Nov 5, 2013

The Final Ascent

Posted by: Naaman

With the property sold, renovations supposedly imminent, and access restricted, I made my way up the steps of the hotel for the final time.  

Much has changed since I first entered the building on a hot summer dawn in 2009. What was once a pristine abandonment was now an old haunt for too many who never appreciated it.  Ownership has changed hands.  Taggers have made their mark. Base jumpers have lept off the roof. Birmingham's underground river, which flows through the basement, is the only constant in this structure. 

It was a bittersweet run. 



Oct 14, 2013

Fishtrap Tunnel

Posted by:  Naaman

Hand-carved in the 1880s, the Fishtrap Tunnel (or Jefferson Tunnel) was named such because of its constant flooding.  

The tunnel was the site of "The Battle of Jefferson", a July 17, 1908 gun battle between striking coal miners and local law enforcement which caused the governor to deploy the state militia. 

Fishtrap was also the site of an incident that would lead to a 1900 Alabama Supreme Court case. 

Now it is just a wet, mud-filled hole. Water drips from hundreds of places in the ceiling, which has slowly eroded and the metal which once reinforced it has failed.  The rock tunnel is caving in from all sides.  Huge chunks of the ceiling can be seen in the clear water. 

1.
Exit

2.
Fishtrap Tunnel

3.
Ceiling

4.
Fishtrap Tunnel

5.
Reflections

6.
Decay

7.
Fishtrap Tunnel

8.
Fishtrap Tunnel

9.
Exit

10.
Texture

11.
Fishtrap Tunnel

12.
Fishtrap Tunnel

13.
Ceiling

14.
Fishtrap Tunnel

15.
Exit

Sep 6, 2013

The Outland

Posted by: Naaman

The Outland. Off the beaten path. 
On the outskirts. Out of the way. 


1. 
Warehouse Co.

2.
Trailer

3.
Homestead

4.
Old Bottles

5.
Out in the field

6.
Skull

7.
Training

8.
Circling

9.
Furniture

10.
Discarded

11.
Window

12.
Chair

13.
Police Olympics

14.
Tractor

15.
Popper

16.
Home

17.
Water Tower

18.
Lamps

19.
Tree in the middle

20.
Collapse

Jul 17, 2013

American Life

Posted by: Naaman

The Stonewall Building, aka the American Life Building, was built in 1940 or 1926 depending on who you ask. It has been abandoned for around 30 years. 

1.
American Life Bulding

2.
Stonewall Building

3.
Shadowy Figure

4.
Sunbeam

5.
Stonewall Building

6.
Predawn at Stonewall

7.
September 10, 1979 - Last inspected

8.
Stonewall Building

9.
American Life

10.
Stonewall Buliding

11.
STONEWALL COMPANY

12.
Stonewall

13.
Urinals

14.
Sunrise at Stonewall

15.
803

16.
doorknob

17.
Ceiling

18.
Stonewall Building

19.
Stonewall Buildling

20.
American Life Building

21.
Shadows

22.
Stonewall Building

23.
Sunrise over Sloss

24.
Stonewall Building

25.
American Life Building

26.
American Life Building

27.
American Life Buliding