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MageSteff

Action Squad

**Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:15 pm

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Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

Wolf · Decorated Joined: 26 Sep 2002 Posts: 292

Action Squad is a for-real UrbEx group.

Ninjalicious died a few weeks ago after a long ordeal with liver disease--he had even had a transplant. He was 31. He's widely considered the father of modern UrbEx. I belong to the site he started "for those of us who like to go where we're not supposed to."

**Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:19 pm

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You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.

jamesi

Warning: Some photos are definitely not safe for work.

**Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:24 pm

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Digital Trail | Twitter | Retired ARGFest-o-Con 2012 Project Manager

Wolf · Decorated Joined: 26 Sep 2002 Posts: 292

Just out of boredom, here's some pics I took on an UrbEx outing to a place near me. I'd always wanted to get in somehow, and I got the chance last fall.

An exterior shot:

Altar, taken from the choir loft:

Painting on ceiling over altar:

Choir loft, taken from altar:

And a lonely little light fixture:

**Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:28 pm

_________________
You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.

MageSteff

**Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:12 pm

_________________
Magesteff
A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

Wolf · Decorated Joined: 26 Sep 2002 Posts: 292

I drive past this place every day on the way to work and was always interested in it. I did some research at the archdiocese archives, and here's some of what I found out.

It was built in 1878 and closed in 1958. The reason it closed was because the inner city church population had shrunk, with more people locating farther from downtown. This church sits 5 blocks east and five blocks north of the center of the city. After it was deconsecrated and the steeple was removed (the steeple made the building top out at 135 feet tall) it sat empty until the late 70s/early 80s when there was a suggestion to make it an indoor badminton court...I believe that's where the ugly yellow paint came from. That plan was abandoned.

Those dark spots on the ceiling in the second pic are all paintings of saints and bible stories. They're in amazing condition. The steeple can be accessed if you're acrobatic enough via a wall-mounted ladder in the choir loft, but I imagine the flooring in the steeple is rotted and too dangerous to try and walk on.

I shot two rolls of 35mm color film, one roll of B&W and a full card of digital. I've got tons of photo documentation of this place from all angles, inside and out.

Today it sits on a busy street, but none of the thousands of passers-by each day really sees it, you know? Not until somebody like me comes along with a camera. There's something haunting about these places. Inside, all alone, you can talk to history and it talks back, if you know how to listen. UrbEx can be a lot of seeing the same dull stuff in factory A, factory B, abandoned house A, abandoned house B...and then, sometimes, a jewel like this comes along.

(note: This building, although empty, *is* owned by a private individual and is considered to be private property...just in case anybody was thinking of trying to find it. If you want to BUY it, I'm sure the guy that currently owns it would be more than happy to discuss it with you.)

**Posted:** Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:57 pm

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You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think.

konamouse

Re: Action Squad

**Posted:** Sat Sep 24, 2005 6:11 pm

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'squeek'
r u a Sammeeeee? I am Forever!