper,  some given to her by students during her teaching career.

The sitting room above has beautiful furniture pieces 
made by members of her family. 
This bathroom has so much spunk… “Mr. and Mrs. F.” papered it with old

New Yorker Magazine Covers… I absolutely love it.

Below is the only work in acrylics her husband 
ever produced –  He preferred to work in oils.
Of his many beautiful works, this is one of my favorites, and hers. 
A blacksmith’s shop.. with the forge’s glow spilling out into the evening snow

   A collection of Steiff toys from her husband’s childhood live in her office/study… 
The story of how steiff toys came to be is a worthy read – 
you’ll find it HERE. 

    So many treasures of the heart in this old farm house down the lane… Thank you, my dear friend “Mrs. F” , for sharing it with us here on my blog.

   There’s one more thing I’d like to share –  Mrs. F’s recipe for Swedish cookies. I was gifted with a lovely box full of cookies she made for the holidays, and these  particular cookies are absolutely divine buttery sugary perfection. 

Grandma Mabel’s Swedish Cookies
1 lb. Butter
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour
1 egg yolk
dash of salt
1 shot of Brandy
Combine ingredients – Work with hands until a paste dough is formed. Chill for 20 minutes, Roll  out dough on floured surface, nice and thin. Cut shapes, brush with egg wash so that decorations like colored sugar, etc. stick to the cookie.  Bake at 350 Degrees, 12 min or until just golden.    

Woodstock, VT 2018

   We just spent a few glorious days in Woodstock, Vermont, staying at the Woodstock Inn.  This is our fourth visit and much of the same staff were in attendance. You know a place treats it’s employees well when they stay on year after year.  
   We also spent some time just up the road at the Billings Farm and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park, touring the original estate mansion.  (the main large home you’ll see in the photos below).  We stopped briefly at The Vermont Country Store- do you get the catalog?  So fun to browse the old fashioned clothes, soaps, candies, flannels, pj’s, blankets, dishwear, natural remedies of days gone by (that still work!) 
  I’ll let the pictures do the talking. 
Vermont Country Store, Rockingham, VT

   
Jenne Farm, Reading, VT – the most photographed farm in the country – google it! 
The Woodstock Inn

Town of Woodstock





The Billings Farm


Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion Tour  and Grounds

 Ladybird Johnson slept in this room when visiting, having been a friend of the Billings-Rockefellers at the time. 


The pool house, with greenhouses behind it. 

   It was a wonderful, peaceful, easy-going kind of weekend.  We consumed ridiculous amounts of really good food, (good thing we did a lot of walking)  some good hearty laughter and some drink, enjoyed fantastic fall weather and good company, mom and our son and future DIL having joined us.   It’s a beautiful thing.  

 I hope all is well in your part of the world –  thank you for stopping by. 🍂🍁




   

Vitamin Sea

    
    If your head isn’t spinning yet from all the vitriol and ridiculousness and continuing bullshittery that is our current situation in these Un-United States (how did we get to this – I’ll say it one more time, We Are Better Than This… oh please let us find our way to a better place, and soon, all of us)…..  then you come from some sturdy stock.   My fibromyalgia has been in flare in recent weeks and I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m getting far too worked up over things I cannot change. Truly I need to just set it down and walk away from it –  we’ve all heard the serenity prayer, right?… 
  This version even better – 
   Fat chance unknotting knickers, but.. baby steps.  So this weekend we made a concerted effort to stay the hell away from the headlines and just enjoy what’s around us –  here on the farm, down at the cottage and a little lunch date excursion to the seaside town of Stonington, CT –    Staying off topic is no easy feat, as the Mr. and I are polar opposites on the political spectrum.  Not in all things, but Tr*mp and his rhetoric make the differences seem as wide as the Grand Canyon’s divides. 
Anyway!…  The Dog Watch Cafe – I’ve written about it before – if you’re in CT or driving through – it’s a lovely waterfront cafe run and staffed by friendly people with a delicious menu.  Best fish & chips we’ve ever had, but there’s so much more to their fare.  Have you ever heard of short rib and onion stuffed ravioli?  Me either – and it was delish!   And just look at all those flowers…. 

  New to me – these paint splattered petunias. Not sure what their real name is but they’re beautiful –

 The town itself is lovely – all sea captains homes, lovely cottages, row houses, and some old  huge homes and buildings made into condo complexes that are just gorgeous… 
  The peach roses and purple clematis at this cottage were stunning – the picture doesn’t do them justice. 

 Note the Little Free Library on the bottom right of this photo… there were several around town, a concept  I absolutely love.  Reinforces what is good in people.  Encourages reading, knowledge, kindness. 

This brick building with slate roof is much larger than it looks in this picture, stretching down to the water behind it, converted into beautiful condos (OMG the prices though) .  Click HERE for a listing available right now…

    Below is the Cavalry Church, built in the 1800’s.  I’m not religious – but in doing a little research on the impressive stone building, I came across their message – This is the type of message I think all religions and worshippers should embody.  Unfortunately it’s not always the case.


Welcome to Calvary Church, Stonington–we hope you will come visit us in our “Church by the Sea.”   We are a caring community of faith seeking to share the love of God in our life together with one another, and in our support and care for those in need in the world around us.  All are welcome here. Calvary is made up of members young and old, with many new to this community of faith–“whoever you are, from wherever you have come, you are welcome here.” 

  We found a little seaside park that is also a preserve with walking paths and benches.  They’ve installed some beautiful native flowers, bird and butterfly habitats – this split rail fence adorned with some beautiful vine art by a neighbor of the preserve  – the vine pattern goes for at least 10 lengths of fence. 

   Mom had a visit from three of her long time friends – I call them The Golden Girls. Their long standing friendship of many years  and their kindnesses to each other and our family is inspirational.   Here they are, visiting Stella by the Sea – and I’m so grateful they got to “sea” her.   Her doors are always open should they decide to stay for a spell. 
  It’s a glorious morning here on the farm – this photo taken an hour ago as the sun rose.  The three amigos, all getting on in years, living a good retirement life. I wish the same for all of us. 
    Miss Sally, one of my two southern rescue Georgia peaches, is learning to like our rides in the Jeep when we go to the cottage.  As long as I let her stand on the arm rest where she can lean in  and drool all over my shoulder,  she’s learned that every little thing is gonna be OK.  Sometimes  if we’re paying attention, we can learn a thing or two from our animals, don’t ya know.  This isn’t lost on me… 
   
Have a good day, all – and thank you for stopping by. 

The Elephant Trunk Flea Market

   Yesterday was a drizzly grey experience here in New England, the typical Spring day we are actually happy to see now that the Big Chill has left the area.  Holy hell, that was one long cold winter…. 
     Anyway – the Mr. and I went on a little rainy day junk hunting adventure about a 1.5 hour drive to the South West of us to The Elephant Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT.  The “ET” has  been in operation since 1976 , open Sundays from March to October, rain or shine.   In over 40 years time, the market has grown from just 15 vendors to over 500 on a good day – with food trucks galore from all over the East Coast.  It is a popular filming location for Lara of Good Morning America, Flea Market Flip.  We saw the film crew in action, rain didn’t deter them at all.  For more information, visit www.etflea.com.  If you live within a few hours drive and it’s a nice sunny day, I highly recommend the road trip.  Due to the rain and very muddy isles, the crowds were small and some vendors didn’t show up – things were a bit soggy, but I can see that on a sunny day, the place is a booming goldmine if you love treasure hunts like this.
Metal sculpture above – I almost bought a fish for Stella.
Why didn’t I?  *sigh
The headboard below is a very unique mix of wood varieties.
    

   My only treasure for the day was a sphere of flourite from this vendor –

  I hope I convinced this fellow below to join our Artisan Market at Parmelee Farm in September.  More on that in a future post.

   I’ve asked this fellow to join us as well…

      These weathered chippy old sage green doors would be a beautiful backdrop for something – portraits, even!

 Here’s Lara’s film crew working through the rain.

 

   On the way home, we had lunch at Maggie McFly’s – a great chain restaurant here in Connecticut that has an extensive American fare menu and prides itself on using local sources for produce, etc. to help support the communities around it.  I love that concept. I think they’ve just branched out to New Jersey also – if you’re near one, I recommend the dining experience.    On the menu it will tell you where the honey in your dish came from (Three Sisters Farm, Essex, CT), and there are many other examples such as that.

 Have a good day, All – and thank you for stopping by. 

In search of the Fire King

    On Saturday my two favorite guys took a ride with me to the Putnam Antique Center here in Connecticut to do some treasure hunting.  Four floors of  all kinds of “stuff”  can be found here in this old building in the center of an old mill town.  A previous post on this area can be found HERE and HERE.   My mission on Saturday was to find more Fire King Jadeite for Stella, our little cottage on the cove. 

   This is not my collection or photo.  After having done some research, this collection is most likely a mix of vintage and new.  An example of what’s obviously new – on the middle shelf, the large bowl with handle/spout in the center on the bottom has a swirl pattern. With vintage pieces, the swirl is much softer, the swirl edges not so rigid.  I bet if that were turned over, it would be discovered as a new piece.  Fire King originals had a very smooth simple quality.



      More info: Fire King Jadeite, made by Anchor Hocking, was popular in the 1940’s and manufactured up until the 1970’s.  It’s  a type of glass tableware made of jade green opaque milk glass. It was very durable, so much so that some restaurants/diners used the plain but pretty dishware and cups, etc. to serve their customers.   So popular was it,  that the company still produces a reproduction line with minor variations so that collectors can tell the difference between original pieces and the new line.  China has also come out with a line of it’s own, and some knockoffs can be found in Target and Cracker Barrel. 


    So.. we cruised around the antique mall and I did find several groupings of Jadeite – all original, but some very pricey and some in scratchy chippy condition. 

 Then I spied a creamer and sugar bowl in perfect condition with a price tag that was reasonable. 




 I turned them over and indeed, they are authentic.  Not that it matters to me so much that they are authentic, but I’m not paying $20 for a $2. target item.  Some people have gotten caught in that trap on ebay, etc. 



 Score! 


I also found this depression era juicer and loved the vibrant spring green hue. Their simple design and sturdy thick glass work  really well when making lemon-orange aid, one of our favorite thirst quenchers ’round here in summer.   


 According to Wikipedia – Depression glass is clear or colored translucent machine made glassware that was distributed free, or at low cost, in the United States and Canada around the time of the Great Depression. Much depression glass is uranium glass. The Quaker Oats Company and other food manufacturers and distributors, put a piece of glassware in boxes of food, as an incentive to purchase. Movie theaters and businesses would hand out a piece simply for coming in the door.
Most of this glassware was made in the Ohio River Valley of the United States, where access to raw materials and power made manufacturing inexpensive in the first half of the twentieth century. More than twenty manufacturers made more than 100 patterns, and entire dinner sets were made in some patterns. Common colors are clear (crystal), pink, pale blue, green, and amber. Less common colors include yellow (canary), ultramarine, jadeite (opaque pale green), delphite (opaque pale blue), cobalt blue, red (ruby & royal ruby), black, amethyst, monax, and white (milk glass).
Although of marginal quality, Depression glass has been highly collectible since the 1960s. Due to its popularity as a collectible.  Depression glass is becoming more scarce on the open market. Rare pieces may sell for several hundred dollars. Some manufacturers continued to make popular patterns after World War II, or introduced similar patterns, which are also collectible. Popular and expensive patterns and pieces have been reproduced, and reproductions are still being made.

 Below is a photo I found online of someone’s pink depression glass collection – 


    There was so much to look at and prices were fair.  We are tempted several times over but the truth is we don’t need more “stuff”…  and the looking is half the fun. 
 An old coal stove, ornamental now due to a crack in the back
 “No trouble to show goods”



Beautifully crafted leather purses

   


💖 This stove! 



   After I made my purchases, we stopped in Victoria’s Station Bakery and ooh,  if I could only share the heavenly smell of good coffee and pastry with you here…  Notice all the cozy seating areas with newspapers, magazines, a nice way to relax on a chilly afternoon.  




… a lovelier cupcake cannot be found in all the land.


       

 Till soon, friends – 








   


Love Lived Here

   We recently purchased a piece of commercial property that has a house on it.  The nicest couple from  Ukraine have been living there for over 10 years – without heat, without insulated walls, and with primitive plumbing.   They did their best to live comfortably, without any assistance from a very absent Landlord.  The house is in such disrepair, though, it’s a tear-down.  Located in a commercial zone, it’s also no longer appealing to a homeowner.  If you have been reading here for very long you know we love old houses and This Old House is a “save” of an 1835 farm house.  We thought we might renovate the little house, but once we acquired the land and inspected the house, it was clear there was far too much rot and not enough quality construction to keep it intact.  So.. we’ll remove and re-use what we can – like some of the windows, that beautiful old tub, door knobs, etc. 
   The traces left behind are evidence that Love lived in this house too, regardless of the neglect. 

Claw foot tub and beautiful glass lamps, diamond checked floor
… love lived here. 

  Santa on a window trim ledge – love lived here.

 A pink vase in a sunlit window – love lived here. 
   American flags, their adopted country – love lived here. 
    Shells on the front steps, with a little piece of pink yarn.  Love lived here…  
 Out back, an old shed… 

  with an old garden plot lying dormant out back,  tools standing in wait for the coming season.  While this little homestead’s season has come to  an end, before she goes.. you should know… love lived here. 

Mystic Magic

   We needed a little change of scenery after days of storm clean-up here on the farm, so we headed to Mystic yesterday where we had some delicious Mystic Pizza. If you are fairly local, they have great gluten-free pizza – the best I’ve tasted, anyway. 
     After that delicious lunch, we took a stroll around town, stepping in and out of  the shops and galleries that line the main drag. 

 The Mystic River Drawbridge with it’s massive counter-weights…

 Now THIS.. is Easter candy… the fresh made variety.

     Some of  this came home with us…

  One of my favorite shops is the Company of Craftsmen… I have one of these jellyfish glass sculptures by Satava Art glass – more info HERE…

      My guy treated me to these two treasures below as an early birthday gift –

  That beautiful sign below has what looks like abalone in the crystal ball, it shimmers!…  I’m told the woman is very good –

 There wasn’t as much snow up in Mystic, approximately 40 minutes up the coast,  as there is here –  we’ve had a few beautiful days and some snow melt.. only to be hit with yet another winter storm this coming Tuesday/Wednesday.  Some folks are just getting power back this morning…not fun when it’s cold outside. 
 

  
  Till soon, friends – 

Love On the Rocks

    This weekend’s weather can be summed up in one word.  WET.   And ya know? That’s really just fine, because doing farm chores in the rain is easier than doing farm chores in snow and ice, truth.
     M and I took a ride down to the cottage yesterday longing for spring  to “check on things”  and I brought my big lens in case there were some good shots to be had.  Indeed there were… crumby weather can set a great mood in photographs.. as evidenced below.  People often think a good picture day is sunshiney and bright, but  sometimes you get an even better mood in your photos on a gloomy day. 

     Below are a few homes that sit on the rocks  that are the Thimble Islands,  more on those HERE.   There’s a fun boat tour you can take to explore the islands, too.  Link HERE.    I  love them all.   There are currently a few for sale… you, too, can own your own Treasure Island, all one would need is a big lottery win and a boat, for that’s the only way to get to these islands. Link HERE.  And another COLORFUL one HERE.  Check out that interior!   Our little Stella sits in a cove just around the bend.

   We had lunch at our favorite little spot in Stony Creek with the Thimbles out in the distance.  It’s a simple place with good, healthy food choices.  We covet the marble tables inside,  well worn ancient  treasures with a history nobody seems to know.  If you look real close you can see that old gas pump and a few of the islands out in the distance. 
    While there we browsed a health food booklet with a recipe for butternut pecan bread the husband wanted to try.    We picked up a butternut squash at the nearby market and I made the bread when we arrived home.  First, the squash had to be baked and mashed, then the rest of the recipe prepared. It is a delicious treat on a dreary winter day and I just had a piece for breakfast, too. 
  These  ceramic measuring cups are one of my favorite things in the kitchen… found them at a local shop but you can buy them at Wayfair too, link  HERE.   They are made by Creative Co-op.  They’re colorful, easy to use, and look pretty on the counter, which is where I keep them.

    I hope wherever you are, you’re having a good day. Till soon, friends –  

Abandoned North Brother Island

   Having grown up on Staten Island in New York, it’s hard for me to believe I never heard of North and South Brother Islands in the East River until it popped up on my facebook feed recently.  Both Islands are completely abandoned since the early 1960’s.  Either that or it was buried in a history lesson at school and distracted youth prohibited me from paying attention. 
Note*  The island and facilities are not open to the public. The  following photos were taken from various photographers and historians who gained permission to access the island.  My resources were found on the internet. These are not my images. Hopefully those affiliated with these images won’t mind the sharing, since no money is made on this blog. 
  A little history –  the North and South Brother Islands are a pair of very small islands located in NYC’s East River between the Bronx and Rikers Island (notorious for it’s hardcore prison).  North Brother island was originally the location of a quarantine facility built around 1885, the Riverside Hospital, and housing among other outbuildings.   

North Brother Island consists of approximately 20 acres, but the number varies depending on source.  It had long been privately owned until 2007 when it was purchased by the city. 
Aerial view.. 
  In it’s day, the Hospital treated a variety of  diseases including typhus, leprosy,  small pox, tuberculosis, scarlet fever, venereal disease and drug addiction.
   
   Have you heard of Typhoid Mary?  Ever wonder where that expression came from?   Mary Mallon was an immigrant cook from Ireland.  Although she was immune to the disease, it was discovered she was a carrier for typhus.  Working as a cook, she spread the disease in New York to approx. 50 people and long story short, ended up quarantined for over 30 years on North Brother Island even though she was “healthy”. 

    Historian and photographer, Ian Ference has been given access to the island and took some incredible photos, some of which are used here. 
   Says Ian…
   “This has got to be one of America’s most important places to visit.  Historically it has had a notorious and sometimes sinister reputation.  It was established as a forced quarantine camp for people suffering from infectious and often fatal diseases such as typhoid, scarlet fever, yellow fever and thyphus.  There were six people suffering from leprosy here in wooden huts. 
   New York was taking in a huge number of immigrants in the late nineteenth and earth twentieth centuries – and new arrivals were forced to live in crowded and unsanitary conditions. Diseases would inevitably spread and once the health authorities identified a person as having a communicable disease they were seized and forced to live on North Brother Island – unless they were rich enough to afford a private clinic. Conditions were bad – the mortality rate among patients was high and the recovery rate low. There was no telephony in those early days so once people were grabbed and taken there – they were often never heard from again by their families.’

   
   Then…. 
 





and now…

   The island is off limits to the public with the exception of city police and a handful of bird experts, who have a special interest in its colony of black-crowned night herons.  Before closing it was used for housing for War Veterans, and then a drug rehabilitation facility until 1963, when the doors on the island buildings and grounds were closed permanently. 

    If you’re a shutterbug like me,  you’ve probably browsed this post thinking the same thing I did – to be able to explore this island with camera in hand would be a dream come true.  That this forgotten facility has not found another use, all these beautiful old buildings being pulled back down into the flora and fauna of the island, is a sad tale of ..what, I’m not sure. Poor management on the part of the city? Seems such a waste of potential for the many needs still out there – Homeless Veterans, elderly or affordable housing, homeless shelter, substance treatment facility, rehab facility, animal shelter, ….. the list goes on.  If there is such a thing as a haunted place, I imagine many a restless spirit paces these grounds at night.. 


If these old walls could talk…..

  

Till soon, friends..