Bøger af Susan Tatterson

Pennsylvania's history is intrinsic to our understanding of America's expansion. As the second state in the nation, much of America's early industrial history can be traced back to Pennsylvania and its two largest cities, Philadelphia and Pittsburg. Not only was the Declaration of Independence signed in Philadelphia in 1776, it was also the capital city of the United States from 1790 to 1800. More than two centuries later, evidence of much of this history is slowly being erased from our present-day landscape. For the armchair urban explorer and history buff alike, Abandoned Pennsylvania: Industry and Endings takes a journey through Pennsylvania's industrial, recreational, correctional, and educational past. Scranton Lace Factory, the anchor of a small industrial town, and the irreplaceable Inn at Buck Hill Falls were once bustling cogs in a growing state's fortunes; a fireplace and a clock tower are all that remain to remind us of their existence. Of other buildings, such as the Transfiguration of Our Lord Church and Thomas Edison High School, nothing remains. In their place is an athletic field, a Save-A-Lot store, and a parking lot. Industry and Endings illuminates the regrettable fact that our hunger for progress is outstripping our respect for the past.

Maryland, although a small state, plays a historically significant role in the settlement of the United States. It shares its iconic history through what remains of its industrial, governmental, and recreational past. The home of the Star-Spangled Banner offers both the curious urbex photographer and history buff an abundance of opportunities. Buildings once bustling with theatre goers and brewery workers are decaying or, in the case of a lucky few, being restored and revitalized to include original architectural details. Mills and factories that once sustained cities and rural towns have not fared as well. Monoliths built to never come down have been demolished and scrapped for steel and copper. Many of the hospitals and schools, which once contributed so much to the state's development, have succumbed to time and nature's forces. Struggling to survive, they have become breathtakingly beautiful in their process of disintegration. Abandoned Maryland offers a thoughtful journey through what we leave behind as well as a glimpse at the light and texture infused entities these giants of their time have become--they still have much to offer before their final demise.

Series statement from publisher's website.