Last image is a ballroom in the Sir Walter Raleigh Apartments. ‘Til next time!

Many think this place is haunted. I don’t believe in ghosts, so, yeah…no.

Have A Seat III (2012)

Given the notorious history of this school, I thought the aerosol letters on the decaying walls seemed eerily appropriate.

We All Need Band-Aids (2012)

Weight (2012)

Don’t get me wrong, while I don’t believe in things that go “Boo”, the entire campus has a haunted feel to it.

Phantom (2012)

Busted (2012)

Okay that’s it for now. There won’t be many “just for fun” blog posts this year, so hopefully you enjoy the few I get to share.

Some shots from the Dillard:

And some shots from the Graham:

Guess that’s my first professional-related blog of the year. Eventually more to come.

I know – I’m weird.

It was a dreary and gloomy afternoon, which was fitting in portraying this site. Stonewall Jackson was the first juvenile detention center in North Carolina, built in 1909. If you visit the Wikipedia page I linked above, you’ll see this reformatory has quite a history to it – much of it pretty horrifying. A quick Google search can fill you in on some of the school’s infamous reputation.

Today, these dilapidated, uninhabited buildings remain as physical reminders of what juvenile “reform” was like in much of the 20th century. There is a modern facility that serves as the current detention center that lies immediately beyond this abandoned campus. Before it is a series of structures fenced off against the public – I’m unsure how many buildings are being used for storage, if at all. At the entrance of the campus are a row of structures that remain unobstructed by fences. Though there are warning signs, locked doors, and boarded door and window openings, it’s clear people have gone in and out of these buildings at will. Certainly, nobody bothered me as I walked around with my photography equipment (there’s a police station right across the street).

So let’s get started, shall we?

Stonewall Jackson (2012)

I found the facade of Daughters Cottage was the most captivating of them all. There’s something about the decaying signage and front porch that spoke to the entire campus setting.

Daughters Cottage (2012)

Ghost (2012)

Forsaken (2012)

Rusticated (2012)

So that’s how I spent part of my birthday. There are so many stories these buildings possess that they’ll be unable to yield, but still manage to convey by their mere existence. Those who have been watching me over the years have seen my black and white gradually turn moodier and this seems to fit my evolving B&W photographic style. As you can tell from the blog title, this was just Part 1. That’s right – Part 2 will take you inside.

Friday was an overcast, windy day which I figured would be a good chance to do a few more shots downtown. I’m looking forward to seeing what the NC AIA building will look like once it’s fully green. They’re still doing some road construction in the area so getting certain shots will have to wait for now.

Frank (2012)

Captured the Archdale building again, this time in elevation:

Took a few minutes to walk downtown a bit before heading home before the rain:

Overshadow (2012)

This is the Quintiles headquarters building in Durham off the interstate.

You’ll note the Archdale Building has all it’s office lights on and the new North Carolina AIA headquarters designed by Frank Harmon has nothing but an emergency light on. Dang green buildings.

Finally, the Archdale Building, which I’ve been meaning to decently photograph since I moved to Raleigh in 1999. Took me long enough!

Monolith (2012)