This is a continuation of the previous post. In this post, we'll cover off the grand adventures had by JuicyFruitKisses, Funky Punky, and yours truly, CopySix.
There's a saying that goes, stop and take time to smell the roses. So - we did. This mischievous trio packed up their bad-a$$ery and dropped in to explore the long abandoned Concord Floral, a massive greenhouse complex which at one time churned out tens of thousands of roses and other flowers to feed the florists in the GTA.
First things first, grab some popcorn and let's watch the vid . . .
It is not presently known the entire history of the site, but this is what we have so far . . . A greenhouse was established sometime here in the early 1980's which was eventually sold in the early 1990's. Concord Floral became the owners of the property in 1992 at which time there were significant expansions effected effectively enlarging the output capacity by at least 10 times.
A multitude of factors are thought to have caused the business operation to collapse and eventually close its doors around 2002. Chief amongst these are thought to have competition of less expensive imported flowers, and the rising cost of fuel for the boiler operation. The massive boilers were required to provided steam heat to the flower beds in order to extend and maximize the efficiency of the growing season.
All in all, a very fun time was had . . . Thanks Concord Floral !
I was finally able to grab my flashlight and camera and head out for an exploration after an unwelcome hiatus from UrbEx. I was joined by the familiar JuicyFruitKisses (aka JFK) as well as UrbEx n00b, Funky Punky who had proved herself rather adept during her premier exploration with UrbEx Barrie.
With several missions on the planning board, our first stop was at Funky Punky's old place of residence. The images her mother had provided clearly showed a property which was shown care in order to provide a home for the young family.
Our exploration however, showed a farmhouse in an advanced state of decomp and a property which had become a dumping ground for area a$$-hats wanting to get rid of old cars, tires, garbage, and construction waste. Both I and David Suzuki frown . . .
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Our explorers today . . .
Funky Punky (left) and JFK (right)
And your's truly, CopySix, a man forever driven to photograph a sweet abandonment.
The interior had some 'spongy' floors in some spots and quite a few pieces of furniture which appeared to be ravaged by denizen critters.
This child's teddy-bear appears to be slowly incorporated into the surrounding debris and detritus on the floor here.
There was a very small kitchen located just off the living room. Personally, I've seen larger kitchens in RV's. In other news, I wish my g/f was as dirty as this sink. Some old styl'n curtains just outside the kitchen made my teeth hurt when I looked at it. I remember as a kid having nasty-a$$ curtains like this in the home I grew up in it was tacky as hell back then BUT, if one were to clean it up and match it with appropriate decor, you certainly would be kicking it retro-licous.
Anywhoos, as it is not everyday that one sees a suitcase in a fishtank I thought this may make an interesting shot. Loads of personal effects still in the house and it is all slowly being returned to a zero-energy natural state.
Although, most of you know my UrbEx kink is institutional, insdustrial and commercial (in that order), I do not mind at all exploring a residential or rural abandonment from time to time, especially when said location has a personal connection with a member in the exploration party.
Just a few weeks ago while on company business near the Bruce Nuclear plant (just north of Kincardine, Ontario), I had stumbled upon this very lovely abandonment and subsequently effected some impromptu Urban / Rural exploration. We will call it the 'Bruce House' for now.
At first, I had thought that perhaps the former denizens had left sometime in the late '80s, fearing the proximity to the nuclear power generating plant, but upon further inspection, I now believe that they may have fled the horridly abysmal interior decoration.
I for one never tire of the awkward and fumbling efforts by tag-monkeys who cause great atrocities to the Queen's English resulting in often humourous and / or confusing literal gaffes. This one by the stairs did not quite make the grade but I am certain that the miscreant is well on their way to fail.
You may well know from my previous posts, I like to shoot windows. These portals are akin to a looking glass peering into the soul of the abandonment. Here are just two images I thought appropriate to post.
Very nice structure but certainly in need of less natural ventilation. This issue is best summed by this image below.
Finally, while in the Area, I took some time to visit the nearby Inverhuron cemetery which is still in recent use. Most graves date from the late 1800's but some newer stones indicate newer internments as recent as within the 5 years or so.
Located in north-west London, Ontario, this magnificent mansion has both historic and heritage significance. It is a unique structure built during the late 1800's almost entirely of concrete in a style reminiscent of an English castle.
The structure's features include a secret passage between levels, maze-like hallways, floors and ceilings constructed of cement and decorated to look like tile and wood. Woodholme was designed and built as a residence by Richard Shaw-Wood. He lived there until his death in 1909, leaving the estate to his daughter, Anna who sold the property in 1920.
It served for many years as the residence of the Honourable Ray Lawson O.B.E., prominent London businessman, government representative and philanthropist. Subsequently his son, Colonel Tom Lawson and his popular wife, Miggsie, lived there and expanded on the family business and philanthropic tradition.
As Regimental Commander Tom Lawson, with Miggsie, hosted Prince Philip at Woodholme in 1983 when the Royal Canadian Regiment celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Colonel Lawson died in 1991 and Miggsie died in 2004, leaving their medieval-styled home to the Lawson estate. Portions of the land were latter sold by the estate and developed into residential housing and a retirement home complex.
The Woodholme 'castle' is now owned by Sifton Properties and is for sale. Due to the price tag and the extensive repairs required, the mansion and property remains is a state of limbo.
Architectural Attributes excerpt from the 'Reasons for Heritage Designation' document.
Woodholme has been altered since its original construction in 1894. On various occasions additions have been attached to the north and northwest facades. Pebble dash stucco was later applied to face the exterior concrete. Certain interior features have been added or altered. Unless noted below these later additions and alterations are not included in the heritage attributes worthy of preservation.
Architecturally important exterior features of Woodholme which should be preserved include:
1 ) For reasons of technology and style, exemplifying the picturesque interpretation of the Gothic Revival style, exterior facades showing the shape and massing of the original Shaw-Wood structure on the east, south and west facades are important. The historic muntin and framing design, found in all but the plate glass windows, should be retained. Beneath the later pebble-dash, the exterior walls are grooved to resemble ashlar a reflection of Richard Shaw-Wood’s innovative use of concrete. Other exterior ‘medieval” elements include: the corbelled parapet and irregular roofline on the south facade, its battlement, stepped gable, concrete chimneys and the two towers, including the one on the southwest with its arched portal and door.
2) Doors and windows on the east facade of the original building vary in their appearance but the segmental arch is common. In a main entrance paired doors containing rectangular panels are separated by a vertical course of octagonal panes and surmounted by an arched fanlight pierced with decorative small circular panes. On the second storey paired windows are placed above the main entranceway but to the north on this facade the windows are more asymmetrical in their placement and appearance. A second storey balcony rests on angled concrete abutments and supports a wooden balustrade. On the third storey the two windows at the north also rest on concrete abutments including an oriel window. Second and third storey windows contain paired twelve and ten pane lights respectively headed by a round-arched fanlight which itself contains a rectangular panel between two arcs. Concrete abutments below certain windows further illustrate the use of this building material.
3) While entranceways vary considerably in their style and size, of note are the paired ground floor window /doors into the formal living room on the west facade. An arched fanlight holds eight oval shaped panes of varying length above rounded arched doors with muntins creating octagonal panels surrounding smaller diamond panes. The paired windows on the second and third storeys are simpler but retain the rounded arch and fanlight effect. A similar octagonal and diamond pattern is present in the tripartite window facing to the south from this room.
4) Also important is the bay on the west facade immediately adjacent to the west entrance. This addition/alteration by Ray and Helen Lawson after their purchase of the house in the 1920s is a sympathetic addition to the original structure. Specific interior features within this section of the building are described later.
Interior features worthy of preservation are as follows:
5) The gothic ‘medieval’ castle concept is further developed in the interior in several respects: i) a central passageway ceiling vaulted with molded arches and constructed of concrete impressed to resemble brick to complement the red brick on the passageway walls; ii) a large cooking fireplace in the formal living room. This fireplace is lined with narrow ceramic tiles angled to reflect the heat and incorporates an early ‘heatilator’ system to warm the room. Adjacent to it is the bricked firewood storage closet headed by a brick arch; iii) the use of a wood balustrade on a landing backlit with rounded arched windows creating a clerestory; iv) cement floors showing an impressed tile pattern in the passageway and formal living room on the ground level; v) brick piers along the passageway which echo the use of brick in the formal rooms; vi) Wood doors sliding on iron railings in two locations on the central passageway are of interest as are the concrete stairs leading to the landing between the ground and second floors compartment; vii) The wood paneling on this passageway, extending to the landing, while a later, Lawson, addition, is also noted for its role in ‘softening’ the austere concrete surface.
6) Further emphasizing the sense of a building created over time are several unexpected nooks and alcoves including one, about four feet high, at the end of the central passageway leading to exterior windows. Along this passageway is the entrance to a small, cramped, ”hidden” staircase accessing a second storey room.
7) In the principal formal room is the patterned concrete floor in which inlaid hardwood is set and a large fireplace mentioned above. A hall through the room is marked at the ceiling level by a structural wood girder ornamented by wood cutouts and a strip of wood fretwork. Wood moulding in octagonal designs is set against a tongue and groove ceiling. Also evident are bricked arches. In the south-west corner, a remaining original fireplace is present illustrative of the original heating system.
8) In the large room to the south, the original front entrance door remains and should be preserved. While several windows are later alterations, east and west windows retain the original two over two design.
9) On the third floor of interest are the glass block ”lights” set into the floor presumably to transmit light to the lower level from the clerestory windows on the roof of the east facade. As well, one of the original arched doors, once common throughout the second and third storeys, is evident and should be retained as representative of the early doors and door frames initially installed.
IO) The concrete tunnels with concrete walls and barrel vaults found beneath the older portions of the building form a unique and effective structural component of the building while adhering to its ’medieval’ character.
11) The “Green Room”, a principal room on the main floor created by the 1920s Lawson alteration is noted for its wood paneling, inlaid hardwood flooring, stuccoed walls containing white bas-relief pictorial tablets and an inset fireplace with wood mantel.
12) On the second floor, reflecting the later Lawson alteration, the principal bedroom has inlaid wood hardwood flooring similar to the floor below in the Green Room.
This is probably the fourth trip out to the old Base. We had not specific objective today other than to shoot a short 2.45 minute video (posted to Google and YouTube) . . . Unfortunately the heavens opened up and drenched us.
A brief note on the origin and history of the Base. Built as a radar station for the Canadian military in 1952 as part of the 'Pine Tree Line', this base closed in 1964. Approximately 170 military personnel served here. With their families living in the Private Married Quarters (PMQ's) on site, the total population (at it's height) equaled approximately 350 people and had all the trappings of a small town such as recreation centre, firehall, store, school, and church.
It was sold to the Province of Ontario in 1964 and operated as the Edgar Regional Centre or Adult Occupational Centre under the Ministry of Community and Social Services. The Ministry maintained the site for the mentally hanicapped until it closed under the Mike Harris regime in 1996.
For more images and stories, check our other posts here, here and here. Due to the heavy rain, we skulked predominantly inside the Oakwood residence and were rather hesitant about venturing further into the base's other abandoned structures . . . because we're made of sugar.
Here's what we looked at today.
Most likely the most 'un-abandoned-looking' room at the Oakwood Residence. This former laundry room looks just as good (and as clean) as some apartment laundry rooms I have used previously. Except for the blown-apart door and blank round casings left by SWAT tactical training exercise, nothing out of the ordinary here.
I will guess that this room, and the one adjacent to it was mission control for the mentally-handicapped patients at the Oakwood. Since there is an isolation room (think rubber room) at the end of the hall, I will further guess that the CCTV played some crazy programs during prime time.
I for one never seem to tire of looking at peelers . . . not that kind of peeler you sicko - the peeling wall paint common to most abandonments. My favourite type of peeler would most certainly include those with several layers producing a chaotic cacophony of colours.
Speaking of peels, I rather liked this wall here. A lovely mocha colour on salmon puke. Some lighter elements of white, and baby-blue accentuate the plywood boarding. What insanity drove them to paint the electric heaters with a standard latex is beyond me.
The rain did lighten up enough for us to tear off to the vocational trades building. During a previous urban exploration meet here, I did not get a chance to properly shoot this interesting metal catwalk which leads from the second floor of the building.
Perhaps my next trip will not be marred by an untimely downpour. Remember kids wear your rubbers so yer socks don't get wet.
There's a saying that goes, stop and take time to smell the roses. So - we did. This mischievous trio packed up their bad-a$$ery and dropped in to explore the long abandoned Concord Floral, a massive greenhouse complex which at one time churned out tens of thousands of roses and other flowers to feed the florists in the GTA.
