History and memories are very fragile things…
I have often wondered what interests me with old abandoned buildings and barren, vacant lots. I suppose it’s the history of the place. What is the story of the space and why does it attract my attention? History was boring in elementary school, but now I am consumed with it. I am curious and research these locations and make many return visits with my camera. I want to gather information (photographs) and make my own narrative. After a while, going back is like visiting and old friend. There is an element of comfort and familiarity. My visits with the production of photographs, adds to the construction of knowledge.
Early Friday morning, fate brought fire to a century old administration building of Morristown College. The building was built in the 1880’s from handmade bricks that students helped make. This is the third fire within the past five years at the college. I have been visiting and photographing this space since its demise in 1995. As I approached the smoldering building, the perfume of wet, burnt wood consumed the air. In places, smoked seeped in and out of empty windows as it drifted up walls and disappeared into a vast sky…
I am thankful of my many photographs of this fond place…
